Trends in
Biomaterials & Artificial Organs
An International Journal Published by the 
Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs India
ISSN 0971-1198 (print)
Volume 21, Number 2, January 2008 

Full text can be accessed by clicking on the pdf link.

p 73-78 FULL TEXT

Study of Diffusion Characteristics of Salicylic Acid through Cellulose Acetate Membrane and Extracted Mouse Skin by Iontophoresis

Rajdeep Dasgupta^#, Ajit Kumar Banthia^#@, D.N. Tibarewala*

^# Materials Science Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721302, India
* School of Bioscience and Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
^@ corresponding author e-mail: ajitbanthia2000@yahoo.co.in

Received 29 August 2007; published online 18 December 2007

The diffusion of salicylic acid, a model drug, loaded in prepared corn starch paste was studied through cellulose acetate membrane and extracted mouse skin by the application of iontophoresis. Current was applied from a custom designed current delivery circuit. The in-vitro experiments were conducted using modified Franz diffusion cell with stainless steel (Grade 316L) electrodes. Pulsed DC square-wave with different pulse durations was used as current profile with a maximum current density of 0.4mA/cm². As expected, it was observed that the rate of drug diffusion varied almost nearly with the applied current density. The amount of drug diffusion varied with the current profile in case of cellulose acetate membrane. The maximum flux of salicylic acid obtained was 0.0015 mg/cm²/s through cellulose acetate membrane and 4.9e-5 mg/cm²/s in case of extracted mouse skin. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070704-1228.

p 79-84 FULL TEXT

Biomechanical Analysis of Two Different Tibial Fixation Methods for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Soft Tissue Graft: An Experimental Study in Sheep Knees

D. Davidson Jebaseelan*^$, Shirish S. Pathak^#, A.R .Acharya*, Clement Joseph^#, David V Rajan^#

* School of Mechanical Sciences, Karunya University , Karunya Nagar, Coimbatore 641 114           

^#Department of Orthopaedics, Sports Injury & Arthroscopy Clinic, GKNM Hospital , P.N.Palayam, Coimbatore 641 037

 ^$Corresponding author e-mail: davie@rediffmail.com

Received 20 August 2007; published online 18 December 2007

The performance of tibial fixation methods of soft tissue graft (ACL) using interference screw and suture disc is studied in the paper. Tendoachillis graft was harvested from 16 fresh-frozen hind limbs from mature sheeps and double folded graft was used for fixation through a tibial tunnel.  Two groups of   mechanical test specimens of 8 each according to the fixation technique are made, as group A (suture disc) and group B (interference screw).  The first 4 specimens were used for tensile test and the rest was used for cyclic fatigue test, with specimens undergoing a preconditioning procedure before actual testing. The study and test results shows that the mean yield load for graft fixed with interference screw  is 246.5N and was comparable with the yield load for the graft fixed with suture disc which is 222.7 N. But the mean elongation for suture disc and interference screw is 17.71 and 12.19 respectively.  So the interference screw fixation for soft tissue graft at tibial side has comparable pull out strength and stiffness as that of suture disc. (p > 0.05) The elongation for the graft fixed with the suture disc is more than that of the graft fixed with interference screw. This difference in elongation between suture disc group and interference screw group is statistically significant. (p=0.02, Unpaired T test)  This indicates that the chance of residual laxity and slippage is more in suspensory fixation modality.  Interference screw fixation for soft tissue graft has less elongation and residual laxity and could be an ideal fixation device for tibial fixation of soft tissue graft. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070706-9-R.

p 85-93 FULL TEXT

Modified Type I Collagen - A Barrier Membrane in Human Gingival Recession Management

P. Harinath^Y, R. Sripriya ^‍, M. Senthil Kumar ^‍, P.K. Sehgal ^‍* and P.K. Saraswathi⁺

^‍Bio-products Laboratory, Central Leather Research Institute, Adyar, Chennai 600 020
^YSri Ramachandra Medical College & Research Institute
+ Ragas Dental College & Hospital, Chennai
* Corresponding author e-mail: sehgal_pk@yahoo.co.in

Received 31 July 2007; published online 18 December 2007

In this study the efficacy of chemically modified type I collagen film as barrier membrane in guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedure was assessed in patients with gingival recession defect. 20 Patients with Millers Class I or Class II furcation defects were selected and divided into test and control groups in which test group alone was treated with collagen membrane to cover the exposed root surface. Pre-operative (baseline) and post-operative (24 weeks) clinical recordings like plaque Index (PI), gingival index (GI) recession depth (RD), probing depth (PD), Percentage of recession coverage (RC) and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed in both groups. Test group showed significant root coverage (63.79%) than the control group (59.09%). The difference in mean probing depth (PD) was significantly reduced by 0.4 mm in test group, but in control group the mean PD was increased by 0.6 mm (p<0.0001). Statistically significant Clinical attachment (CA) gain of 55.9% (4.1 mm) was found in treated group than the control group, which has shown 36.36 % (2 mm) of CA gain (p=0.001). No significant changes were found in plaque index (PI) and gingival index (GI) between the groups. These results demonstrated that the clinical improvement of gingival recession defects in GTR procedure can be achieved by using modified collagen barrier membrane for the effective reconstruction of the mucogingival unit. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070712-10.

p 94-97 FULL TEXT

Bio-Smart Dentistry: Stepping into the Future!

