Institute for Color Science and Technology

Recent dental material advancements have sparked increased interest in dental cements due to their natural tooth-like appearance, biocompatibility, and stability. These cements hold potential in dental fillings, enamel and root protection, and connecting dental implants. However, no single cement fulfills all application needs, necessitating multiple types. Ideal dental cements require resistance to degradation, strong bonding, high strength, fracture toughness, and optical transparency for imaging. In this study, the effect of the addition of ZrO 2 , Bi 2 O 3 , and ZnO on the mechanical was the solid-state method was used for the synthesis of calcium aluminate (C 3 A) cement powder, and additives of zirconia, bismuth oxide and zinc oxide were added at magnitudes of 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), setting time, compressive strength (CS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microscopy, and radiopacity evaluation (RE) were performed for characterization and properties evaluations. With the formation of a new phase, C 3 ZA 2 , the compressive strength increased by up to 275% by reducing porosity and stabilizing phase transitions during hydration. The evidence showed that the amount of bismuth oxide and zirconia additive have high optical (7 and 3.5 mmA) and biological properties and a significant impact on strength in dental applications.

Dyes are organic compounds. Azo dyes, as the most important dyes, are usually synthesized and reduced after entering the human body, turning into mutagenic and carcinogenic amines. A new efficient composite containing calix [4] arene (Calix), metal‐organic framework (MIL‐101(Fe)), and copper(II) oxide (Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO) was synthesized and utilized for the degradation of Malachite Green (MG). The dye removal efficiency was 17% for Calix, 56% for CuO, 64% for MIL‐101(Fe), and 98.8% for the Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO composite using LED visible light. The degradation of MG by Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO using different doses, including 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg, was 8%, 64%, 75%, 85%, and 98.8%, respectively. The degradation kinetic rate constants for 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg of Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO were 0.0134, 0.1086, 0.1182, 0.1308, and 0.1727 (zero‐order rate), 5E‐04, 0.007, 0.008, 0.011, and 0.023 (first‐order rate), and 4E‐05, 0.0007, 0.001, 0.0017, and 0.0211 (second‐order rate), respectively. The MG degradation kinetics obeyed the zero‐order model. The Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO exhibited high reusability for MG degradation. The results suggest that Calix/MIL‐101(Fe)/CuO could serve as an alternative photocatalyst for the degradation of contaminants in aqueous media.

Today, economic consumption of biodegradable polymers is significant in many applications. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) and polylactic acid (PLA) are two bio-based and biodegradable polymers that are increasingly being used to replace the petrochemical-based polymers. Adding TPS into a PLA matrix can also decrease material cost and increase its biodegradation rate. This work tested the printability of TPS/PLA films. For this purpose, TPS was first prepared by the addition of sorbitol and glycerol as softeners using an internal mixer at 140°C. Then, it was added to the PLA in internal mixer at 180°C. To analyse the data, design of the experiment was done according to Box–Behnken design (BBD) method for three variables in three levels by using Design-Expert software, which led to the preparation of 15 samples. Individual and interactive effects of wt% of PLA in TPS/PLA mixture, the wt% of starch in TPS, and the ratio of sorbitol to glycerol on the tensile properties, thermal properties and printing properties (optical density) were investigated. Solvent-based flexographic ink was applied to test printability of the films. It has been found that the PLA can be successfully printed with flexographic solvent inks to achieve a quality comparable to that of common packaging films.

The current investigation has utilized a simple and constructive stratified method to synthesize a binary (Cs/Z-8: chitosan (Cs) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Z-8)) and ternary Cs/Z-8/Z-67 (Z-67: ZIF-67) biocomposites at room temperature. A certain amount of Cs/Z-8 (0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g) was used to prepare ternary biocompos-ites (denoted as Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.05, Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.1, and Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.2, respectively). The synthesized materials were characterized. Through the adornment Cs, a non-toxic biopolymer, with Z-8 and Z-67, the desired efficacy in removing pollutants (TCN: Tetracycline, AB92: Acid Blue 92, and MB: Methylene Blue) was achieved under LED visible light. TCN removal in the presence of visible light by Cs, Z-8, Cs/Z-8, Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.05, Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.1, and Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.2 was 22.6 %, 47.3 %, 69.0 %, 77.0 %, 95.5 %, and 65.0 %, respectively. The trapping test showed that TCN degradation by adding ascorbic acid, methanol, and IPA was 44.8 %, 66.9 %, and 78.5 %, respectively. It could be concluded that the O 2-play the decisive role for the destruction of TCN. The reusability of Cs/Z-8/Z-67-0.1 as a photocatalyst indicated that it had the capability to preserve its stability and performance for three successive cycles of use (95.5 %, 89.0 %, and 84.0 %). Also, Cs/Z-8/Z-67 had dye degradation ability (39.0 % for Methylene Blue and 81.0 % for Acid Blue 92).

