Contexto: Modificações químicas da superfície dos implantes dentários com o objetivo de aumentar a molhabilidade resultam em uma osseointegração mais rápida e melhor. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o quociente de estabilidade do implante (ISQ) (implant stability quotient) de implantes com geometria idêntica, mas com tratamentos de superfície diferentes: jateamento de areia e ataque ácido (SAE) e a mesma superfície com uma modificação química para aumento da hidrofilia, dentro das primeiras 16 semanas de cicatrização. Materiais e Método: neste estudo clínico randomizado um total de 64 implantes (32 SAE - Grupo Controle e 32 SAE modificado - Grupo Teste) com o mesmo desenho geométrico, comprimento e diâmetro (cônico e compressivo, 4,3x10 mm) foram colocados na maxila posterior de 21 pacientes parcialmente desdentados. Os valores de ISQ foram coletados no pós - cirúrgico imediato (T0), com 1 semana (T1), 2 (T2), 3 (T3), 5 ( T4), 8 (T5), 12 (T6) e 16 semanas (T7). Os resultados foram comparados por meio do ANOVA de medidas repetidas. Resultados: O grupo teste apresentou valores de ISQ mais altos que o grupo controle (ANOVA - p<0,01) a partir da 5a semana. Quando comparados os grupos em relação ao tempo necessário para se atingir o ISQ >= 70 como uma referência, houve uma diferença estatisticamente significante (p<0,01) e um Hazard Ratio de 2,24 (IC 1,62-3,11). No acompanhamento de um ano um paciente com 2 implantes abandonou a pesquisa, e estes não puderam mais ser avaliados. A taxa de sobrevida de ambos grupos foi de 100% após um ano de acompanhamento. Conclusão: O presente estudo sugere que implantes com superfície hidrofílica osseointegram mais rápido que implantes com superfície SAE convencional. O ganho de estabilidade do grupo teste foi 2,24 vezes mais rápido que do grupo controle após 5 semanas de avaliação em leitos na maxila posterior. / Background: Chemical modifications of dental implant surface, to improve the wettability, results in a faster and better osseointegration. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the implant stability quotient (ISQ) of implants with the same design, treated with two different surfaces: Sandblasted Acid-Etched (SAE) and hydrophilic SAE, within the initial 16 weeks of healing. Materials and Method: For this RCT a total of 64 implants (32 SAE - Control Group and 32 modified SAE - Test Group) with the same design, length and diameter (conical and compressive, 4.3x10 mm) were inserted in the posterior maxillae of 21 patients partially edentulous. The ISQ values were collected at the post-surgery (T0), 1-week (T1), 2-weeks (T2), 3- weeks (T3), 5-weeks (T4), 8-weeks (T5), 12-weeks (T6) and 16-weeks (T7). The statistic test was ANOVA. Results: Test group presented ISQ values higher than the Control group (ANOVA - p<0.01) from 5th week. When comparing groups regarding the amount of time required to achieve ISQ >= 70 as a reference, there was a statistically significant difference (p <0.01), and a HR (Hazard Ratio) of 2.24 (CI 1.62- 3.11). At the one-year follow up, there was a drop out of one patient and two implants were no longer evaluated. Survival rate for both groups was of 100% after one year of follow up. Conclusion: The current study suggests that implants with hydrophilic surface (modified SAE) integrates faster than implants with SAE surface. Stability gain of the tested group was 2.24 times faster than the control group after five weeks of evaluation at the posterior region of maxillae.

