Search Results (15)

Background/Objectives: Lithium disilicate (LD) veneers are widely used for minimally invasive anterior rehabilitation because of their favorable optical and mechanical properties. Fully digital workflows have been proposed as alternatives to conventional milling. These approaches combine computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) with 3D-printed burn-out patterns and subsequent heat pressing of LD ingots. However, clinical documentation of multi-unit anterior cases fabricated exclusively through this additive-plus-pressing route remains scarce. This case report aims to describe a fully digital additive-plus-pressing workflow for four maxillary anterior LD veneers and to report 48-month clinical outcomes. Case Presentation: A 52-year-old female presented with esthetic concerns involving the maxillary central and lateral incisors (teeth 11, 12, 21, and 22). After clinical and radiographic evaluation, a minimally invasive veneer-based rehabilitation was planned. Preparations were performed under magnification, and immediate dentin sealing was applied. Digital impressions were obtained with an intraoral scanner, and veneers were designed using CAD software(Exocad DentalDB 3.0 Galway (Exocad GmbH, Darmstadt, Germany). Castable resin patterns were 3D-printed, invested, and heat-pressed using LD ingots, followed by finishing and glazing. Adhesive cementation was performed under rubber dam isolation after hydrofluoric acid etching and silanization of the intaglio surfaces and conditioning of the tooth substrates according to the adhesive protocol, using a dual-cure resin cement. At the 48-month follow-up, all veneers remained intact, with clinically acceptable marginal adaptation, stable color and surface gloss, and no signs of secondary caries or marginal discoloration. The patient reported sustained esthetic satisfaction and comfortable function without postoperative sensitivity. Conclusions: This single-patient report suggests that a fully digital additive-plus-pressing workflow may be clinically viable for high-demand anterior LD veneers, providing favorable medium-term esthetics and patient-centered outcomes with no technical or biological complications. The reproducible protocol described may facilitate the integration of 3D printing and heat pressing into digital veneer rehabilitation and supports further controlled clinical investigations. Full article

Physicochemical modification of titanium implants aims to enhance early osseointegration by improving bioactivity. This study deposited and evaluated an anatase TiO₂ film on clinically relevant sandblasted, acid-etched titanium (Ti-SLA) to enhance in vitro bioactivity and osteogenic responses. An ~8 µm TiO₂-anatase coating was deposited on Ti-SLA by reactive pulsed DC magnetron sputtering. Surface characterization included FE-SEM, helium ion microscopy, and XRD. Wettability and surface free energy (SFE) were evaluated by contact angle analysis. In vitro bioactivity was assessed by hydroxyapatite (HA) formation in twofold-concentrated simulated body fluid (2× SBF). Osteoblast responses were evaluated through cell adhesion, viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, gene expression, and mineralization. The coating produced hierarchical multi-globular microstructures decorated with faceted anatase nanocrystals. Ti-SLA’s initial hydrophobicity converted to a superhydrophilic, high-energy surface with increased polar SFE. Homogeneous HA crystallites deposited exclusively on SLA-anatase in 2× SBF. SAOS-2 cells showed enhanced metabolic activity, ALP activity, osteogenic gene upregulation, and improved mineralized matrix, while primary human osteoblasts exhibited increased metabolic activity and calcium deposition. The anatase coating produced a superhydrophilic, high-energy micro-nano surface that accelerates HA formation and enhances osteoblast function in vitro, warranting in vivo validation for early osseointegration. Full article

Background: This study investigated a new multi-acid-etching formulation for zirconia ceramics, containing hydrochloric, hydrofluoric, nitric, orthophosphoric, and sulfuric acids. The solution was tested on polycrystalline (5Y-TZP zirconia), lithium disilicate, hybrid ceramic, and feldspathic porcelain to assess compatibility, etching selectivity, and surface conditioning. Methods: Two-hundred-and-forty CAD/CAM specimens were etched for 20 s, 60 s, 30 min, or 1 h, and their surface roughness and etching patterns ware evaluated using 3D optical profilometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: A positive correlation was observed between etching time and surface roughness (Ra values). The most pronounced changes were observed in lithium disilicate and feldspathic porcelain, with Ra values increasing from 0.733 ± 0.082 µm (Group 5) to 1.295 ± 0.123 µm (Group 8), and from 0.902 ± 0.102 µm (Group 13) to 1.480 ± 0.096 µm (Group 16), respectively. Zirconia increased from 0.181 ± 0.043 µm (Group 1) to 0.371 ± 0.074 µm (Group 4), and the hybrid ceramic from 0.053 ± 0.008 µm (Group 9) to 0.099 ± 0.016 µm (Group 12). Two-way ANOVA revealed significant effects of material and etching time, as well as a significant interaction between the two factors (p < 0.001). SEM observation revealed non-selective etching pattern for the lithium disilicate groups, indicating a risk of over-etching. Conclusions: The tested etching solution increased surface roughness, especially for the lithium disilicate and feldspathic porcelain specimens. In zirconia, one-hour etching improved surface characteristics with minimal observable damage. However, additional studies are necessary to validate the mechanical stability and bond effectives of this approach. Full article