Four dyes with substitutions of carbazole and phenothiazine in position C4 of naphthalimide were designed in conjugation as a donor–acceptor architecture (D–A). The absorption and emission characteristics of the prepared dyes were investigated in H2O, dimethylformamide (DMF), and their mixture (DMF:H2O = 1:1). The prepared dyes exhibited a pink and yellow color, with strong emission at λem = 526–590 nm due to charge transfer, with a positive solvatochromic effect. The feasibility of electron transfer in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) structure and energy levels were evaluated using electrochemical and density functional theory (DFT), which confirmed the use of dyes in the DSSC structure. The DSSCs were prepared using an individual strategy, and their optical properties were investigated under light of AM 1.5. The DSSCs based on dyes 1–4 achieved efficiency of 4.37%, 4.59%, 4.11%, and 4.27%, respectively. Therefore, the power efficiency increased by about 39% in the presence of the phenothiazine group.

Introduction There has been a marked increase in vaping in the UK since 2012 and in children between 2018–2021. Anecdotal reports from those working directly with children and young people indicate further increases across Wales since 2019. Aim To update prevalence but also look at patterns, access to and types of vaping in 2024. Methods Action on Smoking in Health (ASH) Wales worked with academic partners, Public Health Wales, schoolteachers, young people and trading standards officers to develop a ‘children and youth survey on smoking and vaping’. Using cloud-based survey software, SurveyMonkey, a version was tested on a cohort of young people, then links were sent to 195 state secondary schools and colleges and emailed to Healthy Schools Officers across Wales, on the ASH Wales database between Sept-Dec 2023. Results 12,524 pupils responded from 34 out of the 195 institutions, covering all counties in Wales.By age 17, 44% of all pupils had tried vaping at least once and more than half (57%) described vaping in their Year group as ‘common’ or ‘very common’. At all ages more girls than boys vaped. View this table: • View inline • View popup Abstract P131 Table 1 22% of 11-year-olds report vapes are ‘very easy or easy’ to get hold of, rising to 62% of 17-year-olds, with friends or family being the most common source. Children who currently vape were twice as likely to live with a smoker or a vaper than children who had never vaped (66% vs 32%). 92% of current vapers said they used vapes containing nicotine, and 45% said they felt they could not go through the whole school day without vaping. 25% of vapers said they would like to stop. Conclusions The rise of vaping in UK schoolchildren continues to rise alarmingly with new data suggesting risk factors for uptake. Clear descriptions of (vape) nicotine addiction are now appearing.

This study introduces a multi‐component composite as a substitute for lead grids in ultra‐battery structures. The presented composite decreases the weight and simultaneously extends the cycle life of the traditional lead‐acid battery. Overall, UBZCP (the sample containing metal oxides and polyaniline), as the best sample, increases the cyclic stability by 3.3 and 1.4 times under high rate partial state of charge (HRPSoC) mode, compared to Native and UB450 samples. Metal oxides predominantly enhance the electrical conductivity of carbon‐based composites due to catalytic effects in the reduction of graphene oxide during heat treatment. Poly aniline shows considerably positive effect of electrochemical performance due to the high pseudo‐capacitive properties, high interaction of lead ions and the nitrogen in the polymer chains and accordingly hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) inhibition. The synergistic effect of polyaniline and metal oxides makes the best performance in the UBZCP sample achieve. Also, the UBZCP sample represented an enhancement of about 1.21 and 1.39 times in battery life and specific capacity under deep discharge mode compared to the Native sample. As a result, the introduced multi‐component composite making a 3D conductive network, facilitates Pb/PbSO4 reaction reversibility, and reduces the lead sulfate crystal size.

