Promimic (Sweden)

During the fourth energy transition, renewable energy sources play a special role as a type of sustainable energy capable of replacing fossil fuels, especially in the electric power sector. Indeed, at present, energy facilities based on renewable energy sources (RES) occupy a significant place in the fuel and energy complex. At the same time, the expert community continues to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable generation, including the instability of energy production, high financial costs during the construction of RES facilities, the environmental friendliness of such energy facilities, etc. Thus, the areas of further development and timely implementation of renewable energy sources in the energy sector include the disposal of components of energy facilities using renewable generation. This aspect may be considered an integral element of the legal regime of said energy facilities and therefore falls within the scope of energy law regulation. The legal regulation of RES in Russia is based on various regulations, namely Federal Law No. 35-FZ dated March 26, 2003, “On Electric Power Industry,” Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2359 dated December 28, 2023, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 86 dated January 30, 2021, and others. However, current Russian law does not establish rules and standards for the disposal of components of energy facilities using renewable energy sources. The practice of legal regulation in China and India may serve as a progressive example of legislative regulation of this area. These states occupy leading positions in terms of production and consumption of electric energy produced using renewable sources. Taking into account the examined foreign legal regulation experience, this article offers proposals for updating the current energy laws of the Russian Federation in the field of disposal of components of energy facilities using renewable generation.

ABSTRACTThis paper is an overview of current understanding in the areas of composites made from biodegradable thermoplastics and wood fillers. The review finds that the composite properties depend on the type of wood filler, the choice of polymer matrix, the wood filler content, the compatibilization technique used and the processing parameters. The extent of interfacial adhesion and the filler morphology are identified as the underlying factors that control the composite properties. Future research needs are identified, including establishment of fundamental relationships between quantified interfacial adhesion and end-use properties and advanced modelling of biodegradation processes.

Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) has been frequently used in spinal surgery with good clinical results. The material has a low elastic modulus and is radiolucent. However, in oral implantology PEEK has displayed inferior ability to osseointegrate compared to titanium materials. One idea to reinforce PEEK would be to coat it with hydroxyapatite (HA), a ceramic material of good biocompatibility. In the present study we analyzed HA-coated PEEK tibial implants via histology and radiography when following up at 3 and 12 weeks. Of the 48 implants, 24 were HA-coated PEEK screws (test) and another 24 implants served as uncoated PEEK controls. HA-coated PEEK implants were always osseointegrated. The total bone area (BA) was higher for test compared to control implants at 3 (p < 0.05) and 12 weeks (p < 0.05). Mean bone implant contact (BIC) percentage was significantly higher (p = 0.024) for the test compared to control implants at 3 weeks and higher without statistical significance at 12 weeks. The effect of HA-coating was concluded to be significant with respect to early bone formation, and HA-coated PEEK implants may represent a good material to serve as bone anchored clinical devices.

This study aimed at investigating if a coating of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals would enhance bone healing over time in trabecular bone. Sandblasted and acid etched titanium implants with and without a submicron thick coat of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (nano-HA) were implanted in rabbit femur with healing times of 2, 4, and 9 weeks. Removal torque analyses and histological evaluations were performed. The torque analysis did not show any significant differences between the implants at any healing time. The control implant showed a tendency of more newly formed bone after 4 weeks of healing and significantly higher bone area values after 9 weeks of healing. According to the results from this present study, both control and nano-HA surfaces were biocompatible and osteoconductive. A submicron thick coating of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals deposited onto blasted and acid etched screw shaped titanium implants did not enhance bone healing, as compared to blasted and etched control implants when placed in trabecular bone.

Nanostructure modification of dental implants has long been sought as a means to improve osseointegration through enhanced biomimicry of host structures. Several methods have been proposed and demonstrated for creating nanotopographic features; here we describe a nanoscale hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated implant surface and hypothesize that it will hasten osseointegration and improve its quality relative to that of non-coated implants. Twenty threaded titanium alloy implants, half prepared with a stable HA nanoparticle surface and half grit-blasted, acid-etched, and heat-treated (HT), were inserted into rabbit femurs. Pre-operatively, the implants were morphologically and topographically characterized. After 3 weeks of healing, the samples were retrieved for histomorphometry. The nanomechanical properties of the surrounding bone were evaluated by nanoindentation. While both implants revealed similar bone-to-implant contact, the nanoindentation demonstrated that the tissue quality was significantly enhanced around the HA-coated implants, validating the postulated hypothesis.

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe aim of the present study was to evaluate calcium phosphate precipitationand the amount of precipitated protein on three potentially bioactivesurfaces when adding laminin in simulated body fluid.Material and MethodsBlasted titanium discs were prepared by three different techniques claimed toprovide bioactivity: alkali and heat treatment (AH), anodic oxidation (AO)or hydroxyapatite coating (HA). A blasted surface incubated inlaminin-containing simulated body fuid served as a positive control (B)while a blasted surface incubated in non laminin-containing simulated bodyfuid served as a negative control (B-). The immersion time was 1 hour, 24hours, 72 hours and 1 week. Surface topography was investigated byinterferometry and morphology by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM).Analysis of the precipitated calcium and phosphorous was performed by EnergyDispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and the adsorbed laminin was quantifiedby iodine (125I) labeling.ResultsSEM demonstrated that all specimens except for the negative control weretotally covered with calcium phosphate (CaP) after 1 week. EDX revealed thatB- demonstrated lower sum of Ca and P levels compared to the other groupsafter 1 week. Iodine labeling demonstrated that laminin precipitated in asimilar manner on the possibly bioactive surfaces as on the positive controlsurface.ConclusionsOur results indicate that laminin precipitates equally on all tested titaniumsurfaces and may function as a nucleation center thus locally elevating thecalcium concentration. Nevertheless further studies are required to clarifythe role of laminin in the interaction of biomaterials with the host bonetissue.