Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1996. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Cerâmicas a base de zircônia para coroas e próteses fixas monolíticas prometem suprimir a vulnerabilidade ao lascamento de restaurações de múltiplas camadas, proporcionando estética e resistência mecânica simultâneas. No entanto, é possível que as alterações realizadas para maximizar suas propriedades óticas possam afetar a resistência mecânica. O presente estudo teve por objetivo comparar, com base na microestrutura, o comportamento mecânico de duas marcas comerciais de zircônias monolíticas a uma zircônia convencional para infraestruturas, observando ao mesmo tempo algumas variações nos parâmetros de sinterização. As zircônias monolíticas ceramill Zolid e Prettau e a zircônia convencional IPS e.max ZirCAD foram sinterizadas sob a temperatura preconizada pelos respectivos fabricantes, formando os grupos Z1450, P1600 e I1530. Adicionalmente, foram criados os grupos Z1530 e Z1600, representados pela zircônia ceramill Zolid submetida a ciclos modificados. Foram confeccionados 13 corpos de prova para cada grupo, os quais foram submetidos aos ensaios de difração de raios-x, densidade, análise do tamanho médio de grão e resistência à flexão em 4 pontos. Os espectros de difração revelaram a presença da fase tetragonal metaestável em todos os grupos antes e após a sinterização. Quanto à densidade, apresentou-se superior a 99% apenas nos grupos formados pelas zircônias Prettau e IPS e.max ZirCAD. O tamanho médio dos grãos permaneceu abaixo de 1m em todas as situações, sendo maior para o grupo P1600 (0,814m) e menor para o grupo Z1450 (0,463m). Embora tenha sido observada uma tendência de melhoria nos resultados sob taxa de aquecimento mais lenta, os grupos formados pela zircônia monolíticas ceramill Zolid obtiveram os valores mais baixos de confiabilidade (m=4,58 para Z1530) e de resistência mecânica (621,01±138,08MPa para Z1450). A zircônia Prettau apresentou valores de resistência mecânica mais altos e homogêneos (864,18±118,21MPa), contudo inferiores aos da zircônia convencional (1057,41±150,54MPa). Os resultados revelam que as zircônias monolíticas sob estudo possuem características microestruturais e propriedades mecânicas distintas das observadas para a zircônia convencional. / Monolithic zirconia ceramics for crown and bridge applications were designed to eliminate chipping trends of bilayered restorations, providing both aesthetic and mechanical strength. Nonetheless, it has been suggested that improvements in optical properties may affect the mechanical strength of these materials. The present study aimed to compare, based on a microstructural analysis, the mechanical behavior of two commercial monolithic zirconia ceramics with a conventional core zirconia material, as well as to verify sintering parameters modifications. Two monolithic zirconia ceramics (Ceramill Zolid and Prettau) and a conventional core zirconia material (IPS e.max ZirCAD) were sintered according to manufacturer´s recommendations, forming groups Z1450, P1600 and I1530. Extra groups, Z1530 and Z1600, were originated from ceramill Zolid zirconia specimens subjected to modified sintering cycles. The thirteen specimens that were manufactured for each group were submitted to x-ray diffraction analysis, density, average grain size determination and 4-point-bending tests. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of tetragonal metastable phase in all groups before and after sintering. Relative density found for Prettau and IPS e.max ZirCAD were greater than 99%. The average grain size remained below 1m for all groups. P1600 showed the largest grain sizes (0,814m) while Z1450 (0,463m) demonstrated the smallest ones. Groups originated from ceramill Zolid also presented the lowest Weibull modulus (m=4,58 for Z1530) and flexural strength results (621,01±138,08MPa for Z1450), regardless of non significant improvements that were achieved when using a low heating rate protocol. Prettau zirconia showed better mechanical behaviour and a more homogeneous distribution of results (864,18±118,21MPa), although lower than those of IPS e.max ZirCAD zirconia (1057,41±150,54MPa). Findings from this study show that the two commercial monolithic zirconia under analysis developed distinct mechanical properties and microstructural features from data established for conventional zirconia.