Cavity silicon on insulator (Cavity-SOI) offers significant design flexibility for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). Notably, the shape and depth of the cavity can be tailored to specific requirements, facilitating the realization of intricate multi-layer structural designs. The novelty of the proposed fabrication methodology is manifested in its employment of a micromachining process flow, which integrates dry etching, wafer level Au–Si eutectic bonding, and chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to create Cavity-SOI. This innovative approach substantially mitigates the complexity of fabrication, and the implementation of wafer-level gold–silicon eutectic bonding and vacuum packaging can be achieved, representing a distinct advantage over conventional methods. To evaluate the technical viability, a MEMS resonant pressure sensor (RPS) was designed. Experimental findings demonstrate that during the formation of Cavity-SOI, dry etching can accurately fabricate cavities of predefined dimensions, wafer-level Au–Si eutectic bonding can achieve efficient sealing, and CMP can precisely regulate the depth of cavities, thus validating the feasibility of the Cavity-SOI formation process. Additionally, when implementing Cavity-SOI in the fabrication of MEMS RPS, it enables the spontaneous release of resonators, effectively circumventing the undercut and adhesion issues commonly encountered with hydrofluoric acid (HF) release. The sensors fabricated using Cavity-SOI exhibit a sensitivity of 100.695 Hz/kPa, a working temperature range spanning from −10–60 °C, a pressure range of 1–120 kPa, and a maximum error of less than 0.012% full scale (FS). The developed micromachining process for Cavity-SOI not only streamlines the fabrication process but also addresses several challenges inherent in traditional MEMS fabrication. The successful fabrication and performance validation of the MEMS RPS confirm the effectiveness and practicality of the proposed method. This breakthrough paves the way for the development of high-performance MEMS devices, opening up new possibilities for various applications in different industries. Full article

Acid fracturing is a crucial method for reservoir reconstruction in carbonate reservoirs, and the propagation pattern of acid-etched fractures plays a key role in determining the scope of reservoir enhancement and post-fracturing productivity. However, large-scale physical simulations directly using acid solutions in fracturing experiments are limited, and the fracture propagation patterns under acid fracturing remain unclear. To address this gap, in this study, we collected carbonate rock samples from the Majiagou Formation in the Daniudi area, preparing large-scale fracturing specimens with side lengths of 30 cm. The propagation of acid fracturing fractures was investigated using self-developed true-triaxial acid fracturing equipment. Based on post-fracturing fracture morphology and pressure curves, the effects of fracturing fluid type, injection rate, injection mode, and natural fractures (NFs) on acid fracturing fracture propagation were analyzed. The experimental results showed that the acid solution effectively weakens the mechanical properties of the open-hole section, creating multiple mechanical weak points and promoting the initiation of fractures. Pre-fracturing treatment with low-viscosity acid can significantly enhance fracture complexity near the wellbore and expand the near-well stimulation zone. Lowering the injection rate increases the acid solution’s filtration loss into natural fractures, weakening the cementation strength of these fractures and encouraging the formation of complex fracture networks. Furthermore, employing a multi-stage alternating injection of high-viscosity and low-viscosity acids can reduce fracture temperature and acid filtration loss while also enhancing differential etching through viscous fingering. This approach improves the conductivity and conductivity retention of the acid-etched fractures. The results of this study can provide a reference for the acid fracturing stimulation of fractured carbonate reservoirs. Full article