O desenvolvimento e aprimoramento de novas tecnologias para prevenção/controle da doença cárie têm ocorrido nos últimos anos, destacando-se a utilização dos lasers na Odontologia. Estudos revelam o potencial dos lasers de alta potência para o aumento da resistência ácida do esmalte dental. Porém, ainda se questiona se as possíveis alterações morfológicas na superfície do esmalte, resultante da interação dos lasers com o tecido mineralizado, podem promover o aumento da aderência bacteriana e, conseqüentemente, aumentar o risco de desenvolvimento de lesões de cárie. O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi avaliar a aderência bacteriana à superfície de esmalte dental irradiado por diferentes lasers de alta potência com parâmetros para prevenção de cárie, correlacionando com a rugosidade superficial do substrato, além da avaliação da perda mineral do substrato dental. Sessenta amostras de esmalte dental humano (4 X 4 mm) foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em 6 grupos (n=10): G1 controle negativo (sem tratamento); G2 - controle positivo (flúor); G3 Laser de Er:YAG; G4 Laser de Er,Cr:YSGG; G5 Laser de Nd:YAG e G6 Laser de CO2. A avaliação da rugosidade superficial foi realizada através da técnica OCT, seguida do ensaio de aderência bacteriana que foi realizada utilizando-se o Streptococcus mutans como organismo do teste. A análise de perda mineral foi realizada pelo ensaio de microdureza Knoop. Os resultados foram avaliados pelo testes de ANOVA e Tukey (=5%). Concluiu-se que não houve correlação entre o tratamento de superfície e a adesão de Streptococcus mutans. As superfícies de esmalte tratadas com flúor ou laser de CO2 apresentaram os menores valores de rugosidade enquanto o laser de Er:YAG os maiores valores. O grupo flúor apresentou menor taxa de formação de biofilme, enquanto Controle e Er:YAG as maiores. Além do mais, verificou-se que todos os tratamentos de superfície mostraram-se efetivos, sendo os tratamentos com flúor fosfato acidulado e laser de CO2 os mais efetivos na prevenção de cárie e redução da perda de volume mineral. / The development and improvement of new technologies for prevention/control of dental caries has increased in the last years, specially the use of lasers in Dentistry. Studies show the potential of high power lasers to enhance the dental enamel acid resistance. However, it is still questioned if the morphological changes on the enamel surface, as a result of laser irradiation, can increase the surface bacterial adhesion and as a result, increase the risk for development of dental caries. The main objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate bacterial adhesion to enamel surface previously irradiated by different high power lasers using parameters for caries prevention, correlating with surface roughness after treatments, and besides that, the evaluation of dental substrate mineral loss. Sixty specimens of dental enamel (4 x 4 mm) were randomly distributed in 6 groups (n=10): G1 - negative control (no surface treatment); G2 - positive control (fluoride); G3 - Er:YAG laser; G4 - Er,Cr:YSGG laser; G5 - Nd:YAG laser and G6 - CO2 laser. The surface roughness test was developed using the OCT method, followed by the evaluation of bacterial adhesion that was performed using Streptococcus mutans as the tested microorganism. The evaluation of mineral loss was done by Knoop microhardness test. The results were evaluated by means of ANOVA and Tukey tests (=5%). It was concluded that there is no correlation between surface treatment and adhesion of Streptococcus mutans. The enamel surfaces treated with fluoride or CO2 laser showed the lesser roughness values, while Er:YAG laser the higher values. The fluoride group showed the lesser biofilm formation tax, while Control and Er:YAG the higher ones. Besides that, it was verified that all the surface treatments were effective, and the treatments with fluoride and CO2 laser the most effective on caries prevention and mineral loss reduction.

O presente estudo analisou in vitro o efeito de bebidas com baixo pH (suco de laranja, Coca-Cola e uísque) e da escovação dental simulada sobre os materiais restauradores utilizados em lesões cervicais não cariosas: resina composta microhíbrida Filtek Z250/3M, resina composta de micropartículas Durafill VS/Heraeus Kulzer, resina composta flow Natural Flow/DFL, compômero Dyract AP/Dentsply, cimento de ionômero de vidro resino-modificado Vitremer/3M. Os materiais foram avaliados quanto à alteração de peso e rugosidade superficial, em balança analítica e em rugosímetro, respectivamente. Foram confeccionados vinte corpos-de-prova de 10 mm de diâmetro e 4 mm de espessura, de cada material. Cinco corpos-de-prova de cada material foram imersos nas bebidas testadas, por 10 dias a 37 °C, com trocas diárias das bebidas. A água destilada foi utilizada como controle. Após a imersão, os corpos-de-prova foram submetidos a 20.000 ciclos de escovação, utilizando escovas de cerdas macias e solução creme dental/água destilada na proporção 1:2. A alteração de peso foi determinada pela porcentagem correspondente à diferença de peso inicial e total (após erosão + escovação). A alteração da rugosidade superficial foi determinada pela diferença entre a rugosidade inicial e total (após erosão + escovação). Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de ANOVA e Tukey com p<0,05. A imersão em suco de laranja e Coca-Cola, seguida pela escovação, causou maior alteração de peso, estatisticamente significante para o Dyract (-2,55%/-1,72%) e para o Vitremer (-5,03%/-2,42%) comparados às RC Z250 (0,33%/0,20%), Durafill (0,17%/-0,18%) e Natural Flow (-0,14%/-0,17%).O CIVRM Vitremer apresentou as maiores alterações de rugosidade superficial (2,96 mm/1,59 mm) após imersão em suco de laranja e Coca-Cola, seguida de escovação. Houve correlação entre alteração de peso e rugosidade superficial / This study evaluated in vitro the effect of acidic beverages (orange juice, Coca-Cola soft drink, whisky) and toothbrushing upon restorative materials used in noncarious cervical lesions: one hybrid composite (Filtek Z250/3M), one microfill composite (Durafill VS/Heraeus Kulzer), one flow composite (Natural Flow/DFL), one compomer (Dyract/Dentsply) and one resin-modified glass ionomer (Vitremer/3M). Twenty standardized cylindrical specimens (10 mm in diameter and 4 mm thickness) of each material was made. In this research, measures of the changes in weight and roughness surface were carried out using a analytical scale and a rugosimeter, respectively. Five specimens of each material were immersed in test solutions for a 10-day period at a temperature of 37 °C. Distilled water was used like a control. After erosion, the specimens were submitted to 20,000 strokes of toothbrus hing using soft bristles tips and a slurry contained a 1:2 mixture of toothpaste and distilled water. The changes of weight was calculated by percentage corresponded of difference between initial and total weights (before and after erosion + toothbrusing). The changes of roughness was determined by difference between initial and total roughness (before and after erosion + toothbrushing). The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey Test at level of p<0.05. The immersion in orange juice and Coca-Cola followed by toothbrushing caused higher changes of weight, statistically significant, for Dyract (-2.55%/-1.72%) and Vitremer (-5.03%/-2.42%) compared to Z250 (0.33%/0.20%), Durafill (0.17%/-0.18%) and Natural Flow (-0.14%/-0.17%). Vitremer presented the highest changes of surface roughness (2.96 mm/1.59 mm) after immersion in orange juice and Coca-Cola followed by toothbrushing. There was correlation between changes of weight and roughness.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-05-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 vasconcellos_lmr_dr_sjc.pdf: 1195264 bytes, checksum: 6797b053e1594bb9372c91865bdb71e3 (MD5) / O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a reparação óssea ao redor de implantes cilíndricos densos e porosos, ambos de titânio puro grau 2, confeccionados via metalurgia do pó, por meio de análise histológica, histomorfométrica e teste mecânico de cisalhamento. Previamente à cirurgia, todos os implantes foram caracterizados por meio de análise metalográfica e os implantes densos foram submetidos também a um rugosímetro. Em seguida, os implantes foram inseridos em tíbias de coelhos. Concluiu-se, portanto, que a técnica de metalurgia do pó é eficiente para produzir implantes densos e porosos, e que os porosos apresentam maior contato na área de interface osso-implante e maior adesão ao osso, melhorando a osseointegração deste implante ao tecido ósseo. / The aim of this study was to assess and compare the bone repair around dense and porous cylindrical implants, both made of commercially pure titanium by means of powder metallurgy. Histological analysis, histomorphometric analysis, and mechanical test were carried. Prior to the surgery, all implants were characterized by means of metallographic analysis. The dense implants were also submitted to perfilometer equipment. Following the implants were placed in the rabbit tibiae. Thus, these findings suggest that the powder metallurgy technique is efficient to produce dense and porous implants, and that the porous implants exhibit greater contact in the implant-bone interface and greater adhesion to the bone, therefore improving the osseointegration of this implant to the bone.

