Papers by Author: Akio Kagawa

Abstract: The mechanism of cancer cell death induced by hydrogen discharged from Pd-5at.% Ni hydrogen storage alloy has been investigated. Cancer cell (HeLa : cervical cancer cell) death was observed in the limited region within ~ 3 mm from the sample. The measurement of surviving fraction of cells revealed that almost all the cancer cells in the well of 96-well multi plate, 6.2 mm in diameter were extinct (p < 0.01), while no detectable influence was observed in the normal cells. From the fluorescent imaging experiment, it was indicated that the cell death induced by discharged hydrogen was due to the “Apoptosis” and hydrogen peroxide was detected in both intracellular and extracellular regions. Furthermore, the generation of hydrogen radical and hydroxyl radical was observed in the ESR measurement. From the results obtained, the mechanism of cancer cell death is proposed.

Abstract: A selective cancer cell death induced by discharged hydrogen from Pd-Ni base hydrogen storage alloy (HSA) powder is demonstrated. From the cell experiment and the measurement of surviving cell rate, it was found that cell death was seen only in cancer cells (HeLa : cervical cancer cell) after 24h- and 48h-immersion of Pd-5at.%Ni alloy powder, while no harmful influence was observed in normal cells (MDCK : renal epithelial cell). The range of cancer cell death was limited just near the HSA powder. It is suggested that the hydrogen radical emitted from the HSA powder induces the formation of hydrogen peroxide and brings a detrimental effect in the cancer cell, while hydrogen peroxide is decomposed by the enzyme, catalase, in normal cells, resulting in the selective death of cancer cells.

Abstract: The influence of discharged hydrogen from Pd-Ni based hydrogen storage alloys (HSAs) on cultured cells has been investigated. The susceptibility of cells to discharged hydrogen varied with the kind of cells. No influence was seen in the normal cells, while an effect of killing cancer cells was observed near the HAS and the region where the cell death was observed was limited to an extent of a few mm from the alloy surface. In order to examine the cause of the effects, the amount of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen radicals released from the alloy surface and pH change of physiological saline aq. solution were measured. The amount of gaseous hydrogen and hydrogen radicals increased with time. The pH of physiological saline aq. solution decreased first and then recovered to the starting value after about 50h. The pH change behavior varied with alloy composition. It is inferred that the hydrogen radicals formed on alloy surface may bring a characteristic change in the cancer cells, leading to the effect of discharged hydrogen on cancer cell death.

Abstract: In order to develop a new application of cast iron, high niobium cast iron has been developed as a grain refiner for stainless steel. High niobium cast iron was prepared by adding pure niobium to a commercial cast iron. Coarse primary niobium carbide crystals were observed in the microstructure of the cast iron. The effect of the high niobium cast iron as an inoculant on the grain size of austenitic and ferritic stainless steels was examined in various experimental conditions. When the amount of the cast iron inoculant more than 3 mass% was added into the steel melt, fine equiaxed grains were observed and grain size was significantly reduced to 210 μm. The results indicate that the high niobium cast iron is effective as a grain refiner for the austenitic and ferritic stainless steels. From the dissolution rate measurement, the grain refining mechanism was proposed.

Abstract: A power actuator based on a great volume expansion on hydrogenation of hydrogen storage alloys (HSAs) has been developed. The actuator has a bimorph structure consisting of Pd-Ni alloy and Cu-plating to convert the volume change into bending motion. The techniques to control the bending and rotation motions of the actuator were investigated by adjusting alloy composition, shape and the amount of hydrogen absorbed in the HSA. It is found that Pd-Ni alloy actuators exhibit a cyclic bending motion on hydrogen absorption and desorption cycles and the bending behavior can be controlled by controlling the hydrogen pressure. When a ribbon shaped actuator was deformed into the “L” shape on the transverse section, a rotation motion was observed without modifying the basic bimorph structure of the actuator.

Abstract: ZnTe compound semiconductors were synthesized in acidic aqueous solution using a pulsed current electrodeposition technique. The optimum condition to obtain ZnTe deposits was determined by the cathodic polarization curves measured at a wide potential range. During the co-deposition of Zn and Te, under potential deposition (UPD) of Zn was observed. Increasing the solution temperature up to 353 K, UPD of Zn was promoted by the formation of Zn(OH)2. Crystal phase, structure and chemical composition of electrodeposited ZnTe was controlled by the solution composition and electrolysis condition. The band gap energy of ZnTe films annealed at 573 K was close to 2.26 eV.

Abstract: Co/Cu multilayered nanowires with 40 nm in diameter were fabricated using a pulsed current deposition technique into a nanoporous template with numerous nanochannels. To determine the optimum electrodeposition condition of Cu and Co into the template, cathodic polarization behavior was examined at a wide range of cathode potential. Time-dependence of deposition current was monitored to determine the growth rate of Co and Cu nanowires. Co layer and Cu layer thicknesses were adjusted to several tens nanometers, by controlling the deposition times. With decreasing the each layer thickness, the coercive force of Co/Cu multilayered nanowires was decreased and the soft magnetic property was improved.

Abstract: To synthesize an array of numerous ferromagnetic nanowires, iron-group metals such as Ni, Co, Fe, Ni-Fe and Co-Fe alloys were electrodeposited from aqueous solution into a nanoporous template with numerical cylindrical nanochannels . The shape of nanowires was precisely transferred from the nanochannel template and the aspect ratio reached to around 150. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed that Ni, Co and Fe nanowires were spontaneously magnetized to the long axis direction. Coercive force of the nanowires with 6000 nm in length was increased in decreasing the pore-diameter. The coercive force of Co nanowires with 40 nm in diameter has increased up to 1084 Oe.

Abstract: In order to develop the alumina fiber reinforcements optimized to FRMMCs, the effect of characteristics of alumina fibers on the fabrication process and the characteristics of the alumina fiber reinforced Al alloy composites was investigated. Alumina fibers which have different alumina content were prepared. Alumina content in the fibers was varied from 80% to 100%. Al-4mass%Cu alloy, Al-12mass%Si alloy and Al-10masss%Mg alloy were used as matrix. The FRMMC specimens were fabricated by a low-pressure infiltration process (LPI process). The formability of the preform was improved with increasing alumina content in the fibers. However, broken fibers were observed in the preform when alumina fibers with high alumina content were used. The number of the broken fibers seemed to be increased with increasing alumina content in the fibers. This result could be attributable to a change of fiber strength resulting from a change of alumina content in the fiber. The FRMMC specimens were characterized by using Vickers hardness test. The Vickers hardness of FRMMC specimens depended on the elasticity or the hardness of the fibers. The results obtained suggest that the characteristics of the FRMMCs largely depend on the intrinsic characteristics of the reinforcement fibers.

Abstract: Ni-Fe alloy films and nanowires were fabricated using electrodeposition technique. The cylindrical shape of nanowires was precisely transferred from the nanochannels of membrane filters and the aspect ratio reached to around 60. Coercive force in in-plan direction of Ni-Fe alloy films decreased to ca. 1 Oe with increasing Fe content in deposits while, in perpendicular direction, the films were hardly magnetized. Magnetic hysteresis loops revealed that the nanowires were spontaneously magnetized to the long axis direction and the coercive force reached to ca. 200 Oe.