Abstract: Described herein are substrates coated with crystals having uniform crystalline morphology on the surface of the substrate. The coated substrates are useful in culturing and performing functional assays on cells such as, for example, resorption studies on bone cells. New methods for producing such coated substrates are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are substrates coated with crystals having uniform crystalline morphology on the surface of the substrate. The coated substrates are useful in culturing and performing functional assays on cells such as, for example, resorption studies on bone cells. New methods for producing such coated substrates are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a glass-ceramic having high strength and toughness and containing miserite as a predominant crystal phase. The glass-ceramic has a composition calculated in terms of a weight percent on the oxide basis comprising 40-68% SiO.sub.2, 12-35% CaO, 8-20% CaF.sub.2, 4-10.5% K.sub.2 O, 0-5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-15% P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0-4% R.sub.2 O.sub.3, wherein R represents Y.sup.3+ and rare earth metals in the lanthanide series, and 0-5% of optional constituents selected from the group consisting of MgO, SrO, BaO, Na.sub.2 O, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, ZrO.sub.2, and ZnO, and 0-10% of optional constituents selected from the group consisting of Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 and TiO.sub.2 and 0-2% Li.sub.2 O as an optional constituent. The glass-ceramic may contain secondary phases of cristobalite (SiO.sub.2), fluorite (CaF.sub.2), xonotlite (Ca.sub.6 Si.sub.6 O.sub.17 F.sub.2), and fluorapatite (Ca.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.

Abstract: Methods for producing thin colloidal silica films on substrates, such as corona treated polystyrene, are provided. The dried films are characterized as 50 nm thick, high silanol, homogenous, high surface area, porous, uncracked, adherent, wetting, negatively charged, and gamma radiation stable. Several differential advantages of the colloidal silica films were demonstrated in epithelial cell culture, especially regarding primary cultures in serum free media. Cell responses to the films were increased explant adhesion, increased cell growth rate, and increased expression of differentiated function before and after subculture as compared to tissue culture polystyrene.

Abstract: High silica glasses exhibiting blue color by transmitted light are produced by impregnating a porous, high silica glass with a solution of cobalt, aluminum, and selected alkaline earth or alkali salts, and then consolidating the glass under oxidizing conditions to dope the glass with the corresponding oxides. The tinted glass has particular utility as a blue filter for lighting applications.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic biomaterial having high strength and toughness, a family of glasses from which the glass-ceramic biomaterial can be produced, and a method of production. The material has a primary crystal phase of F-canasite and a secondary crystal phase of F-apatite. The glass family is SiO.sub.2 --CaO--Na.sub.2 O--K.sub.2 O--P.sub.2 O.sub.5 --F. The method may be a single stage heat treatment, or a two stage involving an initial nucleation and a subsequent crystallization.