The implementation of the Ion Plating Plasma Assisted technology in the area of surface functionalization for structural color and relic preservation applications is presented. Interferometric structural colors on irregular bumped Titanium surfaces and transparent and achromatic nano films on ancient ceramic artifact have been investigated. Titanium metal and ceramic supports have been utilized for the surface functionalization tests: A metallic electron beam additive manufactured Titanium component and an ancient tile of the XIX century, which was characterized by strong chromatic valence and by a mixed porous and glazed surfaces, have been considered. A reactive magnetron sputtering Ion Plating Plasma Assisted apparatus operating in Argon or Oxygen atmospheres for TiO 2 and SiO 2 deposition has been utilized. Preliminary tests with two plasma treatments were carried out for optimal processing conditions definition. TiO 2 nano-film deposition on irregular Ti surfaces has generated light direction depending color-changing surfaces while good achromatic and transparent coatings were obtained by using SiO 2 coating. The high processing flexibility of the Ion plating technology is discussed. The SiO 2 IPPA surfaces treatment resulted more convenient for restorative and preservation ancient historical tile was used to finally test the optimized process with Ion Beam Electron Microscopy, which was carried out on the tile porous structure, confirmed the high flexibility and efficiency of the innovative IPPA technology.

With progress in the bone tissue engineering (BTE) field, there is an important need to develop innovative biomaterials to improve the bone healing process using reproducible, affordable, and low-environmental-impact alternative synthetic strategies. This review thoroughly examines geopolymers’ state-of-the-art and current applications and their future perspectives for bone tissue applications. This paper aims to analyse the potential of geopolymer materials in biomedical applications by reviewing the recent literature. Moreover, the characteristics of materials traditionally used as bioscaffolds are also compared, critically analysing the strengths and weaknesses of their use. The concerns that prevented the widespread use of alkali-activated materials as biomaterials (such as their toxicity and limited osteoconductivity) and the potentialities of geopolymers as ceramic biomaterials have also been considered. In particular, the possibility of targeting their mechanical properties and morphologies through their chemical compositions to meet specific and relevant requirements, such as biocompatibility and controlled porosity, is described. A statistical analysis of the published scientific literature is presented. Data on “geopolymers for biomedical applications” were extracted from the Scopus database. This paper focuses on possible strategies necessary to overcome the barriers that have limited their application in biomedicine. Specifically, innovative hybrid geopolymer-based formulations (alkali-activated mixtures for additive manufacturing) and their composites that optimise the porous morphology of bioscaffolds while minimising their toxicity for BTE are discussed.

Foreign body ingestion is commonly encountered in the emergency department. Although in most cases, the ingested object will pass uneventfully in the feces [1], ingestion of sharp foreign bodies such as dental plates, sewing needles, toothpicks, fish bones and chicken bones carries increased risk of gastrointestinal perforation [2, 3, 4].The use of toothpicks as both tooth-clearing implements and eating utensils increase the likelihood of toothpick unintentional ingestion [5].Toothpicks account for 9% of reported foreign bodies ingested [6]. These pointed wooden bodies when accidentally swallowed are associated with higher risk of complications, such as gastric, small bowel or colonic perforation, obstruction, colonic impaction, gastrointestinal bleeding, subphrenic abscess, fistula formation, sepsis and/or death due to the damaged caused by the sharp pointed ends [7, 8, 9].Unfortunately, many patients who ingested such objects fail to remember the mis-swallowing event when symptoms of perforation develop, making diagnosis problematic.We present a case of jejunal perforation secondary to an ingested wooden toothpick correctly diagnosed with Computed Tomography (CT).

Innovative tissue engineering biomimetic hydrogels based on hydrophilic polymers have been investigated for their physical and mechanical properties. 5% to 25% by volume loading PHEMA-nanosilica glassy hybrid samples were equilibrated at 37 °C in aqueous physiological isotonic and hypotonic saline solutions (0.15 and 0.05 M NaCl) simulating two limiting possible compositions of physiological extracellular fluids. The glassy and hydrated hybrid materials were characterized by both dynamo-mechanical properties and equilibrium absorptions in the two physiological-like aqueous solutions. The mechanical and morphological modifications occurring in the samples have been described. The 5% volume nanosilica loading hybrid nanocomposite composition showed mechanical characteristics in the dry and hydrated states that were comparable to those of cortical bone and articular cartilage, respectively, and then chosen for further sorption kinetics characterization. Sorption and swelling kinetics were monitored up to equilibrium. Changes in water activities and osmotic pressures in the water-hybrid systems equilibrated at the two limiting solute molarities of the physiological solutions have been related to the observed anomalous sorption modes using the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter approach. The bulk modulus of the dry and glassy PHEMA-5% nanosilica hybrid at 37 °C has been observed to be comparable with the values of the osmotic pressures generated from the sorption of isotonic and hypotonic solutions. The anomalous sorption modes and swelling rates are coherent with the difference between osmotic swelling pressures and hybrid glassy nano-composite bulk modulus: the lower the differences the higher the swelling rate and equilibrium solution uptakes. Bone tissue engineering benefits of the use of tuneable biomimetic scaffold biomaterials that can be “designed” to act as biocompatible and biomechanically active hybrid interfaces are discussed.

Finite element models of the female biofidel were developed using a specific combination of segmentation with computed tomography and solid modeling tools capable of representing bone physiology and structural behavior. This biofidel finite element (FEM) model is used to evaluate the change in the physiological distribution of stress in the femoral prosthesis and to evaluate the new design criteria for biopsy. Biomimetics, biomechanics, and tissue engineering are three multidisciplinary fields that have been considered in this research to achieve the goal of improving the reliability of prosthetic implants. The authors took these studies to gather the untapped potential of such advanced materials and design technologies by developing finite models of Biofidel elements capable of correctly mimicking the biomechanical behavior of the femur. The new remodeling of the tetrahedral elements was performed in 3Matic looking for the congruence of the node at the bone-implant interfaces, where the material was defined for the new configuration of the finite elements. The evaluation of the mechanical properties was made taking into account the mechanical characteristics of the cortical and trabecular bone. For biomechanical integration of the implant, a custom material with an improved combination of strength and rigidity that matches the bone should be used. This greater biomechanical compatibility will avoid weakening the implant and increase lifespan, avoiding additional surgery for revision and allowing good biological integration (bone growth). Innovative biomimetic materials for tissue engineering based on hydrophilic polymers were developed by our research group and presented attractive physical, biological, and mechanical properties for biomedical applications. For use with metal prostheses, the authors have developed a hybrid biocompatible material, extremely biocompatible, based on hydrophilic chemicals and hydroxy-ethyl-methacrylate type. The structural metal composition of the new prostheses will be made of titanium alloys using additive technology based on melting thin layers of titanium powder (about 50 microns) on each other until the desired component is obtained (sandwich method). Then, the biomaterial and osteoconductive nanostructured material developed in our previous studies can cover the titanium structural prosthetic skeleton. These hybrid biological prostheses, which are made using synthetic materials capable of inducing the growth of biological networks and structural steel scaffolding, may favor the emergence of new classes of orthopedic hybrids in the medical field. The new hybrid bio-prosthesis could drastically reduce protection against stress while providing an advantageous improvement in the life of the prosthesis compared to traditional solutions. Recovering optimal joint functionality will improve the patient's quality of life, which perceives a significant reduction in the risk of the new surgery. The requirement to predict potential structural changes that could be induced by improper use of biologically compatible prostheses in bone structure and morphology has forced our studies to evaluate fictitious models that could be considered for efficient bone distribution and orthotropic behavior.