The aim of this study was to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of conductive polymer composites. For this purpose, different studies were performed in this dissertation. In order to investigate the effects of the carbon nanotube (CNT) surface treatment on the morphology, electrical and mechanical properties of the composites, poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) based conductive polymer composites were prepared by using as-received, purified and modified carbon nanotubes in a twin screw extruder. During the purification of carbon nanotubes, surface properties of carbon nanotubes were altered by purifying them with nitric acid (HNO3), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) mixtures. Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) results indicated the removal of metallic catalyst residues from the structure of carbon nanotubes and increase in the oxygen content of carbon nanotube surface as a result of purification procedure. Surface structure of the purified carbon nanotubes was also modified by treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA). Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the carbon nanotube samples indicated the existence of functional groups on the surfaces of carbon nanotubes after modification. All composites prepared with purified and modified carbon nanotubes had higher electrical resistivities, tensile and impact strength values than those of the composite based on as-received carbon nanotubes, due to the functional groups formed on the surfaces of carbon nanotubes during surface treatment. In order to investigate the effects of alternative composite preparation methods on the electrical and mechanical properties of the composites, in-situ microfiber reinforced conductive polymer composites consisting of high density polyethylene (HDPE), poly(ethylene terephthalate) and carbon nanotubes were prepared in a twin screw extruder followed by hot stretching of PET/CNT phase in HDPE matrix. Composites were produced by using as-received, purified and PEG treated carbon nanotubes. SEM micrographs of the hot stretched composites pointed out the existence of in-situ PET/CNT microfibers dispersed in HDPE matrix up to 1 wt. % carbon nanotube loadings. Electrical conductivity values of the microfibrillar composites were higher than that of the composites prepared without microfiber reinforcement due to the presence of continuous PET/CNT microfibers with high electrical conductivity in the structure. To investigate the potential application of conductive polymer composites, the effects of surfactant usage and carbon nanotube surface modification / on the damage sensing capability of the epoxy/carbon nanotube/glass fiber composite panels during mechanical loadings were studied. Surface modification of the carbon nanotubes was performed by using hexamethylene diamine (HMDA). 4-octylphenol polyethoxylate (nonionic) (Triton X-100) and cetyl pyridinium chloride (cationic) (CPC) were used as surfactants during composite preparation. Electrical resistivity measurements which were performed during the impact, tensile and fatigue tests of the composite panels showed the changes in damage sensing capabilities of the composites. Surface treatment of carbon nanotubes and the use of surfactants decreased the carbon nanotube particle size and improved the dispersion in the composites which increased the damage sensitivity of the panels.

Plastic deformation in crystalline materials largely depends on the properties of dislocations, in particular their mobility. While continuum description of deformation of a crystalline metal can be made reasonably well by considering the elastic properties of dislocations and neglecting the core, crystallographic aspects of dislocation motion require precise understanding of the core effects. The concept of the generalized stacking fault (GSF) energy was proposed as means to describe this. GSF energy, a fundamental property of a given material, can be determined using first principles total energy calculations. In this thesis, we use GSF to understand some of the intriguing mechanical responses recently observed in some metallic systems. First, we examine the structures and stacking fault energies in Mg-Zn-Y alloy system. This system is unique in the sense that trace additions of Zn and or Y result in long period stacking sequences such as 6l and 14l, as reported in recent literature. Further, these alloys exhibit extraordinary mechanical properties. We attempt to rationalize these experimental observations through first principles calculations of energies of periodic structures with different stacking sequences and stacking faults. For pure Mg, we find that the 6-layer structure with the ABACAB stacking is most stable after the lowest energy hcp structure with ABAB stacking. Charge density analysis shows that the 2l and 6l structures are electronically similar, which might be a cause for better stability of 6l structure over a 4l sequence or other periodic structures. Addition of 2 atomic% Y leads to stabilization of the structure to 6l sequence whereas the addition of 2 atomic% Zn makes the 6l energetically comparable to that of the hcp. Stacking fault (SF) on the basal plane of 6l structure is higher in energy than that of the hcp 2l Mg, which further increases upon Y doping and decreases significantly with Zn doping. SF energy surface for the prismatic slip indicates dissociation of dislocations in alloys with a 6l structure. Thus, in an Mg-Zn-Y alloy, Y stabilizes the long periodicity, while Zn doping provides a synergistic effect in improving the mechanical properties alongwith strengthening due to long periodic phases. Our investigation of surface properties and magnetism in Ni revealed that, the universal binding energy relation (UBER) derived earlier to describe the cohesion between two rigid atomic planes, does not accurately capture the cohesive properties when the cleavage cracked surfaces are allowed to relax through atomic displacements. We find that two characteristic length-scales are involved in the cleavage of a crystal accompanied by structural relaxation at the cleaved surface. Based on that, we suggest a modified functional form of UBER that is analytical and at the same time accurately models the properties of relaxed surfaces upon cleavage. We demonstrate the generality as well as the validity of this modified UBER through first-principles density functional theory calculations of cleavage in fcc, bcc, and hcp metals, as well as covalently bonded materials. We also found that the cohesive law (stress-displacement relation) differs significantly in the case where cracked surfaces are allowed to relax, with lower peak stresses occuring at higher displacements. We have attempted understanding these ideas through images obtained from electronic densities and eigen states. Our work should be useful in providing inputs to multi-scale simulations of fracture in materials. The third phase of the work reports the stacking fault energy and twinning in Ni with a particular emphasis on the size effect. Experimental and computational research on Nan crystalline metals (mostly on Ni) indicates unique facets of dislocation activity (extended partial dislocations) and modes of deformation (twinning). In order to capture the intrinsic scaling eject in the nano-regime, it is imperative to account for the complex electronic structure of the metal in question. The stacking fault (SF) and twinning fault (TF) energies in nano-thin elm of Ni with 7, 13, 19, and 25 layers of (111) planes were determined using rest-principles density functional theory (DFT) total energy calculations. Generalized planar fault (GPF) energy curves of the nano-thin alms show higher extreme vis-a-vis the bulk, indicating that creation of SFs in nano-Ni is relatively difficult. In contrast, the ratios of energy barriers relevant to nucleation of dislocations and twinning support the observed enhanced tendency for extended partial dislocation formation and twinning in the nano-thin films in comparison with bulk. Our results should be useful in understanding deformation behavior of nano-structured Ni-based alloys used as advanced structural materials.

