Magnetic photocatalysts were synthesised by coating a magnetic core with a layer of photoactive titanium dioxide. This magnetic photocatalyst is for use in slurry-type reactors in which the catalyst can be easily recovered by the application of an external magnetic field. The first attempt at producing this magnetic photocatalyst involved the direct deposition of titanium dioxide onto the surface of magnetic iron oxide particles. The photoactivity of these Fe3O4/TiO2 was lower than that of single-phase TiO2 and was found to decrease with an increase in the heat treatment. These observations were explained in terms of an unfavourable heterojunction between the titanium dioxide and the iron oxide core. Fe ion diffusion from the iron oxide core into the titanium dioxide matrix upon heat treatment, leading to a highly doped TiO2 lattice, was also contributing to the observed low activities of these samples. These Fe3O4/TiO2 particles were found to be unstable, with photodissolution of the iron oxide phase being encountered. This photodissolution was dependent on the heat treatment applied, the greater the extent of the heat treatment, the lower the incidence of photodissolution. This was explained in terms of the stability of the iron oxide phases present, as well as the lower photoactivity of the titanium dioxide matrix. In fact, the observed photodissolution was found to be induced-photodissolution. That is, the photogenerated electrons in the titanium dioxide phase were being injected into the lower lying conduction band of the iron oxide core, leading to its reduction and then dissolution. Thus, the approach of directly depositing TiO2 onto the surface of a magnetic iron oxide core proved ineffective in producing a stable magnetic photocatalyst. The introduction of an intermediate passive SiO2 layer between the titanium dioxide phase and the iron oxide phase inhibited the direct electrical contact and hence prevented the photodissolution of the iron oxide phase. Improvements in the photoactivity were seen to be due to the inhibition of both the electronic and chemical interactions between the iron oxide and titanium dioxide phases. Preliminary optimisation experiments revealed that a thin SiO2 layer is sufficient for inhibiting the photodissolution. The thickness of the TiO2 coating was found not to have a significant effect on the photocatalytic performance of the coated particles. Finally, heat treating for 20 minutes at 450??C was sufficient for converting the titanium dioxide into a photoactive phase, longer heating times had no beneficial effect on the photoactivity.

This thesis examines the mechanisms of magnetic particle deposition and retention in human airways for magnetically targeted drug delivery. As this is a novel application, fundamental studies were performed to establish the necessary background knowledge for further development. Magnetic particle deposition from an aerosol in simulated airway conditions was studied using numerical and experimental models. The model results showed qualitative agreement; discrepancies were due to particle aggregation, which enhances deposition. Aerosol flow rate had a limited effect; the main factor in effective deposition was the proximity of the particle trajectories to the magnets. This spatial bias shows the importance of particle distribution in the flow as well as magnetic field geometry. These studies demonstrated the feasibility of capturing magnet particles from aerosol in airway conditions. For retention, clearance of particles due to motion of the mucus lining of the airways must be overcome. Particle retention was studied in vitro using various liquids to simulate mucus and identify relevant parameters. An ex vivo animal tissue model was used to demonstrate feasibility. Retention of 3-5 m diameter iron particles was achieved at reduced liquid/mucus viscosities. Larger (~100 m) particles were retained at normal mucus viscosities. The size dependence shows that particle aggregation after deposition is crucial for effective retention. In vitro retention experiments showed aggregate size is correlated with liquid viscosity, i.e. formation of aggregates is limited by forces opposing particle motion along the mucus layer interface. To determine these forces, particle motion on various air-liquid interfaces, chosen to simulate different mucus properties in isolation, was studied. When surfactants are present, as in the mucus layer, particle motion is limited by a velocity-dependent surface tension gradient as well as viscous drag. Pulling particles through the mucus layer into the tissue beneath was also considered as a potential retention strategy. The force required to pull particles through the mucus layer was also studied using various liquids to simulate mucus properties. In addition to the surface tension force holding the particles at the interface, hydrodynamic forces must be overcome to pull particles into or out of a liquid film such as the mucus layer.

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Magnetic photocatalysts were synthesised by coating a magnetic core with a layer of photoactive titanium dioxide. This magnetic photocatalyst is for use in slurry-type reactors in which the catalyst can be easily recovered by the application of an external magnetic field. The first attempt at producing this magnetic photocatalyst involved the direct deposition of titanium dioxide onto the surface of magnetic iron oxide particles. The photoactivity of these Fe3O4/TiO2 was lower than that of single-phase TiO2 and was found to decrease with an increase in the heat treatment. These observations were explained in terms of an unfavourable heterojunction between the titanium dioxide and the iron oxide core. Fe ion diffusion from the iron oxide core into the titanium dioxide matrix upon heat treatment, leading to a highly doped TiO2 lattice, was also contributing to the observed low activities of these samples. These Fe3O4/TiO2 particles were found to be unstable, with photodissolution of the iron oxide phase being encountered. This photodissolution was dependent on the heat treatment applied, the greater the extent of the heat treatment, the lower the incidence of photodissolution. This was explained in terms of the stability of the iron oxide phases present, as well as the lower photoactivity of the titanium dioxide matrix. In fact, the observed photodissolution was found to be induced-photodissolution. That is, the photogenerated electrons in the titanium dioxide phase were being injected into the lower lying conduction band of the iron oxide core, leading to its reduction and then dissolution. Thus, the approach of directly depositing TiO2 onto the surface of a magnetic iron oxide core proved ineffective in producing a stable magnetic photocatalyst. The introduction of an intermediate passive SiO2 layer between the titanium dioxide phase and the iron oxide phase inhibited the direct electrical contact and hence prevented the photodissolution of the iron oxide phase. Improvements in the photoactivity were seen to be due to the inhibition of both the electronic and chemical interactions between the iron oxide and titanium dioxide phases. Preliminary optimisation experiments revealed that a thin SiO2 layer is sufficient for inhibiting the photodissolution. The thickness of the TiO2 coating was found not to have a significant effect on the photocatalytic performance of the coated particles. Finally, heat treating for 20 minutes at 450??C was sufficient for converting the titanium dioxide into a photoactive phase, longer heating times had no beneficial effect on the photoactivity.

In the food industry, it is very important to take care of the quality, safety and organoleptic properties of the products supplied. For this reason, food must be checked. However, not all information can be found using conventional techniques such as immunoassays, chromatographic techniques, etc. DNA-based techniques can be used for these cases where traditional procedures are insufficient. Among them, the best known technique is PCR. The aim of the thesis was to isolate DNA from vegetable samples (broccoli, beetroot, carrot and pepper). DNA was isolated using the magnetic particle method and the traditional CTAB method. Both methods were able to isolate the DNA from the vegetable samples in quality and at a concentration suitable for PCR, where the 35S rDNA gene region was amplified (more precisely about 700 bp of the 18S-ITS1-5,8S region). After amplification, the PCR products were subjected to restriction reactions and the results compared to bioinformatic analysis. These steps have succeeded in finding suitable enzymes for diferentiation of PCR products from the tested vegetable species.

The effectiveness of magnetic microparticles in isolation of DNA from Lactobacillus rhamnosus CCM 1825T and DNA from chicken erythrocytes were studied in diploma thesis. Magnetic HEMA based microparticles coated by carboxylic groups and hyperbranched styrene-divinylbenzene particles (IMC AS ČR, Prague, Czech Republic) were used for DNA isolation. Magnetic microparticles Dynabeads® DNA DIRECT™ Universal (Dynal, Norway) based on polystyrene and MPG® Uncoated (PureBiotech, USA) based on magnetic glass were used as a control. The dependence of amount of eluted DNA on concentration of DNA in the base solution and the dependence of amount of eluted DNA on concentration of magnetic microparticles were studied. The affinity of magnetic microparticles to RNA for various concentrations of RNA solution was studied, too. The ability of tested particles to isolate DNA from real samples was validated using milk product Actimel. The quality of isolated DNA of Lactobacillus genus was proved using genus specific PCR.