A novel photocatalyst comprising g-C3N4/NiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH)/CeO2 nanocomposites were synthesized via a straightforward hydrothermal method. Rhodamine B (RB) was employed as a model dye to assess the degradation efficiency of the nanocomposites. The catalytic efficiency of the synthesized ternary nanocomposites was compared with of dual g-C3N4/NiAl-LDH and NiAl-LDH/CeO2 nanocomposites. The pristine photocatalysts were subjected to characterization through X-ray diffraction (for crystallinity), field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (for microstructure), thermogravimetry analysis (for thermal stability) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (for composition and chemical bondings). UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were used for energy band gap calculations. Results demonstrated the successful formation of g-C3N4/NiAl-LDH/CeO2 3D nanocomposite by bridging g-C3N4 and CeO2. The resultant g- C3N4/NiAl-LDH/CeO2 composite exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared to bare NiAl-LDH, CeO2, and g-C3N4/NiAl-LDH and LDH/CeO2 nanocomposites, achieving a degradation efficiency of 98% for RB under UV irradiation after 350 min. A broader range of absorption (from UV to visible light) was achieved for ternary nanocomposite. A plausible mechanism was proposed based on the observed results and the kinetic of degradation was studied.

Phenothiazine and thioindigo were used as substitutes to make new Ru dyes for DSSCs. The thioindigo unit is a notable molecule with strong technical qualities in these photosensitizers. As a result, research was done on the cyano substituent as an electron‐donating group. Both theoretical and experimental methods were used to assess the complexes' optical response. A better photovoltaic response is achieved by the cyano groups' efficient bonding with the semiconductor layer. Additionally, the complexes that were formed contain two different kinds of electron accepter substituents: cyanoacrylic acid and carboxylic acid, with efficiencies of 7.42% and 4.17%, respectively. Additionally, cosensitization was investigated and analyzed utilizing N719 and two generated complexes. DSSCs made with Complex 1 and 2 and N719 have corresponding efficiency percentages of 8.86% and 9.74%.

Integration of nanomaterials in textiles is one of the important and emerging technologies (textile sensors) for providing sensors in medical care. The advantages of this technology are simplicity of application, high sensitivity, and biocompatibility. Therefore, the development of this technology and its replacement with traditional methods is increasing. These sensors provide the possibility of accurate assessment of heart rate, breathing, temperature, and body pressure easily. The application of nano materials such as graphene, metals, and polymers is the most important innovation of this technology. The use of graphene has increased the accuracy of these sensors so that they monitor the smallest changes. The textile sensor should be lightweight and durable so that the user can wear it easily. On the other hand, the used nanomaterials and coating methods must be free of any toxicity or sensitivity risks. In this chapter, nanomaterials, coating methods, sub-prospects for the development of textile sensors production technology, and their challenges are examined. In order to get the best results, the cooperation of engineers and doctors is necessary because the most important application of textile sensors is in the field of health, and health data is the most important output of this technology.

Nanoscale textile coatings represent a cutting-edge field with the potential to revolutionize the functionality and sustainability of fabrics. A comprehensive review of the materials used in creating these innovative coatings has been provided. Starting with an introduction to nanomaterials, their definitions, types, and properties relevant to textile coatings are explored. The discussion then extends to inorganic materials, including metallic and ceramic nanoparticles like zinc oxide, nano silica, silver, gold, and nano titania. Organic materials, such as polymeric nanoparticles and carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, graphene, and carbon fibers), are also examined in detail. Challenges and research directions in the field are addressed, offering insights into potential obstacles and future opportunities. The conclusion encapsulates the key findings and emphasizes the significance of nanoscale textile coatings in enhancing various aspects of textiles. This chapter serves as a valuable guide for researchers, industry professionals, and students seeking to understand the current state and future prospects of nanoscale textile coatings.

This chapter deals with introducing natural colorants based on anthocyanins and carotenoids, as well as how nanotechnology enhances their extraction, stability, and textile-related applications. Due to the negative environmental impacts of synthetic dyes and some endearing characteristics of natural colorants, these types of dyes have attracted a lot of attention. While a variety of red, purple, and blue shades can be obtained by anthocyanins, carotenoids are mainly responsible for red, orange, and yellow colors in nature. Despite all benefits of these natural colorants, their utilization in textiles is challenging. Recent advances in nanotechnology enable an effective extraction and stabilization of these colorants. The incorporation of nanomaterials such as metal–organic frameworks (MOF), nanofibers, and nanocapsules can facilitate in creating a wider application of anthocyanin and carotenoids in the textile industry. In conclusion, nanotechnology enables a performance improvement of natural dyes to extend their application to develop biomedical, functional, eco-friendly and sustainable textile products.

