SynopsisNew experimental results concerning molecular interactions between the nitrogen bases of nucleic acids in the crystalline phase and in uucuo are reported. The temperature dependence of the evaporation rate is measured for solid species. The sensitivity of conventional methods of sublimation heat measurements was improved essentially using a quartz resonator serving as a precise sensor of evaporation rate. Sublimation heats were found for both canonical bases and a number of their derivatives. The in uucuo formation of base associates interacting through hydrogen bonds was observed with a field mass spectrometer. The dimer formation enthalpies, which are indicative of a stronger attraction in complementary pairs compared with noncomplementary ones, were derived from the temperature dependence of ionic currents. Hydrogen-bound complexes of more intricate associates (base trimers and aqueous molecule associates) were studied. The energy gain in the formation of trimers of identical molecules was shown to be larger (per base molecule) than that for dimers.

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The thermal behavior of the bovine bone mineral and synthetic stoichiometric hydroxyapatite was investigated by X-ray diffraction. The bone samples in solid (planar oriented pieces) and in powder form were examined to elucidate how the microstructural and textural properties of bone mineral are modified under heating. As could be expected, the thermal behavior of the bone mineral depends not only on the structural distortions, but also on the crystal habit, texture and ordering of biocrystals in tissue. The temperature growth of biogenic apatite crystals, unlike synthetic hydroxyapatite, is seen to be nonmonotonic and multi-staged. At 600 to 700°C the biomineral crystallites grow rapidly due to disappearance of the mosaic structure as the lattice imperfections are annealed. After heating between 700°C and 900°C the bone mineral appears to be composed of roughly equidimensional ≥200 nm crystals. The further growth of the crystals in the range from 900 to 1300°C occurs by the mass transport mechanism, supporting the idea that the bone mineral is not a discrete aggregation of crystals, but rather a continuous mineral phase with direct crystal-crystal bonding. Estimates are presented to show the important role of the surface mass transport mechanism in the growth of apatite crystals. The material obtained by heating a cortical bone fragment between 900°C and 1300°C turns out to be composed of two crystal types: crystals oriented along the bone axis (major morphology) and those of differing shape and orientation (minor morphology). The heating-induced variations in the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of differing-morphology crystals are found to be coherent. Small amounts of CaO, MgO and other crystalline phases are seen to be formed in the bone mineral under heating.

Chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds could be used for bone regeneration in case the application of auto- or allografts is impossible. The objective of the present work was to characterize and study in vivo biodegradation of simple chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds. For this purpose, a series of chitosan/hydroxyapatite composites has been synthesized in aqueous medium from chitosan solution and soluble precursor salts by a one step coprecipitation method. A study of in vivo behavior of the materials was then performed using model linear rats. Cylindrical-shaped rods made of the chitosan/hydroxyapatite composite material were implanted into tibial bones of the rats. After 5, 10, 15, and 24 days of implantation, histological and histo-morphometric analyses of decalcified specimens were performed to evaluate the stages of biodegradation processes. Calcified specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis to compare elemental composition and morphological characteristics of the implant and the bone during integration. Porous chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds have shown osteoconductive properties and have been replaced in the in vivo experiments by newly formed bone tissue.