Arduino Automated Microwave Oven for Tissue Decalcification

Paolo Savadori; Sophia Dalfino; Marco Piazzoni; Francesco Inchingolo; Massimo Del Fabbro; Gianluca Martino Tartaglia; Luciano Giardino

doi:10.3390/bioengineering10010079

Arduino Automated Microwave Oven for Tissue Decalcification

Paolo Savadori^*, Sophia Dalfino, Marco Piazzoni, Francesco Inchingolo, Massimo Del Fabbro, Gianluca Martino Tartaglia, Luciano Giardino

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Decalcification of hard tissues such as bone and teeth is a complex process that requires using chemicals such as acids and chelating agents. Acids act faster than chelating agents, but they have a greater risk of damaging biological samples. Increasing the reaction speed of the chelating agent may solve this issue. There are several strategies to speed up this process, and using microwaves seems to be one of the most effective. However, lab-dedicated microwave ovens are expensive, and their purchase may seem unjustified. Therefore, a low-cost modification of a commercial microwave oven, consisting of an Arduino automation device, has been developed. The setup has proven reliable for continuous work, thanks to implementing an electronic safety circuit. In addition, it may reduce the decalcification time using a chelating agent, achieving optimal results regarding tissue preservation and quality of histological sections.

Original language	English
Article number	79
Number of pages	10
Journal	Bioengineering
Volume	10
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10010079
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2023

Keywords

Arduino
bone
decalcification
microwaves
teeth

Access to Document

10.3390/bioengineering10010079Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Arduino Automated Microwave Oven for Tissue Decalcification",

abstract = "Decalcification of hard tissues such as bone and teeth is a complex process that requires using chemicals such as acids and chelating agents. Acids act faster than chelating agents, but they have a greater risk of damaging biological samples. Increasing the reaction speed of the chelating agent may solve this issue. There are several strategies to speed up this process, and using microwaves seems to be one of the most effective. However, lab-dedicated microwave ovens are expensive, and their purchase may seem unjustified. Therefore, a low-cost modification of a commercial microwave oven, consisting of an Arduino automation device, has been developed. The setup has proven reliable for continuous work, thanks to implementing an electronic safety circuit. In addition, it may reduce the decalcification time using a chelating agent, achieving optimal results regarding tissue preservation and quality of histological sections.",

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author = "Paolo Savadori and Sophia Dalfino and Marco Piazzoni and Francesco Inchingolo and {Del Fabbro}, Massimo and Tartaglia, {Gianluca Martino} and Luciano Giardino",

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AU - Savadori, Paolo

AU - Dalfino, Sophia

AU - Piazzoni, Marco

AU - Inchingolo, Francesco

AU - Del Fabbro, Massimo

AU - Tartaglia, Gianluca Martino

AU - Giardino, Luciano

PY - 2023/1/1

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AB - Decalcification of hard tissues such as bone and teeth is a complex process that requires using chemicals such as acids and chelating agents. Acids act faster than chelating agents, but they have a greater risk of damaging biological samples. Increasing the reaction speed of the chelating agent may solve this issue. There are several strategies to speed up this process, and using microwaves seems to be one of the most effective. However, lab-dedicated microwave ovens are expensive, and their purchase may seem unjustified. Therefore, a low-cost modification of a commercial microwave oven, consisting of an Arduino automation device, has been developed. The setup has proven reliable for continuous work, thanks to implementing an electronic safety circuit. In addition, it may reduce the decalcification time using a chelating agent, achieving optimal results regarding tissue preservation and quality of histological sections.

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