Arun Kumar Pradhan^1,2*, Prafulla Kumar Sahoo¹, Pradeep Kumar Rana²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 371-379, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634129

Abstract Chitosan grafted with poly(methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) and adsorbed with kaolin functionalized as bioadhesive was prepared via emulsion polymerization technique and physiochemically characterized as a bone-graft substitute. The so prepared grafted bioactive bone cement (BBC) bionanocomposites (BNCs), chitosan-g-PMMA/kaolin, was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The water uptake, retention ability and the nanosize particle arrangement in the polymeric BBC-BNCs were studied along with the mechanical and biodegradation properties. These preliminary investigations of the BNCs will open the door for their use in bioadhesive bone-cement implants in the future. More >

Hilary Ureña-Saborío^1*, Sergio Madrigal-Carballo¹, Jorge Sandoval², José R. Vega-Baudrit³, Alejandro Rodríguez-Morales²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.3-4, pp. 290-299, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634119

Abstract Currently there is a trend towards reducing the use of agrochemicals in developing countries. However, they are still being applied intensively in tropical countries. Thus, there is a trend towards developing new products based on natural chemicals for pest control, leading to second-generation pesticides incorporating nano- and biotechnologies. Costa Rica is one of the largest producers of bananas in the world. One of the most important pests of banana and plantain crops is the burrowing nematode, Radopholus similis (Cobb) Thorne. Highly toxic chemical compounds have traditionally been used to control this specific pest in banana plants, which can have dangerous… More >

Bożena Tyliszczak¹, Anna Drabczyk^2*, Sonia Kudłacik², Agnieszka Sobczak-Kupiec²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.3-4, pp. 174-179, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634107

Abstract In this study a series of hydrogels based on Beetosan® and containing natural substances, such as bee pollen and sage (Salvia officinalis), have been prepared. Beetosan is a type of chitosan that is obtained from the external skeletons of naturally occurring dead honeybees. In multistage chemical treatment, dead insect waste is converted into chitosan that is used in research as a hydrogel matrix. Prepared materials were synthesized using photopolymerization. Studies on the obtained hydrogels included determining their swelling ability and behavior in a simulated body fluid environment, as well as determining their chemical structure by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).… More >

S.K. Pankaj¹, C. Bueno-Ferrer¹, N.N. Misra¹, L. O’Neill², Paula Bourke¹, P.J. Cullen^3*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.1, pp. 14-20, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2016.634105

Abstract This work aims to analyze the effects of cold atmospheric air plasma treatment of antimicrobial chitosan film with different levels of thymol. Optical characterization of the dielectric barrier discharge showed the generation of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species by the system. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in the surface roughness was observed after cold plasma treatment of the films. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the thermal profile of the plasma-treated films. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in the thymol diffusion coefficient was observed after the plasma treatment for all the active films. More >

R. Khanna^1,2, D. R. Katti¹, K. S. Katti¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.87, No.6, pp. 530-556, 2012, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2012.087.530

Abstract Here we report a new in situ nanoindentation technique developed to evaluate the composite mechanical behavior of cell-biomaterial construct under physiological conditions over the time scale of bone nodule generation. Using this technique, mechanical behavior of osteoblast cell-substrate interfaces on tissue engineered materials (chitosan-polygalacturonic acid-nanohydroxyapatite (CPH) films) is investigated. Mechanical behavior of cells in the elastic regime over the time scale of cell adhesion (1 day), proliferation (4 days), development (8 days) and maturation (22 days) of bone nodules is evaluated. Our results indicate that the elastic properties of flat cells are higher (indicating stiffer response, after 4 days, as… More >