The present invention provides a vapour deposition method for preparing an amorphous lithium borosilicate or doped lithium borosilicate compound, the method comprising: providing a vapour source of each component element of the compound, wherein the vapour sources comprise at least a source of lithium, a source of oxygen, a source of boron, and a source of silicon, and, optionally, a source of at least one dopant element; delivering a flow of said lithium, said oxygen, said boron and said silicon, and, optionally, said dopant element; and co-depositing the component elements from the vapour sources onto a substrate wherein the component elements react on the substrate to form the amorphous compound; wherein the amorphous lithium borosilicate or doped lithium borosilicate ompound has a lithium content in the range 40-65 atomic %, based on the combined atomic percentages of lithium, boron and silicon.

A pH-switchable carrier composition includes a plurality of bioactive glass particles, wherein each of the bioactive glass particle is optionally at least a partially coated with a surface modifier; wherein the bioactive glass particles, with or without, the surface modifier can bind to a nucleic acid compound upon contact at pH in the range of about 7 to about 11, and exhibit controlled release of the nucleic acid compound at pH in the range of about 5 to 6.

A pH-switchable carrier composition includes a plurality of bioactive glass particles, wherein each of the bioactive glass particle is optionally at least a partially coated with a surface modifier; wherein the bioactive glass particles, with or without, the surface modifier can bind to a nucleic acid compound upon contact at pH in the range of about 7 to about 11, and exhibit controlled release of the nucleic acid compound at pH in the range of about 5 to 6.

A transparent glass-ceramic composition including: of the formula Ta.sub.2-xAl.sub.xO.sub.5-x where x is less than 1; of the formula AlTaO.sub.4; of the formula AlPO.sub.4; a mixture of AlTaO.sub.4 and AlPO.sub.4; or a mixture of the formula Ta.sub.2-xAl.sub.xO.sub.5-x, AlTaO.sub.4, and AlPO.sub.4. Also disclosed are transparent glass-ceramic compositions including, for example, a dopant as defined herein, or a supplemental metal oxide or metalloid oxide of M.sub.xO.sub.y, M.sub.xM′.sub.xO.sub.y, or a mixture thereof such as oxides of Nb, Ti, W, B, or Ga, as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the disclosed transparent glass-ceramic compositions, and optical articles, optical components, and optical apparatus thereof.

Architectural structures including an inorganic material carrier including cement and particles or fibers of a glass including a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions. In aspects, the glass may have a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In aspects, the glasses may include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. In other aspects, the glass can have a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The glasses and articles disclosed herein can exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

Architectural structures including an inorganic material carrier including cement and particles or fibers of a glass including a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions. In aspects, the glass may have a glass phase and a cuprite phase. In aspects, the glasses may include a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions, a degradable phase including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5 and K.sub.2O and a durable phase including SiO.sub.2. In other aspects, the glass can have a plurality of Cu.sup.1+ ions disposed on the surface of the glass and in the glass network and/or the glass matrix. The glasses and articles disclosed herein can exhibit a 2 log reduction or greater in a concentration of at least one of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli, under the EPA Test Method for Efficacy of Copper Alloy as a Sanitizer testing condition and under Modified JIS Z 2801 for Bacteria testing conditions.

Glass compositions with high Young's modulus are disclosed. The glass compositions may include phosphorus oxide (P.sub.2O.sub.5), alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), boron oxide (B.sub.2O.sub.3), lithium oxide (Li.sub.2O), magnesia (MgO), titania (TiO.sub.2), lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2O.sub.3) and other components.

Glass compositions with high Young's modulus are disclosed. The glass compositions may include phosphorus oxide (P.sub.2O.sub.5), alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), boron oxide (B.sub.2O.sub.3), lithium oxide (Li.sub.2O), magnesia (MgO), titania (TiO.sub.2), lanthanum oxide (La.sub.2O.sub.3) and other components.

Bulk paint and ceramic powder systems, methods of forming same, and methods of forming a flexible ceramic coating on a metal substrate are disclosed. The systems may include a ceramic composition having between 2 to 30 weight percent of an alkali metal oxide, such as K.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and Li.sub.2O or mixtures thereof, between 10 to 74 weight percent SiO.sub.2, and between 23 to 79 weight percent B.sub.2O.sub.3. Additives that are nonwetting with molten metals, such as boron nitride, provide durable coatings for metal processing operations. The ceramic composition may include less than 5 weight percent additional metal oxides. The bulk paint system further may include water and a cellulosic suspension agent to form a bulk paint. The ceramic powder system may be processed to form a uniform powder. The bulk paint or uniform powder may be applied to a metal substrate, such as a ferrous metal substrate, dried, and heated to form a flexible coating on the metal substrate.

Bulk paint and ceramic powder systems, methods of forming same, and methods of forming a flexible ceramic coating on a metal substrate are disclosed. The systems may include a ceramic composition having between 2 to 30 weight percent of an alkali metal oxide, such as K.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, and Li.sub.2O or mixtures thereof, between 10 to 74 weight percent SiO.sub.2, and between 23 to 79 weight percent B.sub.2O.sub.3. Additives that are nonwetting with molten metals, such as boron nitride, provide durable coatings for metal processing operations. The ceramic composition may include less than 5 weight percent additional metal oxides. The bulk paint system further may include water and a cellulosic suspension agent to form a bulk paint. The ceramic powder system may be processed to form a uniform powder. The bulk paint or uniform powder may be applied to a metal substrate, such as a ferrous metal substrate, dried, and heated to form a flexible coating on the metal substrate.