This chapter covers a broad spectrum of subjects, including synthesis, dispersion process, optical characteristics, and applications of nanopigments within textiles sector. Nanopigments have emerged as a revolutionary technology with the potential to bring remarkable changes in multiple applications, such as coloration, printing, and eventual textile finishing. The reduced dimensions of nanopigments lead to nanostructured materials, which result in enhanced color characteristics, heightened resistance to fading caused by light exposure, and superior dispersibility in different mediums. Furthermore, these materials offer functional properties such as antibacterial, temperature regulation, UV protection, fire resistance, photothermal, antistatic, and self-cleaning properties. Nanopigments encompass both organic and inorganic substances that can be synthesized and applied by a range of processes. Various methods of nanopigments syntheses, as well as the importance of nanopigment dispersion will be discussed in this chapter. Moreover, the additional optical and functional benefits of nanopigments applied on textiles will be disclosed.

Background: Drug combination therapy is preferred over monotherapy in clinical research to improve therapeutic effects. Developing a new nanodelivery system for cancer drugs can reduce side effects and provide several advantages, including matched pharmacokinetics and potential synergistic activity. This study aimed to examine and determine the efficiency of the gemini surfactants (GSs) as a pH-sensitive polymeric carrier and cell-penetrating agent in cancer cells to achieve dual drug delivery and synergistic effects of curcumin (Cur) combined with tamoxifen citrate (TMX) in the treatment of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human BC cell lines. Methods: The synthesized NPs were self-assembled using a modified nanoprecipitation method. The functional groups and crystalline form of the nanoformulation were examined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) used to assess zeta potential and particle size, and the morphological analysis determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The anticancer effect was evaluated through an in vitro cytotoxicity MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis, and apoptosis analysis performed for mechanism investigation. Results: The tailored NPs were developed with a size of 252.3 ± 24.6 nm and zeta potential of 18.2 ± 4.4 mV capable of crossing the membrane of cancer cells. The drug loading and release efficacy assessment showed that the loading of TMX and Cur were 93.84% ± 1.95% and 90.18% ± 0.56%, respectively. In addition, the drug release was more controlled and slower than the free state. Polymeric nanocarriers improved controlled drug release 72.19 ± 2.72% of Tmx and 55.50 ± 2.86% of Cur were released from the Tmx-Cur-Gs NPs after 72 h at pH = 5.5. This confirms the positive effect of polymeric nanocarriers on the controlled drug release mechanism. moreover, the toxicity test showed that combination-drug delivery was much more greater than single-drug delivery in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Cellular imaging showed excellent internalization of TMX-Cur-GS NPs in both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and synergistic anticancer effects, with combination indices of 0.561 and 0.353, respectively.

Objective This study assessed the effect of the anodization of titanium abutments on the color parameters and color difference of lithium disilicate (LDS) all‐ceramic crowns. Materials and Methods In this study, 19 straight abutments were divided into two groups: anodized (n = 9) and non‐anodized control (n = 9), with one hybrid zirconia abutment as a reference. Anodization was achieved by applying 63 V energy using seven 9 V flat batteries in series, with an electrolyte solution comprising 1 g trisodium phosphate in 250 mL distilled water for 5 s, resulting in a gold‐yellow color. Abutments were then scanned, and full‐contour monolithic IPS e.max maxillary central incisor crowns were fabricated with 2 mm thickness and glazed. Reflectance was measured using a spectroradiometer, and color coordinates (L*, a*, b*, h*, and C*) were calculated using CS‐10W software. Color differences of the crowns in both groups were quantified using the CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) color difference formula and analyzed by t‐test (α = 0.05) compared to the standard sample. Results The L*, a*, b*, and c* parameters in anodized abutments were significantly higher than those in non‐anodized abutments, while the h* parameter in anodized abutments was significantly lower than that in non‐anodized abutments (p < 0.001 for all). There was a significant difference in ΔE00 of the two groups (p = 0.043). Conclusion Anodization of titanium abutments improved the color parameters of LDS all‐ceramic crowns and significantly decreased their ΔE compared with non‐anodized abutments.