Equipment Available:

LEO 435 VP Scanning Electron Microscope The scanning electron microscope (SEM) provides information on the microstructural features of surfaces and interfaces to an enlargement of approximately 150.000 X with a resolution power of a few millionths millimetres. photo 1: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)

JEOL JEM 1010 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) The TEM can enlarge a sample over 1.000.000 X with a resolution inferior to 1O Å., It is used in ultra-structural investigations of biological samples concerning the organisation of cellular cytoplasms and the study of cellular organelles, membranes and proteins. photo 2: TEM image

LLOYD LR 30 K Machine for Universal Tests This is a device used for dynamic traction, compression and cyclic loading tests on various kinds of samples. photo 3: Universal testing machine

Biomaterials microstructural analysis

002: Microstructure of a material used in bone regeneration		003: Collagen membrane
004: Calcium sulfate crystals

Biomaterials/living tissues interface analysis

005: Microstructure of bone-to-implant interface.

006: Fibrin clot on titanium implant. Two red cells are visible

Fractographic analisys on Implant components,
metal, ceramics and composites samples

007: fracture surface of a titanium screw		008: Titanium screw: it is possibile to observe a crack line between the first and second thread
009: internal threads of a fractured implant

Peri-implant vascular network analysis with an innovative technique

010: vascular network in peri implant bone

011: Osteon with a central vessel. It is possibile to observe several branches running from the Havers canal into Volkmann canal

Histomorphometric analysis of hard dental tissues

012: enamel prisms		013: dentinal tubules with Tomes' fibres
014: dentinal tubules		015: Rooth of reabsorbing deciduous tooth

Accuracy analysis of implant components

016: contact between screw threads and internal implant threads

Implant surface analysis

017: surface of a plasma spray implant

018: surface of an acid-etched implant

Cellular Morphology

019: human periodontal ligament derived by mesechymal stem cells

Ultra-structural studies on adhesion mechanisms

19A: scanning electron microscopy image of a restored tooth		19B: adhesion to enamel
19C: adhesion to dentine		19D: adhesion to dentine
19E: adhesion of resin to dentine		19F: Adhesion to dentine with resin tags
19G: Image of enamel-dentine-adhesive complex

SEM evaluation of the adhesive interface of ceramic
laminate veners cemented with mycrohybrid composite

19H: Collagen fibres observed under trasmission electron microscope

19I: enlargement of the previous image

Collagen fibres observed under trasmission electron microscope		A small sectioned vessel with a red cell observed under trasmission electron microscope
Cell in contact with fibrin sponge		Cell in contact with a biomaterial