This paper aims to synthesize, via the sol–gel method, a biomaterial usable in the medical field. Here, the silica-PEG-quercetin system was evaluated in relation to the different concentrations of PEG (0, 6, 12, 24, 50 wt%) and quercetin (0, 5, 10, 15 wt%), respectively. In addition, Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Kirby–Bauer analyses were performed. FT-IR was used to evaluate the hybrid formation and the influence of both PEG and Quercetin in the hybrid synthesized materials, SEM was used to evaluate the morphological properties, while the Kirby–Bauer test was used to understand the ability of the materials to inhibit the growth of the assayed bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus).
The failure of medical devices, such as bones prosthesis, is mainly due to inflammatory and infectious phenomena. Entrapping anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents inside the biomaterial matrix could avoid these phenomena. In this context, inorganic/organic silica (S)/polyethylene glycol (P)/caffeic acid (A) hybrid systems were synthesized via the sol-gel method with different weight percentages of P and A. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) revealed that caffeic acid undergoes an oxidizing phenomenon in the sol-gel synthesis condition. Additionally, the formation of a hydroxyapatite layer on hybrid surfaces was demonstrated by employing the Kokubo test and analyzing the samples using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and FT-IR. Moreover, further characterization of the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized biomaterials was carried out using the Kirby–Bauer test. Finally, UV-Vis measurement was useful to evaluate the caffeic acid kinetic release in simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37 °C. The kinetic study disclosed that the hybrid materials without polyethylene glycol had faster release rates than the ones obtained without the organic polymer.
In countries where volcanic activity is widespread, fly ash (FA) formation can represent both a waste to be disposed of and a resource of inorganic substances that can be utilized. Among the technologies able to incorporate FA, geopolymers (GP) or inorganic aluminosilicate amorphous materials are very suitable for this purpose. In this study, GP are realized using metakaolin (MK), sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH 8 M), sodium silicate solution (Na2SiO3), and FA as filler (20 wt% with respect to MK content). The samples were cured at 25 or 40°C for 24 h and the physicochemical, thermal, and antibacterial properties of this material through the integrity test, weight loss test, Fourier-transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Kirby-Bauer assay were assessed. Integrity and weight loss tests indirectly revealed the stability of the macroscopic 3D networks and that the curing at 40°C led to more stable GP. The shift of the Si–O–T absorption band (from 1,090 cm−1 of the MK to 1,017–1,012 cm−1 of the specimens with and without FA) in FT-IR spectra suggested the occurrence of the geopolymerizazion reactions, while TGA study confirmed the higher stability of samples cured at 40°C (with a mass loss equal to 7–13% at 800°C under nitrogen atmosphere). Finally, the antimicrobial activity shed light on the ability of the synthesized GP with the filler and treated at 40°C to have a great effect against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Burning wood is estimated to produce about 6–10% of ash. Despite the possibility of recycling wood ash (WA), approximately 70% of the wood ash generated is landfilled, causing costs as well as environmental pollution. This study aims to recycle WA in an alternative way by inserting it as filler in geopolymeric materials. Here, metakaolin, NaOH, sodium silicate, and WA are used to realize geopolymers. Geopolymers without and with 10, 20 and 30% of WA are synthesized and characterized after 7, 14, 28 and 56 days. The article’s study methods are related to geopolymers’ chemical, biological and mechanical properties. The geopolymers synthesized are compact and solid. The pH and conductivity tests and the integrity and weight loss tests have demonstrated the stability of materials. The FT-IR study and boiling water test have confirmed the successful geopolymerization in all samples. The antibacterial analysis, the moss growing test and the compressive strength test have given a first idea about the durability of the materials synthesized. Furthermore, the compressive strength test result has allowed the comparison from the literature of the specimens obtained with the Portland cement (PC). The results obtained bode well for the future of this material.
Organic–inorganic hybrid materials were synthesized by a sol–gel route, using silicon alkoxide together with low molecular weight polycaprolactone and caffetannic acid. The synthesized hybrids were characterized by scanning Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and their surface morphology was acquired by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The hybrids were investigated for their antiradical capacity using the DPPH and ABTS tests, while the Kirby–Bauer test was used to evaluate their effects on the growth of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Furthermore, a biologically active hydroxyapatite layer has been observed to form on the surface of intelligently synthesized materials. The MTT direct test showed that the hybrid materials are biocompatible with NIH-3T3 fibroblast cells, while they were cytotoxic towards colon, prostate, and brain tumor cell lines. These results shed new light on the suitability of the synthesized hybrids in the medical field, thus affording knowledge on the features of the bioactive silica–polycaprolactone–chlorogenic acid hybrids.
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