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Microplasma sprayed (MIPS) HAP coatings on SS316L substrates were characterized by x-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), atomic force microscopy and image analysis. The coating showed a high degree of crystallinity~92% %, a high porosity level of 20 vol.% % and a moderate bonding strength of about 13 MPa. The displacement controlled three-point bend tests and associated results of optical microscopy indicated that crack deflection, crack branching, and also local crack bridging occurred during crack propagation in the coating. The nano-hardness (H) and YoungÕs modulus (E) of the MIPS-HAP coatings as measured by nanoindentation technique were about 6 and 92 GPa, respectively. The fracture toughness (K ic ) of the coating was~0.6 MPaAEm 0.5 . From the nano-scratch experiments, the critical normal load at which localized microcracking led to delamination was measured to be~400 mN.

Objective The aim of the study was to compare the effects of single intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and corticosteroid (CS) injections in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder. Design Patients aged 18–70 yrs of either sex, diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis of shoulder, with less than 6-mo duration, were included. In intra-articular corticosteroid (IA-CS, control) group, 30 patients received a single injection (4 ml) of IA-CS and in IA-PRP (test) group, 30 patients received single IA-PRP injection (4 ml) into the glenohumeral joint under ultrasound guidance. All patients were prospectively followed for 12 wks. Results Twenty-eight patients in IA-PRP group and 27 in IA-CS group finished the entire 12-wk study period. At 12 wks, decrements in visual analog scale and total shoulder pain and disability index scores, in IA-PRP group, were 58.4 and 55.1, compared with 48.7 and 45.8 in IA-CS group. In range of movement, IA-PRP group showed significant improvement in passive abduction (−50.4 vs. −39.4), internal (−36.8 vs. −25.8), and external rotations (−35.4 vs. −25.9) compared with IA-CS group, respectively. No major complications were observed in any patients. Conclusions At 12-wk follow-up, a single dose of IA-PRP injection was found to be more effective than an IA-CS injection, in terms of improving pain, disability, and shoulder range of movement in patients with adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Synthesis of monodisperse nanoparticles with uniform morphology and narrow size distribution as achieved by nature is a challenge to materials scientists. Mimicking the process of biomineralization has led to the development of biomolecules mediated synthesis of nanoparticles that overcomes many of the problems associated with nanoparticle synthesis. Termed as biomimetics this paradigm shift in the philosophy of synthesis of materials is very advantageous for the design-based synthesis of nanoparticles. The effect of concentration of a protein named bovine serum albumin on particle size, morphology and degree of crystallinity of biomimetically synthesized hydroxyapatite particles, has been studied. Results establish 0.5% protein as the required concentration to produce 30-40 nm sized hydroxyapatite particles with an optimum degree of crystallinity as required for biomedical applications. These particles synthesized under certain stringent conditions are found to have stoichiometric calcium:phosphorus ratio of 1.67 and exhibit restricted grain growth during sintering.