Mohamed O. Amin is a graduate of Kuwait University and currently pursuing an MSc in medicinal chemistry. Despite being passionate about medicinal chemistry he is always looking for other research opportunities in other research laboratories in Kuwait University. This quest for knowledge and experience lead him to work in Dr. Al-Hetlani and Dr. Madkour laboratory and learn about nanomaterials synthesis, characterization and vast range of applications. He has published his first research paper in the area of photocataysis using TiO₂ NP_s. Furthermore, He participated in using this type of nanomaterial as solid support for detection applications namely, chemiluminesscnce (CL) due to their large surface area. This work is the first of its kind in the area of solid state CL and was used for the detection of oxalic acid and two pharmaceutical compounds achieving enhanced LoD.

This work describes a novel and versatile solid-state sensor for analytes detection using Ru(bpy)₃²⁺-Ce(IV). Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization, optimization and application of a new type of hybrid nanoparticles (NPs). Mesoporous TiO_2-Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ NPs were prepared using a modified sol-gel method by incorporating Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ into the initial reaction mixture at various concentrations. The resultant bright orange precipitate was characterized via: TEM, N₂ sorpometry, ICP-OES, Raman and UV-Vis spectroscopy techniques. The concentration of Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ complex in the NP_s was quantified and its chemiluminescnce (CL) response was compared to the same concentration in the liquid phase using oxalate as model analyte. The results showed that this type of hybrid material exhibited higher CL signal compared to the liquid phase due to enlarged surface area of the hybrid NP_s (~149.6 m²/g). The amount of TiO_2-Ru(bpy)₃²⁺. NP_s and the effect of the oxidant flow rate were also investigated to optimize the CL signal. The optimized system was further used to detect oxalate and two pharmaceutical drugs; imipramine and promazine. The linearity of both drugs was in the range of 1-100 pM with limits of detection (LoD) of 0.1 and 0.5 pM, respectively. This approach is considered simple, low cost, facile and can be applied to a wide range of analytes.

Piedad N de Aza received her doctoral degree in Chemistry-Ceramic 1995. She did a postdoctoral stage at the IRC in Biomaterials at the Queen Mary College, University of London (U.K.) working on in vitro and in vivo behavior of bioceramics. At this moment, she is the Chair of the Materials Science, Optic and Electronic Technology Department, Professor of Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering and Researcher at the Bioengineering Institute at the Miguel Hernandez de Elche University.

Statement of the Problem: Tissue engineering is a science which studies different ways to achieve the regeneration of diseased tissues. To get it, this field uses scaffolds or porous extracellular 3D matrices, which allow cell migration, vascularization and nutrient diffusion. These matrices need to have the appropriate physical and biological properties such as pore size and structure, surface topography, chemical composition, mechanical strength and degradation rate. These characteristics are capable to induce optimal osteogenesis throughout the scaffolds. For this reason, and because they exhibit an appropriate bioactivity, ceramics are excellent candidates for developing these 3D scaffolds, avoiding the process of stress shielding. The aim of this research was to develop and characterize a novel stratified porous scaffold for future uses in bone tissue engineering. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In this study, a calcium silicophosphate porous scaffold, with nominal composition 29.32 wt% SiO2 – 67.8 wt% CaO – 2.88 wt% P2O5, was produced using the sol-gel and polymer replication methods. Polyurethane sponges were used as templates which were impregnated with a homogeneous sol solution and sintered at 950ºC and 1400ºC during 8 hours. The characteristics of the 3D stratified porous scaffolds were investigated by Scanning Electron Microscopy, X-Ray Diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry, Diametric Compression of Discs Test and Hg porosimetry techniques. Findings: The result showed highly porous stratified calcium silicophosphate scaffolds with micro and macropores interconnected. Also, the material has a diametrical strength dependent on the number of layers of the stratified scaffolds and the sintering temperature. Conclusion & Significance: A new methodology has been developed to obtain a stratified porous 3D ceramic at different temperatures, whose microstructural study has shown a highly interconnected porosity, with an average pore size between 375-400 µm and a Ca/P ratio of 13.09. For this reason, this methodology will allow us to create new customized materials according to the needs of each situation. We will be able to create materials with a high resistant core and high bioactivity coverings or vice versa, depending on the place where you would place the bone implant.