Binäre Polymerbürsten bestehen aus zwei verschiedenen Polymertypen, die nebeneinander auf dem gleichen Trägermaterial verankert sind. Wenn diese Polymere unterschiedliche Benetzungseigenschaften haben, können damit schaltbare Oberflächen produziert werden. Abhängig vom Lösungsmittel, dem man die binäre Polymerbürste aussetzt, streckt sich entweder das hydrophile oder das hydrophobe Polymer zum Lösungsmittel hin, während die zweite Komponente nahe der Oberfläche verbleibt. Durch diese vertikale Phasenseparation kann temporär eine bestimmte Oberflächeneigenschaft erzeugt werden. Allerdings verschwindet diese sofort wieder, wenn ein anderes Lösungsmittel die binäre Bürste benetzt, sei es durch direkten Kontakt oder über die Gasphase. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob es möglich ist, neuartige schaltbare binäre Polymerbürsten bestehend aus einem hydrophilen und einem hydrophoben Polymer angebunden auf Siliziumwafern herzustellen, deren Schaltfähigkeit durch photochemische Vernetzung unterbunden werden kann. Geprüft worden ist unter anderem, inwiefern sich hydrophober und hydrophiler Zustand der Schicht fixieren lassen und ob daraus resultierend, eine entsprechende Strukturierung der Oberfläche nach Bestrahlung durch eine geeignete Fotomaske oder durch fokussiertes Licht nachweisbar ist. Als hydrophobe Komponente wurden photovernetzbare Styren/2-(4’-Styryl)-inden-Copolymere verwendet, als hydrophile Komponente kam Polyvinylpyridin zum Einsatz. Mit einem speziellen Oberflächeninitiator konnten durch „Grafting from“ binäre Polymerbürsten mit bis zu 300 nm Schichtdicke erzeugt werden. Es ist gelungen, diese schaltbaren Schichten durch selektive photochemische Vernetzung einer der Bürstenkomponenten im hydrophilen oder im hydrophoben Zustand zu fixieren, was durch Kontaktwinkelmessung nachgewiesen werden konnte. Wie beabsichtigt, verlieren dabei die vernetzten Bereiche ihre Schaltfähigkeit. Es ließen sich feine Oberflächenstrukturen mittels Bestrahlung durch eine Fotomaske erzeugen, die sichtbar werden, wenn man sie mit Wasser benetzt bzw. Wasserdampf aussetzt.

The thesis aims to synthesize hyperbranched poly(urea-urethane) polymers (HPU) in one-pot method using commercially available monomers which are 2,4-toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) as aromatic diisocyanate and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) and 2(3-isocyanatopropyl) cyclohexylisocyanate (IPCI) as aliphatic diisocyanates. Those proposed diisocyanates were reacted with diethanolamine (DEA) or diisopropanolamine (DIPA). Conditions of polymerisation reactions were optimised. Complete structural analysis using 1H and 13C NMR for the obtained aromatic polymers was carried out. Degree of branching up to 70% was calculated. Aliphatic polymers have spectra with overlapped signals therefore, no full structural analysis was possible. Molar masses were determined using SEC/RI detector which shows that the prepared polymers have Mw values between 1600 g/mol and 106000 g/mol. Thermal analysis for different polymer systems showed that aliphatic HPU are more thermally stable and have values of glass transition temperature higher than aromatic ones. Modification of the end groups in the prepared hyperbranched polymers was carried out using three different modifiers and degree of modification up to 100%. Linear polymers based on the same diisocyanate monomers were prepared to compare the properties of hyperbranched systems with their linear analogs. Measurements of solution viscosity showed that HPU have lower solution viscosity values than their linear analogs of comparable molar masses. Rheological measurement of some polymer samples of different systems were carried out and showed that our hyperbranched systems exhibit a more elastic behavior than the linear polymers. Surface studies for thin films prepared from different polymer systems (hyperbranched, linear and modified) were carried out and the obtained thin films were characterized using light microscope, microglider, GC-MS, and AFM. Contact angle measurements showed that HPU have a relatively hydrophilic character. The modified polymers have higher contact angle values than the unmodified ones due to the lack of OH end groups. Networks based on aliphatic and aromatic HPU were prepared through the reaction of HPU with trimer of 1,6-diisocyanatohexane and characterised by DSC, GC-MS, DMA and AFM. The domain size in aromatic networks was found to be larger than in aliphatic networks. Tensile test was carried out and it was found that aliphatic network is more elastic than aromatic one.