The conductivity of acid-etched fractures and the subsequent production response are influenced by the injection mode of the fracturing fluid and acid fluid during acid fracturing in a carbonate reservoir. However, there has been a lack of comprehensive and systematic experimental research on the impact of commonly used injection modes in oilfields on conductivity, which directly affects the optimal selection of acid-fracturing injection modes. To address this gap, the present study focuses on underground rock samples, acid systems, and fracturing fluid obtained from ultra-deep carbonate reservoirs in the Fuman Oilfield. Experimental investigations were conducted to examine the conductivity of hydraulic fractures etched by various types of acid fluids under five different injection modes: fracturing fluid + self-generating acid or cross-linked acid; fracturing fluid + self-generating acid + cross-linked acid. The findings demonstrate that the implementation of multi-stage alternating acid injection results in the formation of communication channels, vugular pore space, and natural micro-cracks, as well as grooves and fish-scales due to enhanced etching effects. The elevation change, amount of dissolved rock, and conductivity exhibited by rock plates are significantly higher in comparison to those achieved through the single-acid injection mode while maintaining superior conductivity. It is recommended for optimal conductivity and retention rate in the Fuman Oilfield to adopt two stages of alternating acid-fracturing injection mode. Field application demonstrated that two-stages of alternating acid-fracturing generate more pronounced production response than the adjacent wells. Full article

Passive wireless sensing systems, particularly passive antenna sensors, offer a viable alternative to traditional wired and active sensors for long-term structural health monitoring due to their simplicity, easy installation and maintenance, and ability to measure strain without an external power supply. Customization of antenna shape can also adapt to various structural geometries. However, sensor fabrication using chemical etching is expensive and time-consuming, which is unsuitable for limited-quantity production. To address this, this study explores the potential of extrusion-based additive manufacturing to produce cost-effective passive wireless antenna strain sensors. The study investigates polylactic acid’s mechanical and electromagnetic properties for substrate design and uses multi-physics simulation to estimate strain-sensing performance. The obtained results show similar strain-sensing performance to sensors produced through chemical etching, making the manufacturing process a promising alternative. Full article

In nature, some organisms have the ability to camouflage to adapt to environmental changes; they blend with the environment by changing their skin colors. Such a phenomenon is of great significance for the research of adaptive camouflage materials. In this study, we propose a novel design scheme for the study of angle-independent photonic materials and successfully prepare an electrically tunable multi-color display angle-independent inverse opal photonic gel (IOPG). After photopolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate with ionizable monomer acrylic acid (AA) in a long-range disordered opal template and etching, the angle-independent inverse opal photonic gel is obtained, presenting a single structural color. The electrically responsive color changes can be achieved at different angles. The color of the disordered AA-IOPG changes from green to blue-green when applying +4 V bias voltage and from green to orange when applying −4 V bias voltage. The electrochromism of the disordered AA-IOPG is mainly due to the local pH change caused by water electrolysis under bias voltage, which leads to a change of the swelling ratio. The disordered AA-IOPG shows high color tunability and durability through repeated opposite bias voltage tests, indicating that it is a promising conductive photonic material. Full article

The Daniudi gas field is located in the Ordos Basin’s northern section of the Yishan slope. The intertidal–subtidal depositional environment dominates the lithology of the Ma55 sub-member, resulting in a stable, thick-layered dark gray–gray–black limestone and lime dolomite. The stratum is stable laterally as well as dolomite, with an average thickness of 26.8 m. Fractures, dissolution expansion pores, and inter-crystalline dissolved pores are the primary reservoir space kinds, with a minor number of karst caves and fractures generated as well. The main distribution ranges for porosity and permeability are 1–8 percent and 0.01–1 mD, respectively. Low porosity, tightness, and ultra-low permeability are common characteristics, and a single well typically has no natural productivity. Production stimulation technologies like pre-fluid acid fracturing, compound sand addition acid fracturing, and multi-stage injection + temporary plugging volumetric acid fracturing have been gradually optimized using the horizontal well development method, and breakthroughs in the development of tight and low-permeability carbonate rock reservoirs have been made. However, the conditions of different types of reservoirs are quite different, and the acid fracturing process is not matched and imperfect, resulting in large differences in the productivity of different horizontal wells after fracturing, as well as a high proportion of low-yield wells, which cannot meet the needs of cost-effective and effective development of this type of gas reservoir. In light of the aforementioned issues, a series of laboratory tests have been carried out to explore the stimulation effects of acid fracturing on different types of reservoirs and to optimize the acid fracturing process in the Daniudi gas field. The results show that the rock mechanical performances and the acid etching conductivities of the rock specimens are related to the types of reservoirs. The rock mechanical properties can be deteriorated after acidizing, but different types of reservoirs have different degrees of deterioration. According to the results of acid etching conductivity of different types of reservoirs, conductivities obtained by high and low viscosity and cross-link-gelled acid (two stage injection) processes are higher than those of high viscosity systems. The experimental results of process suitability suggest adopting high and low viscidity acid systems for pore type and fracture-dissolved pore type reservoirs, and cross-linked acid systems for fracture-pore type reservoirs. The findings of this study can help form a better understanding of the performance of different types of reservoirs under the various acidified conditions that can be used for the optimization of acid fracturing processes in carbonate formations. Full article

