Papers by Author: Liga Berzina-Cimdina

Abstract: An alternative daily cover (ADC) is a recommended part of the modern waste landfill. Developed by ADC, involving clay minerals available in Latvia as well as wood fibers; 2 appropriate composites are selected. The coating's effectiveness has been estimated for odour in the environment, and the coating has been tested in field conditions. The obtained coating shows the ability to maintain a physical condition more than a month without changing its consistency. Compared with commercially available daily cover, which is many times higher in price, the developed coating exhibits the same odour characteristics. It is recommended to continue testing and assess the ability to absorb harmful elements by using this coating.

Abstract: α-Tricalcium phosphate is an important ingredient of calcium phosphate bone cements, which are used for bone defect augmentation and repair. In this study sub-micrometre sized α­tricalcium phosphate particles were synthesized by heat treating amorphous calcium phosphate. Size of synthesized particles depended on duration and temperature of heat treatment. Longer duration and higher temperatures produced larger particles. The reactivity of synthesized particles did not correlate with particle size – the smallest particles did not have the highest reactivity. The most reactive particles were prepared at 700-800 °C. The prepared particles were more reactive than those of conventionally synthesized α-tricalcium phosphate.

Abstract: One of the most used calcium phosphate implant materials in bone tissue regeneration is synthetic hydroxyapatite, which is similar to mineral phase of bone. By adding antibacterial effect to hydroxyapatite properties and creating controlled drug delivery systems based on this material, it is possible to obtain multifunctional material. Thus, in this study hydroxyapatite was doped with silver up to 1 wt% to provide antibacterial effect and from the obtained material dense and porous scaffolds were prepared. Prepared scaffolds were coated with chitosan and cross-linked with dexamethasone sodium phosphate (DEXA). Scaffolds were characterized and it is shown that linkage between chitosan coating and DEXA on the surface of hydroxyapatite and silver doped hydroxyapatite can ensure the controlled drug release up to 70 h.

Abstract: There are a lot of studies about colloidal stability of suspensions and emulsions containing clay minerals, but only few about illite containing clays. Due to increasing demand for eco cosmetics, research about the possibility to use natural colloidal particles (clay minerals) as stabilizers also increases. In this study illitic clays were used to investigate the stability of glycerol containing suspensions and safflower oil-in-water emulsions. Three types of clay samples were used – chemically untreated, after removal of carbonates and iron compounds. Viscosity and zeta potential of glycerol suspensions was determined. Samples with the highest viscosity were also the most stable. The removal of iron compounds significantly decreased the viscosity of suspensions and increased the zeta potential

Abstract: The main goal of this study was to evaluate the behavior of Sr- and/or Mg-containing hydroxyapatite (HAp) bioceramics in simulated body fluid (SBF). Sr-and/or Mg-containing HAp powders were synthesized by modified wet chemical precipitation method. Sr-and/or Mg-containing HAp bioceramics were prepared by uniaxial pressing of the precipitated powders and subsequent sintering at 1100 °C for 1 h. The synthesis products were characterized in terms of chemical, phase and molecular composition. Influence of the substitutions on thermal stability, morphology and microstructure of the HAp products were evaluated. Results suggest that incorporation of Sr (up to 1.45 wt.%) in HAp structure induced an increasing of particle sizes, but incorporation of Mg (up to 1.05 wt.%) led to a reduction of particle sizes of the HAp powders. The ability to simultaneously release bioactive ions and the apatite-formation ability of the Sr-and/or Mg-containing HAp bioceramics were evaluated through immersing the samples in SBF for different time periods. Ca ions release and apatite-formation ability on the surfaces of the Sr-and/or Mg-containing HAp bioceramics in SBF depends on Sr and/or Mg concentration in the samples.

Abstract: The properties of calcium phosphate cements are influenced both by presence of setting aids in cement paste and also by surface properties and particle size distribution of solid phase. In this study the influence of α-tricalcium phosphate powder preparation methods on properties of cement are examined: milling, thermal treatment at temperatures up to 600°C and treatment with deionized water. The properties of cements based on prepared powders evaluated are: setting time, injectability and cohesion. The compressive strength of selected cement samples was determined. Thermal treatment improves injectability, but significantly prolongs setting time and reduces cohesiveness. Treatment of powder particles with deionized water increases setting time, but also significantly reduces injectability. It was not possible to significantly increase powder liquid ratio (from 1.75 to 2.00), if thermally treated powders were used. It was found that reduction of particle size, under certain conditions, can increase the injectability of cements. Powder preparation methods do not significantly affect the compression strength of cement, but fast setting upon the contact water based fluids is necessary to obtain cohesive cements.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of biogenic and synthetic starting materials on properties of porous hydroxyapatite (HAp) bioceramics. HAp powders were synthesized by modified precipitation method using biogenic calcium carbonates (ostrich (Struthio camelus) egg shells, hen (Gallus gallus domesticus) egg shells, snail (Viviparus contectus) shells) and synthetic calcium oxides (Sigma-Aldrich and Fluka). Specific surface area, molecular structure and morphology of obtained powders were determined. As-synthesized HAp powders had a varied specific surface area with a wide range from 83 to 150 m²g^-1 depending on CaO source. Porous bodies of HAp were prepared by in situ viscous mass foaming with NH₄HCO₃ as pore forming agent. Foamed and dried green bodies were sintered at 1100 °C. The obtained bioceramics were investigated using Archimedes method, field emission scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method. There are considerable differences between porous HAp bioceramics structures prepared from different sources of CaO. The choice of starting material substantially affects the macro-and microstructure of prepared porous bioceramics.

Abstract: TiO₂ samples were obtained by extrusion process, sintered in air at 1000 °C, 1100 °C, 1200°C and 1300 °C and, afterwards, thermally treated under vacuum conditions at 1250 °C for 1 hour applying two different heating/cooling rates (2 °C/min and 5 °C/min). It was found that thermal treatment conditions substantially affected thermoelectric properties of the samples. Increasing sintering temperature, during the sample thermal treatment in air, the electrical conductivity of the specimens increased, while Seebeck coefficient decreased. With an increase in the heating rate during the vacuum heat treatment of the samples, the electrical conductivity of the samples decreased, while Seebeck coefficient increased.

Abstract: Surface properties of a material play a significant role in manipulating biological response of living body to artificial materials. The aim of this work was put on bioactivity assessment of TiO₂ ceramic after thermal treatment and further surface activation with UV-light. The in vitro apatite-forming ability was examined by soaking the samples into the simulated body fluid for several days. The research shows that nanostructural surface and UV irradiation accelerates formation of apatite on TiO₂ pellets.

Abstract: The present work describes results of investigation of structural characteristics of TiO₂ ceramics, depending on temperature and thermal treatment conditions by using a variety of characterization techniques. TiO₂ ceramics was prepared by extrusion method and developed as a material for electrodes for innovative water treatment technologies. It was shown that non-stoichiometric phase TiO_1.95 was observed after thermal treatment of TiO₂ ceramics under high vacuum conditions.