Thesis (M.Sc.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2006. / "Master of Science in Materials Engineering & Nanotechnology dissertation." Title from title screen (viewed on Nov. 23, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 346-353).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2005. / At head of title: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Master of Science in materials engineering & nanotechnology dissertation. Title from title screen (viewed on Aug. 31, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2005. / At head of title: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Master of Science in materials engineering & nanotechnology dissertation. Title from title screen (viewed on Aug. 31, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 101-106). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2006. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on September 13, 2007). Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Luana Marotta Reis de Vasconcellos / Banca: Luciane Dias de Oliveira / Banca: Sandra Giacomin Schneider / Resumo: O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar in vitro a influência da liga Ti-35Nb-7Zr e de seus elementos básicos, submetidos ou não ao processo de oxidação, na atividade de osteoblastos e na formação de biofilmes monotípicos. As amostras foram confeccionadas com diferentes materiais: a) titânio puro (Ti - controle); b) liga Ti-35Nb-7Zr (L); c) Nb (nióbio); d) Zr (zircônio); e) Ti oxidado (TiO); f) liga Ti-35Nb-7Zr oxidada (LO); g) Nb oxidado (NbO); h) Zr oxidado(ZrO). Previamente ao estudo in vitro, todas as amostras foram caracterizadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e espectroscopia de dispersão de energia (EDS) para observar a topografia de superfície e a presença dos elementos básicos. Células mesenquimais obtidas de fêmures de rato, após diferenciação em osteoblastos foram cultivadas sobre as amostras. Após períodos pré-determinados, foram realizados os testes de citotoxicidade, atividade de fosfatase alcalina, produção de proteína total, formação e quantificação dos nódulos de mineralização adesão e proliferação celular. Para análise da formação dos biofilmes monotípicos, suspensões padronizadas (106 céls/mL) com micro-organismos de S. aureus, S. mutans, P. aeruginosa e C. albicans foram cultivados por 24 h sobre as amostras e submetidos ao teste de MTT. Todas as amostras permitiram o espraiamento celular. O Nb e Zr exibiram uma adesão celular mais madura com prolongamentos celulares evidenciados. O Ti e a L apresentaram maior viabilidade celular sendo estatísti... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate in vitro the influence of the Ti-35Nb- 7Zr alloy and its basic elements, whether or not subjected to the oxidation process, on the osteoblast activity and on the formation of monotypic biofilms. The samples were made with different materials: a) pure titanium (Ti - control); B) Ti-35Nb-7Zr (A) alloy; C) Nb (niobium); D) Zr (zirconium); E) Oxidized Ti (TiO); F) oxidized Ti-35Nb-7Zr (AO); G) Nb oxidized (NbO); H) Oxidized Zr (ZrO). Prior to the in vitro study, all samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to observe the surface topography and the presence of the basic elements. Mesenchymal cells obtained from mouse femurs after differentiation into osteoblasts were cultured in the samples. After pre-determined periods, cytotoxicity tests, alkaline phosphatase activity, total protein production, formation and quantification of the mineralization nodules, adhesion and cell proliferation were performed. To analyze the formation of monotypic biofilms, standardized suspensions (106 cells / ml) with S. aureus, S. mutans, P. aeruginosa and C. albicans microorganisms were cultured for 24 h on the samples and submitted to the MTT test. All samples allowed for cell spreading. Nb and Zr exhibited more mature cell adhesion with evidenced cell extensions. The Ti and A presented greater cell viability being statistically different from the others (p <0.05). ZrO presented lower viability exhibiting statistical difference with Ti and A. The NbO expressed the highest amount of total protein with a statistical difference of L, Zr, and AO (p <0.05) while Zr showed the lowest result with a statistical difference of Ti, Nb, TiO, NbO, and ZrO. In the quantification of the alkaline phosphatase activity, the Zr presented the best result and was statistically different from all the others ..... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

No description available.

Orientador: Paulo Noronha Lisboa Filho / Banca: Cecilia Amelia de Carvalho Zavaglia / Banca: Conrado Ramos Moreira Afonso / Banca: Rodrigo Cardoso de Oliveira / Banca: William Fernando Zambuzzi / Resumo: Dentre os biomateriais metálicos, largamente empregados pela indústria biomédica, o titânio (Ti) e suas ligas, principalmente o sistema Ti-6Al-4V (responsável por 45% da produção total de titânio como biomaterial) representam a principal escolha para a confecção de implantes ortopédicos e dentários. No entanto, processos de degradação (corrosão, desgaste e tribocorrosão) atuantes sobre estas ligas podem ocasionar a liberação de partículas e íons metálicos (comumente referidos produtos de desgaste ou debris), o que pode representar uma situação perigosa in vivo. Neste contexto, as propriedades físico-químicas dos produtos de desgaste irão influenciar fortemente o tipo e intensidade das respostas de um organismo vivo após sua exposição aos mesmos. De forma geral, a interação de tais produtos com as células dos tecidos adjacentes ao implante e do sistema imune pode desencadear processos de sinalização, nomeadamente em termos da produção e liberação de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, conduzindo a osteólise (reabsorção óssea) e consequente falha do implante. Ademais, muitas preocupações têm sido levantadas com relação à liberação de partículas e íons compostos pelos elementos alumínio e vanádio. Alternativamente, novas ligas de titânio isentas da adição destes elementos têm sido propostas nos últimos anos, dentre as quais podemos citar, por exemplo, a liga Ti-15Zr-15Mo. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados (in vitro), a partir de um modelo de células de camundongo, os possíveis efeitos re... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Among the metallic biomaterials, widely used in the biomedical industry, titanium (Ti) and its alloys, mainly the Ti-6Al-4V system (responsible for 45% of the total titanium production as biomaterial) represent the main choice for orthopedic and dental implants' manufacturing. However, degradation processes (corrosion, wear and tribocorrosion) acting on these alloys may lead the release of metallic particles and/or ions (also referred as wear products or debris), and this may represent a dangerous situation in vivo. In this context, the wear products' physical-chemical properties will strongly influence the type and intensity of the living organism responses after their exposure to them. In general, these products' interaction with the implants' surrounding tissues and immune system cells may trigger signaling processes, particularly in terms of the proinflammatory cytokines production and release, leading to osteolysis (bone resorption) and consequent implant loosening. Additionally, many concerns have been raised regarding the release of particles and ions composed by aluminum and vanadium. Alternatively, new vanadium and aluminum-free titanium alloys have been proposed in recent years, among which it is possible to mention, for example, the Ti-15Zr-15Mo alloy. In this work, the possible effects related to the vanadium ions exposure to bone and connective tissue cells (fibroblasts and osteoblasts) were evaluated (in vitro), from a mouse cells' model. Also, ionic speciation ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor