Stem cell based therapy has the potential to treat several severe diseases; Parkinson’s disease is one well- known example. Transplantation of stem cell derived cells into animal models is unfortunately often associated with tumour formation or- uncontrolled growth of the transplanted cells. One strategy to suppress this tumour formation might be to induce differentiation of these cells, which in turn would prevent them from dividing.   Neuroblastoma tumors are known to demonstrate the complete transition from an undifferentiated state to a completely harmful, differentiated appearance and derived cells can be used as a model for cell differentiation and tumor suppression.   In this Master Thesis’s the conducting polymers PEDOT and PPy, that upon formation can be doped with biologically active compounds which in- turn can be released in a controlled manner through electrical stimulation, were formed together with various drugs (e.g. Methotrexate and Mycophenolic Acid), here shown to have effect on Neuroblastoma cells. Neuroblastoma- derived cell line SH- SY5Y was used as a model system for neuronal differentiation and tumour inhibition. Release profiles of neuroblastoma active drugs following electrical stimulation were evaluated and the effects from electrochemical processes on simultaneously growing SH- SY5Y cells were investigated.   The methods to deposit and release the drugs were based on electropolymerization and electrochemically controlled release, respectively. Controlled release of various drugs and compounds was monitored using Vis- and UV- spectroscopy and on some occasions using HPLC.   The electrochemically controlled release of a biologically inactive compound that can be used as a negative control for electrochemical release in future experiments was shown and that resulting electrochemical processes have negative effects on neuroblastoma cell growth.

The organic electronic ion pump (OEIP) is an electrically controlled polymer-based device that has the capability to interact with biological systems down to a single cell level by mimicking neural signalling. This is accomplished by translation of an electrical signal into a chemical output, such as ions and neurotransmitters. Because of the combined spatial and temporal precision, this is a technology with a promising future as an advanced therapeutic device. Depending on the application, the OEIP requires different geometries. Implants that will be used to control on a single cell level require very small dimensions, while for example extracorporeal mounted OIEPs, with only the delivery channel penetrating the skin, require much longer channels. Despite the application, it is necessary to have a good knowledge about the transport and delivery properties and how they change due to the geometry. These properties have been observed as very varying and unstable in early unpublished results, and these findings motivate this project. This project includes photolithographic fabrication and investigation of transport and delivery properties such as effective resistance, efficiency and stability of OEIPs with varying delivery channel lengths and widths. Shorter delivery channels show a consistent but relatively low efficiency. Delamination between different layers of the device is suspected as the cause. Initially, the longer delivery channels show a low functionality, most probably due to poor encapsulation. It is suggested that a soft, water-permeable plastic best encapsulates OEIPs that will be used as a medical implant, while a material impermeable to water, for example a metal, could successfully encapsulate OEIPs operating in air.

No description available.

SELENOPHENE DERIVATIVES FOR ELECTROCHROMIC APPLICATIONS Aydemir, Kadir M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Levent Toppare February 2008, 60 pages A novel selenophene-based monomer / 1,4-di(selenophen-2-yl) benzene (DSB), synthesized via Stille coupling reaction of 1,4 dibromobenzene and tributyl (2-selenophenyl) stannane and corresponding conducting homopolymer (Poly (DSB)) was electrochemically synthesized in the presence of tetrabutylammoniumhexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6) as the supporting electrolyte in dichloromethane. The resulting conducting polymer was characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Fourier Transform Infra Red Spectrometry (FTIR) and Ultraviolet&ndash / Visible Spectrometry (UV-Vis Spectrometry). Spectroelectrochemistry analysis and kinetic studies of Poly (DSB) revealed &ndash / * transition (max) at 340 nm with almost zero percent transmittance (T%) concurrently with striking and rapid (0.6 s) absorbance change at near infrared region (1250 nm) with 35% percent transmittance, indicating that Poly (DSB) is a very suitable near infrared electrochromic material. Copolymer of selenophene with ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was potentiostatically synthesized. Poly (selenophene-co-EDOT) was characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry, FTIR and UV-Vis Spectrometry. During spectroelectrochemistry studies, &ndash / * transition (max) was observed at 555 nm with a switching time of 1.4 s and 39% transmittance. Polaron and bipolaron bands were observed at 851 nm and 1299 nm, respectively. Switching time at 1299 nm was 1.8 s with a percent transmittance of 72. Copolymer of DSB with EDOT (Poly (DSB-co-EDOT)) was synthesized and characterized. max, polaron and bipolaron bands were observed at 457 nm, 696 nm and 1251 nm, respectively. A rapid switching time (0.2 s) with 12% transmittance was observed at 696 nm. At the near infrared region (1251 nm), satisfactory percent transmittance (35%) and a moderate switching time (1.75 s) were observed.