<p>Abstract</p><p>The aim of the present study was to increase the understanding of how the cell surface properties affect the performance of unit operations used in primary protein purification. In particular, the purpose was to develop, set up and apply methods for studies of cell surface properties and cell interactions.</p><p>A method for microbial cell surface fingerprinting using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is suggested. Four different <em>Escherichia coli </em>strains were used as model cells. Cell surface fingerprints were generated by registration of the interaction between the cells and four different surfaces, with different physical and chemical properties, when a cell suspension was flown over the surface. Significant differences in fingerprint pattern between some of the strains were observed. The physical properties of the cell surfaces were determined using microelectrophoresis, contact angle measurements and aqueous two-phase partitioning and were compared with the SPR fingerprints. The generated cell surface fingerprints and the physical property data were evaluated with multivariate data analysis that showed that the cells were separated into individual groups in a similar way using principal component analysis plots (PCA).</p><p>Studies of the behaviour of the model cells on stirred cell filtration and in an interaction test with different expanded bed adsorption (EBA) adsorbents were performed. It could be concluded that especially one of the strains behaved differently. Differences in the properties of the model cells were indicated by microelectrophoresis and aqueous two-phase partitioning which to some extent correlated with observed differences in behaviour during filtration and in an interaction test with EBA adsorbents.</p><p>The impact of high-pressure homogenisation of <em>E. coli </em>cell extract was examined, with a lab scale and a pilot scale technique. The DNA-fragmentation, visualised with agarose gel electrophoresis, and the resulting change in viscosity was analysed. A short homogenisation time resulted in increased viscosity of the process solution that correlated with increased concentration of released non-fragmented DNA. With longer homogenisation time the viscosity decreased with increasing degree of DNA-fragmentation.</p><p>The results show that strain dependant cell surface properties of<em> E. coli</em> may have an impact on several primary steps in downstream processing.</p>

Additive manufacturing (AM), also called 3D-printing, are technologies where parts are formed from the bottom up by adding material layer-by-layer on top of each other. Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is an AM technique capable of manufacturing fully solid metallic parts, using a high-intensity electron beam to melt powder particles in layers to form finished components. Compared to conventional machining, EBM offers enhanced efficiency for production of customized and patient specific parts such as e.g. dental prosthetics. However, dental prosthetics are challenging to produce by EBM, as their small sizes mean that mechanical and surface properties may be altered as part sizes decreases. The aim of this thesis is to gain new insights that could lead to optimization for production of small sized components in the EBM. The work is focused to understand the process-property relationships for small size components production. To improve the surface resolution and part detailing, a smaller sized powder was used for production and compared to parts made with standard sized powder. The surface-, chemical and mechanical properties were evaluated for parts produced with both types of powders. The results indicate that the surface roughness may be influenced by powder and build layer thickness size, whereas the mechanical properties showed no influence of the layer-wise production. However, the mechanical properties are dependent on part size. The outermost surface of the parts consists of a surface oxide dominated by TiO2, formed as a result of reaction between the surface and residual gases in the EBM build chamber. The surface oxide thickness is comparable to that of a conventionally machined surface, but is dependent on build height. This work concludes that the surface resolution and component detailing can be improved by various measures. Provided that proper process themes are used, the EBM manufactured material is homogenous with properties comparable to conventional produced titanium. It has also been shown that the material properties will be altered for small components. The results point towards different ways of optimizing manufacturing of dental prosthetics by EBM, which will make dental prosthetics available for an increased number of patients.