Cold physical plasma treatment optimization for improved bone allograft processing

In musculoskeletal surgery, the treatment of large bone defects is challenging and can require the use of bone graft substitutes to restore mechanical stability and promote host-mediated regeneration. The use of bone allografts is well-established in many bone regenerative procedures, but is associated with low rates of ingrowth due to pre-therapeutic graft processing. Cold physical plasma (CPP), a partially ionized gas that simultaneously generates reactive oxygen (O2) and nitrogen (N2) species, is suggested to be advantageous in biomedical implant processing. CPP is a promising tool in allograft processing for improving surface characteristics of bone allografts towards enhanced cellularization and osteoconduction. However, a preclinical assessment regarding the feasibility of pre-therapeutic processing of allogeneic bone grafts with CPP has not yet been performed. Thus, this pilot study aimed to analyze the bone morphology of CPP processed allografts using synchrotron radiation-based microcomputed tomography (SR-µCT) and to analyze the effects of CPP processing on human bone cell viability and function. The analyzes, including co-registration of pre- and post-treatment SR-µCT scans, revealed that the main bone morphological properties (total volume, mineralized volume, surface area, and porosity) remained unaffected by CPP treatment if compared to allografts not treated with CPP. Varying effects on cellular metabolic activity and alkaline phosphatase activity were found in response to different gas mixtures and treatment durations employed for CPP application. It was found that 3 min CPP treatment using a He + 0.1% N2 gas mixture led to the most favourable outcome regarding a significant increase in bone cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity. This study highlights the promising potential of pre-therapeuthic bone allograft processing by CPP prior to intraoperative application and emphasizes the need for gas source and treatment time optimization for specific applications.

Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray tomography reveals life history in primate cementum incrementation

Cementum is a mineralized dental tissue common to mammals that grows throughout life, following a seasonally appositional rhythm. Each year, one thick translucent increment and one thin opaque increment is deposited, offering a near-complete record of an animal's life history. Male and female mammals exhibit significant differences in oral health, due to the contrasting effects of female versus male sex hormones. Oestrogen and progesterone have a range of negative effects on oral health that extends to the periodontium and cementum growth interface. Here, we use synchrotron radiation-based X-ray tomography to image the cementum of a sample of rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) teeth from individuals of known life history. We found that increased breeding history in females corresponds with increased increment tortuosity and less organized cementum structure, when compared to male and juvenile cementum. We quantified structural differences by measuring the greyscale 'texture' of cementum and comparing results using principal components analysis. Adult females and males occupy discrete regions of texture space with no overlap. Females with known pregnancy records also have significantly different cementum when compared with non-breeding and juvenile females. We conclude that several aspects of cementum structure and texture may reflect differences in sexual life history in primates.

The Effect of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure on Lung Micromechanics Assessed by Synchrotron Radiation Computed Tomography in an Animal Model of ARDS

Modern ventilatory strategies are based on the assumption that lung terminal airspaces act as isotropic balloons that progressively accommodate gas. Phase contrast synchrotron radiation computed tomography (PCSRCT) has recently challenged this concept, showing that in healthy lungs, deflation mechanisms are based on the sequential de-recruitment of airspaces. Using PCSRCT scans in an animal model of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), this study examined whether the numerosity (ASnum) and dimension (ASdim) of lung airspaces change during a deflation maneuver at decreasing levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) at 12, 9, 6, 3, and 0 cmH₂O. Deflation was associated with significant reduction of ASdim both in the whole lung section (passing from from 13.1 ± 2.0 at PEEP 12 to 7.6 ± 4.2 voxels at PEEP 0) and in single concentric regions of interest (ROIs). However, the regression between applied PEEP and ASnum was significant in the whole slice (ranging from 188 ± 52 at PEEP 12 to 146.4 ± 96.7 at PEEP 0) but not in the single ROIs. This mechanism of deflation in which reduction of ASdim is predominant, differs from the one observed in healthy conditions, suggesting that the peculiar alveolar micromechanics of ARDS might play a role in the deflation process.

Discussion on Local Spark Sintering of a Ceramic-Metal System in an SR-CT Experiment during Microwave Processing

In this paper, local spark sintering of a ceramic-metal system (SiO₂-Sn) during microwave processing was examinedby means of synchrotron-radiation-computed tomography technology. From the reconstructed 3-D and cross-section images of the specimen, adensification process was observed below the melting point of Sn, and then the specimen came into a rapid densification stage. These results may be due to the local spark sintering induced by the high-frequency alternating microwave electric fields. As the metallic particles Sn were introduced, the microstructure of “ceramic-metal” will lead to a non-uniform distribution and micro-focusing effect from electric fields in some regions (e.g., the neck). This will result in high-intensity electric fields and then induce rapid spark sintering within the micro-region. However, in the subsequent stage, the densification rate declined even when the specimen was not dense enough. The explanation for this is that as the liquid Sn permeated the gaps between SiO₂, the specimen became dense and the micro-focusing effect of electric fields decreased. This may result in the decrease or disappearance of spark sintering. These results will contribute to the understanding of microwave sintering mechanisms and the improvement of microwave processing methods.

Discussion on Microwave-Matter Interaction Mechanisms by In Situ Observation of "Core-Shell" Microstructure during Microwave Sintering

This research aims to deepen the understanding of the interaction mechanisms between microwave and matter in a metal-ceramic system based on in situ synchrotron radiation computed tomography. A special internal “core-shell” microstructure was discovered for the first time and used as an indicator for the interaction mechanisms between microwave and matter. Firstly, it was proved that the microwave magnetic field acted on metal particles by way of inducing an eddy current in the surface of the metal particles, which led to the formation of a “core-shell” microstructure in the metal particles. On this basis, it was proposed that the ceramic particles could change the microwave field and open a way for the microwave, thereby leading to selective heating in the region around the ceramic particles, which was verified by the fact that all the “core-shell” microstructure was located around ceramic particles. Furthermore, it was indicated that the ceramic particles would gather the microwaves, and might lead to local heating in the metal-ceramic contact region. The focusing of the microwave was proved by the quantitative analysis of the evolution rate of the “core-shell” microstructure in a different region. This study will help to reveal the microwave-matter interaction mechanisms during microwave sintering.

Three-dimensional rigid multiphase networks providing high-temperature strength to cast AlSi10Cu5Ni1-2 piston alloys

The three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of rigid multiphase networks present in AlSi10Cu5Ni1 and AlSi10Cu5Ni2 piston alloys in as-cast condition and after 4 h spheroidization treatment is characterized by synchrotron tomography in terms of the volume fraction of rigid phases, interconnectivity, contiguity and morphology. The architecture of both alloys consists of α-Al matrix and a rigid long-range 3-D network of Al(7)Cu(4)Ni, Al(4)Cu(2)Mg(8)Si(7), Al(2)Cu, Al(15)Si(2)(FeMn)(3) and AlSiFeNiCu aluminides and Si. The investigated architectural parameters of both alloys studied are correlated with room-temperature and high-temperature (300 °C) strengths as a function of solution treatment time. The AlSi10Cu5Ni1 and AlSi10Cu5Ni2 alloys behave like metal matrix composites with 16 and 20 vol.% reinforcement, respectively. Both alloys have similar strengths in the as-cast condition, but the AlSi10Cu5Ni2 is able to retain ∼15% higher high temperature strength than the AlSi10Cu5Ni1 alloy after more than 4 h of spheroidization treatment. This is due to the preservation of the 3-D interconnectivity and the morphology of the rigid network, which is governed by the higher degree of contiguity between aluminides and Si.