Despite a long period of application of metal implants, carbon–carbon medical composites are also widely used for bone defect prosthesis in surgery, dentistry, and oncology. Such implants might demonstrate excellent mechanical properties, but their biocompatibility and integration efficiency into the host should be improved. As a method of enhancing, the electrophoretic deposition of fine-dispersed hydroxyapatite (HAp) on porous carbon substrates might be recommended. With electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray and Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction, we found that the deposition and subsequent heat post-treatment (up to the temperature of 400 °C for 1 h) did not lead to any significant phase and chemical transformations of raw non-stoichometric HAp. The Ca/P ratio was ≈1.51 in the coatings. Their non-toxicity, cyto- and biocompatibility were confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies and no adverse reactions and side effects had been detected in the test. The proposed coating and subsequent heat treatment procedures provided improved biological responses in terms of resorption and biocompatibility had been confirmed by histological, magnetic resonance and X-ray tomographic ex vivo studies on the resected implant-containing biopsy samples from the BDF1 mouse model. The obtained results are expected to be useful for modern medical material science and clinical applications.

This study discusses the main features of the irradiation of prospective multilayer coatings by VUV/UV radiation from compressed plasma flows. Such radiation is characterized by a broadband spectrum and high brightness fluxes. Oxide and Mo/Si bilayers were used as the basis of the reflective multilayers for the visible and UV ranges. A gas-dynamic response from the irradiated surfaces was studied with schlieren photography. The properties of original and irradiated multilayers were described with ultra violet visible infrared spectroscopy (UV-Vis-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray reflectometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other techniques. Data on the degradation of optical properties and surface morphology were obtained.

Sources of fusion neutrons with an energy of about 10 MeV can be a driver in hybrid fusion–fission reactor. They can be used for the disposal of radioactive wastes involved in the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle. Currently, the projects of such systems rely on the use of the D–T reaction and the production of tritium in the blanket. In terms of availability of fuel components, the D–D reaction is attractive. The energy of the neutrons produced in the D–D reaction directly is not high enough, but fast neutrons of 14 MeV are produced by the burning of the tritium produced in the D–D reactions. The possibilities of using a D–D plasma confined in a magnetic trap to generate fast neutrons are analyzed. To increase the reaction rate, a powerful heating by injection of neutral deuterium atoms is considered. Under such conditions, a significant population of fast deuterons is maintained. The requirements on the parameters of the plasma and the magnetic trap are discussed to present the possible concept of a fusion neutron source based on deuterium plasma.

The development of specific MRI criteria to monitor the implantation process may provide valuable information of individual tissue response. Using MRI and histological methods, the biointegration of carbon-carbon (C-C) composites into the subcutaneous tissues of BDF1 mice and their biocompatibility were investigated. The study focused on autopsy specimens containing C-C composite implants, both uncoated and coated with synthetic hydroxyapatite (Ca-P) via electrodeposition or detonation techniques, assessed at 6 and 12 weeks post-implantation. The results revealed that the radiological characteristics of the connective tissue capsule surrounding the implants allowed for the differentiation between loose and dense connective tissues. Fat-suppressed T1-weighted MRI scans showed that the volume of both loose and dense connective tissue in the capsule increased proportionally at 6 and 12 weeks, with distinct ratios observed between the coated and uncoated specimens. The proposed MRI criteria provided a strategy for evaluating the density and homogeneity of the connective tissue capsule. This approach could be valuable for further non-invasive in vivo studies on implant biointegration.