In this paper, four array patterns were first designed by observing the structural features of the surface microstructures of pig bones and tree frog paws on the titanium alloy surface bionically. Then, the optimal parameters for laser processing were determined experimentally, and the optimized processing parameters were used to prepare micron-scale bumps on the titanium alloy surface and to investigate the relationship between the weaving height and the processing times. Finally, multiple acid etching was used to prepare nanoscale holes on the surface of the titanium alloy. It was found that the multiple acid etching could not only prepare nanoscale holes on the surface of the titanium alloy, but could also well eliminate the slag left on the surface of titanium alloy by laser ablation. Based on the above study, this paper also analyzed the effect of micro-nano structure on the friction properties of the titanium alloy surface from three aspects—theory, hardness test and friction coefficient test—and experimentally analyzed the effect of single-factor and multi-factor coupling of structural features on the friction properties of the titanium alloy surface. It was found that the optimal mean friction coefficient was 0.0902, corresponding to the characteristic values of 0.66 for the shape, 200 μm for the edge length and 60 μm for the height. Full article

Two type of cells representing periodontal hard tissues (osteoblasts) and soft tissues (fibroblasts) were evaluated in response to microgroove-milled zirconia surfaces. A total of 90 zirconia discs were randomly assigned to four width-standardized milling microgroove-textured groups and a control group without grooves (UT). The sandblast and acid-etch protocol were applied to all samples. Both cell lines were cultured on zirconia discs from 1 day up to 14 days. Cell morphology and adhesion were evaluated after 1 day of culturing. Cell viability and proliferation of the cells were measured. Alkaline phosphatase activity, collagen I, osteopontin, interleukin 1β and interleukin 8 secretions were assessed at predefined times. The results obtained were presented in the form of bar graphs as means and standard deviations. Multi comparisons between groups were evaluated using two-away ANOVA or Mann–Whitney tests, and a p-value < 0.05 was established. Group comparisons with regard to cell viability, proliferation and secretion of collagen I, interleukin-1β and interleukin 8 revealed no statistically significant differences. The alkaline phosphatase activity and osteopontin secretion were significantly higher in the group with a large groove compared to the small one and the control group. Nevertheless, the viability of gingival and bone cells did not appear to be affected by the milled microgroove texture compared to the conventional sandblasted and acid-etched texture, but they seem to influence osteoblasts’ cellular differentiation. Full article

A core challenge in the field of tissue engineering is the ability to establish pipeline workflows for the design and characterization of scaffold technologies with clinically translatable attributes. The parallel development of biomaterials and stem cell populations represents a self-sufficient and streamlined approach for establishing such a pipeline. In the current study, rat dental pulp stem cell (rDPSC) populations were established to assess functionalized polycaprolactone (PCL) constructs. Initial optimization and characterization of rDPSC extraction and culture conditions confirmed that cell populations were readily expandable and demonstrated surface markers associated with multi-potency. Subset populations were transduced to express DsRed fluorescent protein as a mechanism of tracking both cells and cell-derived extracellular matrix content on complex scaffold architecture. Thermoplastic constructs included reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as an additive to promote cellular attachment and were further modified by surface etching a weak acetic acid solution to roughen surface topographical features, which was observed to dramatically improve cell surface coverage in vitro. Based on these data, the modified rGO-functionalized PCL constructs represent a versatile platform for bone tissue engineering, capable of being applied as a standalone matrix or in conjunction with bio-active payloads such as DPSCs or other bio-inks. Full article

