Foam application from a closed system – a study of machine and foam parameters
An attempt has been made to gain a greater insight into the interaction between foam and a moving textile substrate. The effects of changing wet pick–up, fabric velocity, liquid viscosity, foam density and mode of application on penetration have been studied. Application from a closed system makes it possible to apply an exact amount of liquid, and reflectance measurements revealed that between 10 and 60% wet pick–up the actual level of wet pick–up is of major importance. The amount of liquid available determines the likelihood of capillary transport. The results obtained in terms of fabric speed and foam density still leave questions to be answered on the mechanisms of foam flow and degradation in the textile.
The flow properties of foam
The rheological behaviour of foam, prepared from an aqueous solution with lauryl sulphate as surfactant, has been measured with a viscometer as a function of the blow ratio, bubble diameter distribution and concentration of the thickener used. The influence of wall slip and of hysteresis effects on the rheological behaviour have been determined. Calculations and measurements pertaining to the pressure drop in pipes have been performed, in which the foam was considered as a compressible pseudoplastic whose rheology depended on blow ratio. The distribution of the foam passing through a closed distribution unit has been studied. This distribution unit consisted of a pipe and a cross-head distribution slit. Complementary measurements of the flow of foam through narrow slits have been made. The design of a closed foam distribution unit is discussed. The consequences of the choice of several design parameters are examined.
An injectable and thermosensitive hydrogel: Promoting periodontal regeneration by controlled-release of aspirin and erythropoietin.
Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease induced by complex interactions between host immune system and plaque microorganism. Alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis is considered to be one of the main reasons for tooth loss in adults. To terminate the alveolar bone resorption, simultaneous anti-inflammation and periodontium regeneration is required, which has not appeared in the existing methods. In this study, chitosan (CS), β-sodium glycerophosphate (β-GP), and gelatin were used to prepare an injectable and thermosensitive hydrogel, which could continuously release aspirin and erythropoietin (EPO) to exert pharmacological effects of anti-inflammation and tissue regeneration, respectively. The releasing profile showed that aspirin and EPO could be continuously released from the hydrogels, which exhibited no toxicity both in vitro and in vivo, for at least 21 days. Immunohistochemistry staining and micro-CT analyses indicated that administration of CS/β-GP/gelatin hydrogels loaded with aspirin/EPO could terminate the inflammation and recover the height of the alveolar bone, which is further confirmed by histological observations. Our results suggested that CS/β-GP/gelatin hydrogels are easily prepared as drug-loading vectors with excellent biocompatibility, and the CS/β-GP/gelatin hydrogels loaded with aspirin/EPO are quite effective in anti-inflammation and periodontium regeneration, which provides a great potential candidate for periodontitis treatment in the dental clinic. Statement of Significance To terminate the alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis, simultaneous anti-inflammation and periodontium regeneration is required, which has not appeared in the existing methods. Here, (1) the chitosan (CS)/β-sodium glycerophosphate/gelatin hydrogels loaded with aspirin/erythropoietin (EPO) can form at body temperature in 5 min with excellent biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo; (2) The faster release of aspirin than EPO in the early stage is beneficial for anti-inflammation and provides a microenvironment for ensuring the regeneration function of EPO in the following step. In vivo experiments revealed that the hydrogels are effective in the control of inflammation and regeneration of the periodontium. These results indicate that our synthesized hydrogels have a great potential in the future clinical application.