Conducting polypyrrole (PPy) nanoparticles were synthesized via microemulsion polymerization system. The characterization of PPy nanoparticles was done by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Nanocomposites were prepared by melt-mixing of polypyrrole with polypropylene (PP) and processed with injection molding. The amount of PPy in nanocomposites varied in the range of 1-20% by weight. The effect of PPy nanoparticles on mechanical, electrical properties and thermal stability of nanocomposites were investigated. Tensile test has revealed that increasing amount of PPy increased the strength and the stiffness of the nanocomposite while limiting the elongation of PP. Thermal gravimetric analysis has showed that incorporation of PPy nanoparticles has improved the thermal stability of the nanocomposites. Four probe conductivity measurement has exhibited that increasing amount of PPy nanoparticles increases the conductivity of nonconductive PP up to 2,4.10-4 Scm-1. In order to improve the dispersion of PPy in PP, sodium dodecylsulphate was used as dispersant. The same techniques were used to characterize nanocomposites containing 2% by weight dispersant. Composites prepared with dispersant have exhibited improvement in some mechanical and thermal properties and involved smaller dimension PPy nanoparticles.

In this thesis, we investigate the synthesis of CuAlO2 on sapphire (0001) substrate by rapid thermal annealing of an Al2O3/Cu2O/sapphire structure above 1000oC. We examine the effects of growth conditions on the structural, formation mechanism, and optical and electrical properties of CuAlO2 thin film. The film prepared at 1100 oC in air was with epitaxial structure as verified by X-ray diffraction methods. Gas ambient, temperature ramp rate and reaction temperature are crucial parameters for the formation of CuAlO2 film. We found that single-phase CuAlO2 thin films formed in air ambient by a rapid temperature ramp rate above 1000oC. A slow temperature ramp rate and a pure oxygen ambient might lead to the appearance of second phase such as CuAl2O4. Optical gap of our films were determined to be 3.75 eV. Optical transmittance depended on the temperature of thin film reaction. The best transmittance obtained was 60 % by annealing at 1100 oC in air. Photoluminescence and cathodoluminescence measurements showed that the two peaks obtained are around 3.4 eV and 1.8 eV corresponding to UV and red emission. As a result of CuAlO2 has an indirect gap about 1.8 eV. The electrical conductivity of the film related to the oxygen content was investigated by the annealing experiments in oxygen-deficient (vacuum) and oxygen-excess (air) ambient. The sheet resistance of CuAlO2 increases consistently with an increase in the duration of the vacuum annealing. Further annealing in air restores the sheet resistance to the original value. The highest conductivity obtained in this work was 0.57 S/cm. Metal contacts to CuAlO2 were also studied in this work. The current-voltage characteristics showed that Cu, Al, Ni or Au could form Ohmic contact to CuAlO2. The lowest contact resistance was using Al metal. However, when the contacts were post-annealed above 300oC, the contact resistance was increased.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2000. / Bibliography: leaves 95-101.

Thesis (D. Mus. Arts)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 290-299).

Thesis (D.M.A.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-37).