Title: XPS analysis of plasma polymers and nanocomposite films without breaking vacuum Author: Anna Artemenko Institute: Charles University in Prague, Department of Macromolecular Physics Supervisor of the doctoral thesis: Prof. RNDr. Hynek Biederman, DrSc., Charles University in Prague, Department of Macromolecular Physics. Abstract: Plasma polymers and metal/ plasma polymer nanocomposites have been widely used for various biomedical proposes. Naturally, surface properties of the coatings such as high wettability, stability on the open air and in aqueous media, resistance towards different sterilization processes and cells adhesion are required for bioapplications. This thesis is mainly dedicated to the investigation of chemical composition of deposited coatings using XPS analysis. Nylon-like plasma polymer, PEO-like coatings, fluorocarbon plasma polymer (PTFE) films and Au/PEO-like, Ag/C:H, Al/C:H nanocomposites were chosen as the subject material. In addition, results of XPS measurements were used for the computer simulation for calculation of filling factor of metal/ plasma polymer nanocomposites. These results were in a good agreement with experimental data. Keywords: plasma polymer, nanocomposite, XPS analysis, bioapplication, simulation.

Mucin networks are formed by the complexation of bottlebrush-like mucin glycoprotein with other small molecule glycoproteins. These glycoproteins create nanoscale strands that then arrange into a nanoporous mesh. These networks play an important role in ensuring surface hydration, lubricity and barrier protection. In order to understand the functional behavior in mucin networks, it is important to decouple their chemical and physical effects responsible for generating the fundamental property-function relationship. To achieve this goal, we propose to develop a synthetic biomimetic mucin using a layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition approach. In this work, a hierarchical 3-dimensional structures resembling natural mucin networks was generated using affinity-based interactions on synthetic and biological surfaces. Unlike conventional polyelectrolyte-based LBL methods, pre-assembled biotin-functionalized filamentous (worm-like) micelles was utilized as the network building block, which from complementary additions of streptavidin generated synthetic networks of desired thickness. The biomimetic nature in those synthetic networks are studied by evaluating its structural and bio-functional properties. Structurally, synthetic networks formed a nanoporous mesh. The networks demonstrated excellent surface hydration property and were able capable of microbial capture. Those functional properties are akin to that of natural mucin networks. Further, the role of synthetic mucin as a drug delivery vehicle, capable of providing localized and tunable release was demonstrated. By incorporating antibacterial curcumin drug loading within synthetic networks, bacterial growth inhibition was also demonstrated. Thus, such bioactive interfaces can serve as a model for independently characterizing mucin network properties and through its role as a drug carrier vehicle it presents exciting future opportunities for localized drug delivery, in regenerative applications and as bio-functional implant coats.

This master's thesis deals with the development and verification of the model of the piezoelectric generator, incl. determination of its parameters. This mathematical model should be used as a tool for development of new devices, especially for analysis of applicability of available energy source (vibration) and for design of device itself. At first the review of energy harvesting is described deeply. Subsequently piezoelectric generators and the ways how we can model them, are depicted in details. The methodology of parameters estimation and model development is presented in state space or in MATLAB/Simulink environment and applied on the commercial generator Midé V21BL. A device has been made within the scope of the thesis, which can be used as an universal tool in experiments with generator. Finally the model is applied on the analysis of energy yield from man's walk and there is also brief introduction to model modifications.