Cerâmicas a base de zircônia para coroas e próteses fixas monolíticas prometem suprimir a vulnerabilidade ao lascamento de restaurações de múltiplas camadas, proporcionando estética e resistência mecânica simultâneas. No entanto, é possível que as alterações realizadas para maximizar suas propriedades óticas possam afetar a resistência mecânica. O presente estudo teve por objetivo comparar, com base na microestrutura, o comportamento mecânico de duas marcas comerciais de zircônias monolíticas a uma zircônia convencional para infraestruturas, observando ao mesmo tempo algumas variações nos parâmetros de sinterização. As zircônias monolíticas ceramill Zolid e Prettau e a zircônia convencional IPS e.max ZirCAD foram sinterizadas sob a temperatura preconizada pelos respectivos fabricantes, formando os grupos Z1450, P1600 e I1530. Adicionalmente, foram criados os grupos Z1530 e Z1600, representados pela zircônia ceramill Zolid submetida a ciclos modificados. Foram confeccionados 13 corpos de prova para cada grupo, os quais foram submetidos aos ensaios de difração de raios-x, densidade, análise do tamanho médio de grão e resistência à flexão em 4 pontos. Os espectros de difração revelaram a presença da fase tetragonal metaestável em todos os grupos antes e após a sinterização. Quanto à densidade, apresentou-se superior a 99% apenas nos grupos formados pelas zircônias Prettau e IPS e.max ZirCAD. O tamanho médio dos grãos permaneceu abaixo de 1m em todas as situações, sendo maior para o grupo P1600 (0,814m) e menor para o grupo Z1450 (0,463m). Embora tenha sido observada uma tendência de melhoria nos resultados sob taxa de aquecimento mais lenta, os grupos formados pela zircônia monolíticas ceramill Zolid obtiveram os valores mais baixos de confiabilidade (m=4,58 para Z1530) e de resistência mecânica (621,01±138,08MPa para Z1450). A zircônia Prettau apresentou valores de resistência mecânica mais altos e homogêneos (864,18±118,21MPa), contudo inferiores aos da zircônia convencional (1057,41±150,54MPa). Os resultados revelam que as zircônias monolíticas sob estudo possuem características microestruturais e propriedades mecânicas distintas das observadas para a zircônia convencional. / Monolithic zirconia ceramics for crown and bridge applications were designed to eliminate chipping trends of bilayered restorations, providing both aesthetic and mechanical strength. Nonetheless, it has been suggested that improvements in optical properties may affect the mechanical strength of these materials. The present study aimed to compare, based on a microstructural analysis, the mechanical behavior of two commercial monolithic zirconia ceramics with a conventional core zirconia material, as well as to verify sintering parameters modifications. Two monolithic zirconia ceramics (Ceramill Zolid and Prettau) and a conventional core zirconia material (IPS e.max ZirCAD) were sintered according to manufacturer´s recommendations, forming groups Z1450, P1600 and I1530. Extra groups, Z1530 and Z1600, were originated from ceramill Zolid zirconia specimens subjected to modified sintering cycles. The thirteen specimens that were manufactured for each group were submitted to x-ray diffraction analysis, density, average grain size determination and 4-point-bending tests. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the presence of tetragonal metastable phase in all groups before and after sintering. Relative density found for Prettau and IPS e.max ZirCAD were greater than 99%. The average grain size remained below 1m for all groups. P1600 showed the largest grain sizes (0,814m) while Z1450 (0,463m) demonstrated the smallest ones. Groups originated from ceramill Zolid also presented the lowest Weibull modulus (m=4,58 for Z1530) and flexural strength results (621,01±138,08MPa for Z1450), regardless of non significant improvements that were achieved when using a low heating rate protocol. Prettau zirconia showed better mechanical behaviour and a more homogeneous distribution of results (864,18±118,21MPa), although lower than those of IPS e.max ZirCAD zirconia (1057,41±150,54MPa). Findings from this study show that the two commercial monolithic zirconia under analysis developed distinct mechanical properties and microstructural features from data established for conventional zirconia.

Iron oxide nanoparticles have received sustained interest for biomedical applications as synthetic approaches are continually developed for precise control of nanoparticle properties. This thesis presents an investigation of parameters in the benzyl alcohol synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles. A modified seed growth method was designed for obtaining optimal nanoparticle properties for magnetic fluid hyperthermia. With a one or two addition process, iron oxide nanoparticles were produced with crystallite sizes ranging from 5-20 nm using only benzyl alcohol and iron precursor. The effects of reaction environment, temperature, concentration, and modified seed growth parameters were investigated to obtain precise control over properties affecting radiofrequency heat generation. The reaction A2-24(205)_B2-24(205) produced monodispersed (PDI=0.265) nanoparticles with a crystallite size of 19.5±1.06 nm and the highest radiofrequency heating rate of 4.48 (°C/min)/mg (SAR=1,175.56 W/g, ILP=3.1127 nHm2/kg) for the reactions investigated. The benzyl alcohol modified seed growth method offers great potential for synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles for radiofrequency hyperthermia.

Bone regeneration or augmentation is often required prior to or concomitant with implant placement. With the limitations of many existing technologies, a biologically compatible synthetic bone grafting substitute that is osteogenic, bioerodible, and provides spacing-making functionality while acting as a drug delivery vehicle for bioactive molecules could provide an alternative to ‘gold standard’ techniques. In the first part of this work, calcium sulfate (CS) space-making synthetic bone grafts with uniformly embedded poly(β-amino ester) (PBAE) biodegradable hydrogel particles was developed to allow controlled release of bioactive agents. The embedded gel particles’ influence on the physical and chemical characteristics of CS was tested. Namely, the compressive strength and modulus, dissolution, and morphology, were studied. All CS samples dissolved via zero-order surface erosion consistent to one another. Compression testing concluded that the amount, but not size, of embedded gel particles significantly decreased (up to 75%) the overall mechanical strength of the composite. Release studies were conducted to explore this system’s ability to deliver a broad range of drug types and sizes. Lysozyme (model protein for larger growth factors like bone morphogenic protein [BMP]) was loaded into PBAE particles embedded in CS matrix. The release of simvastatin, a small molecule drug capable of up regulating BMP production, was also examined. The release of both lysozyme and simvastatin was governed by dissolution of CS. The second part of this work proposed a bilayered CS implant. The physical and chemical properties were characterized similarly to the CS composites above. Release kinetics of directly loaded simvastatin in either the shell, core, or both were investigated. A sequential release of simvastatin was witnessed giving foresight of the composite’s tunability. The sequential release of an antibacterial, metronidazole, loaded into poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles embedded into the shell along with directly loaded simvastatin either in the shell, core, or both layers was also observed. Through controlled release of bioactive agents, as well as a tunable layered geometry, CS-based implants have the potential to be optimized in order to help streamline the steps required for the healing and regeneration of compromised bone tissue.