Innovative nanomaterials are required for the coatings of titanium (Ti) implants to ensure the activation of Ti surfaces for improved osseointegration, enhanced bone fracture healing and bone regeneration. This paper presents a systematic investigation of biomimetic composite (BC) coatings on Ti implant surfaces in a rat model of a diaphyseal femoral fracture. Methodological approaches of surface modification of the Ti implants via the usual joining methods (e.g., grit blasting and acid etching) and advanced physicochemical coating via a self-assembled dip-coating method were used. The biomimetic procedure used multi-substituted hydroxyapatite (ms-HAP) HAP-1.5 wt% Mg-0.2 wt% Zn-0.2 wt% Si nanoparticles (NPs), which were functionalized using collagen type 1 molecules (COL), resulting in ms-HAP/COL (core/shell) NPs that were embedded into a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix and finally covered with COL layers, obtaining the ms-HAP/COL@PLA/COL composite. To assess the osseointegration issue, first, the thickness, surface morphology and roughness of the BC coating on the Ti implants were determined using AFM and SEM. The BC-coated Ti implants and uncoated Ti implants were then used in Wistar albino rats with a diaphyseal femoral fracture, both in the absence and the presence of high-frequency pulsed electromagnetic shortwave (HF-PESW) stimulation. This study was performed using a bone marker serum concentration and histological and computer tomography (micro-CT) analysis at 2 and 8 weeks after surgical implantation. The implant osseointegration was evaluated through the bone–implant contact (BIC). The bone–implant interface was investigated using FE-SEM images and EDX spectra of the retrieved surgical implants at 8 weeks in the four animal groups. The obtained results showed significantly higher bone–implants contact and bone volume per tissue volume, as well as a greater amount of newly formed bone, in the BC-coated Ti implants than in the uncoated Ti implants. Direct bone–implant contact was also confirmed via histological examination. The results of this study confirmed that these biomimetic composite coatings on Ti implants were essential for a significant enhancement of osseointegration of BC-coated Ti implants and bone regeneration. This research provides a novel strategy for the treatment of bone fractures with possible orthopedic applications. Full article

The propose of this review was to summarize the advances in multi-scale surface technology of titanium implants to accelerate the osseointegration process. The several multi-scaled methods used for improving wettability, roughness, and bioactivity of implant surfaces are reviewed. In addition, macro-scale methods (e.g., 3D printing (3DP) and laser surface texturing (LST)), micro-scale (e.g., grit-blasting, acid-etching, and Sand-blasted, Large-grit, and Acid-etching (SLA)) and nano-scale methods (e.g., plasma-spraying and anodization) are also discussed, and these surfaces are known to have favorable properties in clinical applications. Functionalized coatings with organic and non-organic loadings suggest good prospects for the future of modern biotechnology. Nevertheless, because of high cost and low clinical validation, these partial coatings have not been commercially available so far. A large number of in vitro and in vivo investigations are necessary in order to obtain in-depth exploration about the efficiency of functional implant surfaces. The prospective titanium implants should possess the optimum chemistry, bionic characteristics, and standardized modern topographies to achieve rapid osseointegration. Full article

A novel optical fiber array-type of sensing instrument with temperature compensation for real-time detection was developed to measure oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia simultaneously. The proposed instrument is multi-sensing array integrated with real-time measurement module for portable applications. The sensing optical fibers were etched and polished before coating to increase sensitivities. The ammonia and temperature sensors were each composed of a dye-coated single-mode fiber with constructing a fiber Bragg grating and a long-period filter grating for detecting light intensity. Both carbon dioxide and oxygen sensing structures use multimode fibers where 1-hydroxy-3,6,8-pyrene trisulfonic acid trisodium salt is coated for carbon dioxide sensing and Tris(2,2′-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II) hexahydrate and Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride are coated for oxygen sensing. Gas-induced fluorescent light intensity variation was applied to detect gas concentration. The portable gas sensing array was set up by integrating with photo-electronic measurement modules and a human-machine interface to detect gases in real time. The measured data have been processed using piecewise-linear method. The sensitivity of the oxygen sensor were 1.54%/V and 9.62%/V for concentrations less than 1.5% and for concentrations between 1.5% and 6%, respectively. The sensitivity of the carbon dioxide sensor were 8.33%/V and 9.62%/V for concentrations less than 2% and for concentrations between 2% and 5%, respectively. For the ammonia sensor, the sensitivity was 27.78%/V, while ammonia concentration was less than 2%. Full article