Biophysical cues are key distinguishing characteristics that influence tissue development and regeneration, and significant efforts have been made to alter the cellular behavior by means of cell−substrate interactions and external stimuli. Electrically conductive nanofibers are capable of treating bone defects since they closely mimic the fibrillar architecture of the bone matrix and deliver the endogenous and exogenous electric fields required to direct cell activities. Nevertheless, previous studies on conductive polymer-based scaffolds have been limited to polypyrrole, polyaniline, and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). In the present study, chemically synthesized polythiophene nanoparticles (PTh NPs) are incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers, and subsequent changes in physicochemical, mechanical, and electrical properties are observed in a concentration-dependent manner. In murine preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1), we examine how substrate properties modified by adding PTh NPs contribute to changes in the cellular behavior, including viability, proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization. Additionally, we determine that external electrical stimulation (ES) mediated by PTh NPs positively affects such osteogenic responses. Together, our results provide insights into polythiophene's potential as an electroconductive composite scaffold material.
: Here, we developed a novel biliary stent coating material that is composed of tri-layer membrane with dual function of sustained release of paclitaxel (PTX) anticancer drug and antibacterial effect. The advantages of using electrospinning technique were considered for the even distribution of PTX and controlled release profile from the nanofiber mat. Furthermore, film cast method was utilized to fabricate AgNPs-immobilized PU film to direct the release towards the tumor site and suppress the biofilm formation. The in vitro antibacterial test conducted against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria species showed excellent antibacterial effect. The in vitro drug release study confirmed the sustained release of PTX from the tri-layer membrane and the release profile fitted first order with correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.98. Furthermore, the release mechanism was studied using Korsmeyer–Peppas model, revealing that the release mechanism follows Fickian diffusion. Based on the results, this novel tri-layer membrane shows curative potential in clinical development.
We successfully report a liquid−liquid chemical reduction and hydrothermal synthesis of a highly stable columbite-tantalite electrocatalyst with remarkable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance in acidic media. The reduced Fe 0.79 Mn 0.21 Nb 0.16 Ta 0.84 O 6 (CTr) electrocatalyst shows a low overpotential of 84.23 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and 103.7 achieved at 20 mA cm −2 current density in situ for the HER and OER, respectively. The electrocatalyst also exhibited low Tafel slopes of 104.97 mV/dec for the HER and 57.67 mV/ dec for the OER, verifying their rapid catalytic kinetics. The electrolyzer maintained a cell voltage of 1.5 V and potential−time stability close to that of Pt/C and RuO 2 . Complementary first-principles density functional theory calculations identify the Mn sites as most active sites on the Fe 0.75 Mn 0.25 Ta 1.875 Nb 0.125 O 6 (100) surface, predicting a moderate Gibbs free energy of hydrogen adsorption (ΔG H* ≈ 0.08 eV) and a low overpotential of η = 0.47 V. The |ΔGMn H *| = 0.08 eV on the Fe 0.75 Mn 0.25 Ta 1.875 Nb 0.125 O 6 (100) surface is similar to that of the wellknown and highly efficient Pt catalyst (|ΔGPt H *| ≈ 0.09 eV).
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