Master’s thesis contains information about the enzymes, biosensors, enzyme biosensors and magnetic particles. Cholinesterasa (ChE) is the generally name for the two related enzymes, mutually differing appearance and biological functions. Acetylcholinesterasa (AChE) is necessary for the transmission of nervous excitement. AChE is located at cholinergic synapses, where is the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and this termination by the nervous excitement. Butyrylcholinesterasa (BChE) is related to AChE and it is present in serum. Experimental part was focused on electrochemical biosensors with cholinesterase enzyme using magnetic particles for reversible reconstruction layer. Cholinesterase immobilization was carried out on the magnetic particles by covalent binding after glutaraldehyde activated. The measurement of activity take place with acetylthiocholin as a substrate in a flow system, magnetic particles were captured before the platinum electrode and produced by thiocholin is detected amperometric. The aim was to measure inhibition of AChE. Significant inhibition ChE is caused by certain drugs and pesticides based on organophosphates. There was tested by inhibition of AChE pesticide dichlorvos. Emphasis was on finding possible experimental conditions for the creation of the automated procedure to measure the AChE activity, which was based on auto-injector and pumps of Gilson, together with a 735 programme for the definition of the working configuration, preparation of measurement scripts and implementation of application methods.

The isolation of DNA from plant tissue of the required quality is very complicated, especially because of the presence of substances that can interfere during amplification of DNA. These substances are mainly polyphenols, polysaccharides, proteins and various dyes. The chemical diversity of such materials can have a significant effect on the yield and quality of DNA using one isolation procedure. The main aim of the work was to evaluate the use of microisolation protocol for related matrices to the quality of the isolated DNA as well as the evaluation of the effect of inhibitors isolated with the nucleic acid to the amplification in the PCR. DNA was isolated from dried paprika (Capsicum annuum). In the first step, the samples were homogenized using a lysis reagent with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Subsequently, the DNA was purified by reversible adsorption on magnetic particles. It was tested six different modified particles. The concentration and purity of the obtained DNA was determined by spectrophotometry measuring the absorbance of the DNA solution in TE buffer. The quality of the DNA was confirmed by amplification in PCR. For the PCR were used primers specific for plant ribosomal DNA (rDNA). The presence of PCR products was detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. It was found out that used microassay is suitable for isolating of the DNA of the corresponding purity that is suitable for the genetic analysis by PCR. The differences were found between the magnetic particles that were tested for DNA isolation.

With a development of molecular biology methods it is an increasing interest in new procedures of DNA isolation of high quality. DNA isolation is performed on crude cell lysates by many techniques e.g. phenol extraction, salting out or adsorption on solid phase. Classical DNA isolation, such as phenol extraction is quite complicated and time consuming. New alternative methods of DNA isolation was development using reverse immobilizing DNA to a solid phase. Widespread is the use of the magnetic particles as carriers, which allow the isolation of DNA in high quality directly from crude cells lysates of complex samples. The current method of DNA adsorption onto the surface of magnetic particles does not provided sufficiently pure DNA for analysis of some comlex samples (e.g. food). Some inhibitors of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) are apparently adsorbed onto the tube wall and the next step of DNA elution leads to their release into the solution and cpnsequent negative effect on quality of DNA (e.g. decreasing of PCR amplification). The principle of the developed procedure is design a device, which utilizes transfer of magnetic particles by paramagnetic newddle from one to another Eppendorf tube, in which further processing of the sample extends. Transfer of magnetic particles with DNA using needle prevents transmission of contaminating impurities. The proposed device allows to realize above-mentioned procedure. The functionality of the device being tested in the isolation of plasmid pUC19 DNA from crude lysates of E. Coli JM 109 (pUC19).