Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-113).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Understanding and control of interactions between biological environment (cells, proteins, tissues, membranes, electrolytes, etc.) and solid-state surfaces is fundamental for biomedical applications such as bio-sensors, bio-electronics, tissue engineering and implant materials as well as for environmental monitoring, security and other fields. Diamond can provide unique combination of semiconducting, chemical, optical, biocompatible and other properties for this purpose. In this thesis we characterize electronic properties of protein-diamond interface by employing a solution-gated field-effect transistor (SGFET) based on hydrogen-terminated diamond, surface of which is exposed to biological media. We elucidate the role of adsorbed protein layer on the electronic response of the diamond transistor. We investigate effects of cells (using mainly osteoblast cells as model) on diamond SGFETs transfer characteristics and gate currents. We employ nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) thin films of different grain sizes (80 - 250 nm) to characterize and discuss influence of grain boundaries and sp2 phase on bio- electronic function of SGFETs. We investigate effects of gamma irradiation on function and stability of hydrogen-terminated diamond SGFETs interfaced with proteins and cells, showing feasibility of...

Apoptosis represents one of the cell death mechanisms which is realized after the application of taxanes in breast cancer cell lines. Apoptosis induction can be principally triggered either by outer or inner pathway. The aim of the diploma thesis is to contribute to the elucidation of role and mechanisms of the inner mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis induction after taxane application (paclitaxel and SB-T-1216) employing a model of breast carcinoma cell lines SK- BR-3 (nonfunctional p53, functional capase-3) and MCF-7 (functional p53, nonfunctional caspase-3). Specifically, we tested the effect of both employed taxanes on mitochondrial membrane potential, ROS level and the expression and localization of proteins regulating inner mitochondrial pathway. Taxane application resulted in mitochondrial membrane dissipation in SK-BR-3 cell line. However, this was not shown in MCF-7 cell line. We found no changes in Bax and Smac/DIABLO expression after taxane application in both tested cell lines. There was a decrease of Bid expression after taxane application in SK-BR-3 line, but not in MCF-7 line. Taxane application did not lead to the translocation of Bax and Bid (tBid) proteins from cytosol to mitochondria in both tested cell lines. Similarly, there was no Smac/DIABLO release from mitochondria to...