The aim of this work is in situ anodization/anaphoretic deposition of a nano amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP)/chitosan oligosaccharide lactate (ChOL) multifunctional hybrid coating decorated with selenium (Se) on a titanium substrate and in vivo investigation of its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. Investigating phenomena at the implant–tissue interface of interest for controlled inflammation and immunomodulation was also the aim of the research. In our earlier research, we designed coatings based on ACP and ChOL on titanium with anticorrosive, antibacterial and biocompatible properties, while in the presented results we show that selenium addition makes this coating an immunomodulator. The immunomodulatory effect of the novel hybrid coating is characterized by the examination of the functional aspects in the tissue around the implant (in vivo): proinflammatory cytokines’ gene expression, M1 (iNOS) and M2 (Arg1) macrophages, fibrous capsule formation (TGF-β) and vascularization (VEGF). The EDS, FTIR and XRD analyses prove the formation of a ACP/ChOL/Se multifunctional hybrid coating on Ti and the presence of Se. A higher M2/M1 macrophage ratio in the ACP/ChOL/Se-coated implants compared to pure titanium implants (a higher level of Arg1 expression) is noted at all time points examined (after 7, 14 and 28 days). Lower inflammation measured by gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF, lower expression of TGF-β in the surrounding tissue and higher IL-6 expression (solely at day 7 post-implantation) is noted in presence of the ACP/ChOL/Se-coated implants.

Hybrid nanomaterials based on manganese, cobalt, and lanthanum oxides of different morphology and phase compositions were prepared using a facile single-step ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) process and tested as electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The structural and morphological characterizations were completed by XRD and SEM-EDS. Electrochemical performance was characterized by cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry in a rotating disk electrode assembly. All synthesized materials were found electrocatalytically active for ORR in alkaline media. Two different manganese oxide states were incorporated into a Co₃O₄ matrix, δ-MnO₂ at 500 and 600 °C and manganese (II,III) oxide-Mn₃O₄ at 800 °C. The difference in crystalline structure revealed flower-like nanosheets for birnessite-MnO₂ and well-defined spherical nanoparticles for material based on Mn₃O₄. Electrochemical responses indicate that the ORR mechanism follows a preceding step of MnO₂ reduction to MnOOH. The calculated number of electrons exchanged for the hybrid materials demonstrate a four-electron oxygen reduction pathway and high electrocatalytic activity towards ORR. The comparison of molar catalytic activities points out the importance of the composition and that the synergy of Co and Mn is superior to Co₃O₄/La₂O₃ and pristine Mn oxide. The results reveal that synthesized hybrid materials are promising electrocatalysts for ORR.

The main objective of this research was a systematic development of advanced micro/nanostructured materials based on the most used metal-oxides for ORR and metal-oxides with an extremely low-loading of Pt for comparison. Hybrid composites compared were: MnO₂, La₂O₃, mixed lanthanum manganese oxides (LMO), and mixed lanthanum manganese oxides with reduced platinum load (LMO-Pt). The influence of the reduced amount of noble metal, as well as single oxide activity toward ORR, was analyzed. The complete electrochemical performance of the hybrid materials has been performed by means of CV, LSV, and EIS. It was shown that all synthesized catalytic materials were ORR-active with noticeable reduction currents in O₂ saturated 0.1 M KOH. The ORR behavior indicated that the La₂O₃ electrode has a different mechanism than the other tested electrode materials (MnO₂, LMO, and LMO-Pt). The EIS results have revealed that the ORR reaction is of a mixed character, being electrochemically and diffusion controlled. Even more, diffusion is of mixed character due to transport of O₂ molecules and the chemical reaction of oxygen reduction. O₂ diffusion was shown to be the dominant process for MnO₂, LMO, and LMO-Pt electrolytic materials, while chemical reaction is the dominant process for La₂O₃ electrolytic materials.

Biothermodynamics is a discipline which has developed intensely during the last 50 years. Thermodynamic properties have been reported for humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms. However, this paper reports for the first time the empirical formula and thermodynamic properties for insects. Thermodynamic properties can be applied in research on thermodynamic interactions between organisms and their environment, as well as between organisms themselves. This paper reports for the first time the empirical formula and reactions of catabolism, biosynthesis and entire metabolism for Bombyx mori (domestic silk moth), as well as the thermodynamic properties of Bombyx mori. It is shown that growth of Bombyx mori is tightly related to catabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, which represents the driving force for the entire metabolism.

Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) occurs as a cataphoretic deposition ? the coating is deposited on the cathode, and anaphoretic deposition ? the coating is deposited on the anode. The primary purpose of EPD is to obtain compact and uniform organic/inorganic coatings of the desired thickness and adhesion on metal surfaces by applying an electric field to the particles of coating precursor. EPD basic principles for coatings deposition concerning fundamental explanations and considerations of practical parameters of the process are presented. Cataphoretic deposition has become popular because it can apply organic coatings to complex structures that are otherwise very difficult to coat. These coatings were found to improve the characteristics of the substrate, such as biocompatibility, appearance and resistance to the corrosion processes. The key EPD parameters are composition, pH value and viscosity of deposition medium, as well as zeta potential of the particles, electric field strength, etc. A special survey is given to the process of anaphoretic deposition, which is relatively new, and its advantages over cataphoretic deposition are discussed. Through the process of joint anaphoresis/substrate anodization process, the surface of the substrate is simultaneously anodized and modified by incorporation of the foreign particles into the anodic layer. The coatings of mixed composition of better adhesion and corrosion resistance with respect to cataphoretically- deposited coatings are obtained as result.