Pawan Gautam and Ashima Valiathan*

Dept. of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics,
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal
Karnataka 576 104 India
*corresponding author e-mail: avaliathan@yahoo.com

Received 29 August 2007; published online 18 December 2007

Today the most promising technologies for lifetime efficiency and improved reliability include the use of smart materials and structures. Biomedical applications of smart materials involve their use delivery of therapeutics, tissue engineering, cell culture, bioseparations, biomimetic actuators, immobilized biocatalysts, drug delivery and thermoresponsive surfaces. The use of biocompatible smart materials has revolutionized many areas of dentistry. Some of the smart materials used in dentistry include Shape memory alloys for orthodontic wires, coils and springs, Cercon smart ceramics, a dental restoration, offering extremely natural aesthetics paired with excellent durability, biocompatibility, “Smart composites with amorphous calcium phosphate stimulating repair of defective teeth, and Smart fibers which are hollow-core photonic-crystal fibres (PCFs) for the delivery of high-fluence laser radiation for ablating tooth enamel. An important aspect of smart materials used in various areas of dentistry is their excellent biocompatibility. These innovations in the material science have marked the beginning of an era of Bio-Smart Dentistry, a step into the future! © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070714-12.

p 98-106 FULL TEXT

Chemical Stability of a Novel Injectable Bioceramic for Stabilisation of Vertebral Compression Fractures

H. Engqvist^1*, T. Persson T.², J. Lööf², A. Faris², L. Hermansson¹

¹Uppsala University , The Angstrom Laboratory, Department of Materials Science, 
Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala , Sweden
²Doxa AB, Axel Johanssonsgata 4-6, SE-754 51 Uppsala, Sweden
* Corresponding author e-mail: hakan.engqvist@angstrom.uu.se

Received 29 August 2007; published online 18 December 2007

At present, the biomaterials used to stabilise fractured vertebrae are resin-based materials, composed principally of polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA). Although successful, the PMMA materials have some shortcomings with regard to handling properties and biocompatibility. Attempts are made to also use injectable ceramic materials. This paper describes the chemistry and mechanical properties of a ceramic material designed for stabilisation of collapsed vertebrae. The material is based on calcium-aluminate cement (CAC) as the reactive phase, and ZrO₂ as an inert filler added for extra radio-opacity. The material is non-resorbable after setting. The CAC based material was compared to a PMMA-based material intended for the vertebroplasty indication, regarding compressive strength development due to aging for a time period of 6 months. In addition the porosity and weight change over time were measured for the CAC material. The microstructure after hardening was studied using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The CAC material showed about similar compressive strength characteristics as the PMMA material throughout the test period. The spread in data was larger for CAC than for PMMA. The porosity of the material reached about 10-15% after 3 days and then stayed constant over the test period. The hardened bioceramic material’s microstructure was homogenous with an even distribution of filler-particles and CAC. The crystalline phase composition increased in hydrates over time and decreased in calcium aluminate. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070731-13.

p 107-115 FULL TEXT

pH Sensitive Succinyl Chitosan Microparticles: A Preliminary Investigation Towards Oral Insulin Delivery

MR Rekha and Chandra P. Sharma*

Division of Biosurface Technology, Biomedical Technology Wing
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology
Thiruvananthapuram, 695012, India
*corresponding author e-mail: sharmacp@sctimst.ac.in

Received 5 December 2007; published online 18 December 2007

Mucoadhesive drug delivery systems enhance bioavailability of the drug by minimizing the diffusion barriers and increasing the residence time in the gastrointestinal tract. It was the aim of this study to develop a mucoadhesive particulate drug delivery system with a water-soluble anionic chitosan derivative, succinyl chitosan (SC) and evaluate its efficacy as an oral insulin delivery system. Microparticles were developed from SC at two different degree of derivatisation (SCP-3 and SCP-6). The insulin release from the succinyl chitosan microparticles at pH 1.2 was very minimal of which SCP-6 showed lower. SCP-6 showed higher mucoadhesivity as well, hence this particle was chosen for in vivo evaluation. On oral administration of SCP-6 particles, the blood glucose level of normal rats was reduced up to about 56% of the initial level at 4th hour. In this preliminary investigation these succinyl chitosan microparticles showed excellent mucoadhesive properties, low insulin release at pH 1.2 and efficient glucose lowering ability in normal rats. In conclusion this formulation seems to be a promising candidate as a successful oral peptide delivery system. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20071203-18.

3D CT Imaging in Orthodontics: Adding a New Dimension to Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

Ashima Valiathan*, Siddhartha Dhar, Nikhar Verma

Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopaedics,
Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal,
Karnataka 576 104 India
*corresponding author e-mail: avaliathan@yahoo.com

Received 1 August 2007; published online 18 December 2007

The use of lateral cephalometric radiographs forms an important diagnostic tool in orthodontic treatment as well as orthognathic surgery. However, their 2 dimensional nature presents an inherent limitation to the clinician, as the human body is 3 dimensional. In addition, a significant amount of radiographic projection error further limits their accuracy.  Three-dimensional imaging of the human body via computed tomography has been available to the field of medicine for the last 30 years. However, the significant amount of radiation exposure associated with this technology, precluded its widespread use in dentistry. With the development of Cone Beam Computed Tomography, there has been a drastic reduction in radiation exposure to the patient, which allows its use for safely obtaining 3 dimensional images of the craniofacial structures. This should allow the clinician to visualize the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial region from multiple perspectives, which could have far-reaching implications for treatment planning in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. This paper shall discuss in detail the principles of the Cone Beam CT , and its applications in the field of orthodontics. © Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs ( India ), 20070714-11.

Hi-Tech Human Body of Tomorrow

S.S. Verma

Department of Physics

Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology

Sangrur 148 106, Punjab, India

E-mail: ssverma@fastmail.fm

Received 29 October 2007; published online 18 December 2007

No abstract available.