This thesis concerns the fabrication and modification of novel oxygen and glucose biosensors as well as the application of these biosensors in oxygen and glucose transport research in cell constructs. In Chapter 1, the principle and development of biosensors has been reviewed. Particular attention is paid to oxygen and glucose mass transport research in cell constructs which are crucial for bio-scaffold design in tissue engineering. Chapter 2 details the materials and methods in oxygen and glucose sensor fabrication, modification and characterization. Chapter 3 presents research into practical challenges in oxygen and glucose sensors. For oxygen sensor, membrane biofouling and sensitivity to stirring effect have been detected and successful progresses have been made to reduce their effects. For glucose sensor, membrane biofouling and oxygen tension reliance affect their performance. Remarkable contributions have been made to improve glucose sensors’ stability and reliability. In particular, micro-biosensors have been introduced in the interests of better sensor adaptability for further biomedical applications. Chapter 4 is the experimental section for biosensor applications, and thus provides a detailed description of the cell culture models used in the thesis. Chapter 5 describes the oxygen partial pressure and glucose concentration measurements using biosensors. 2D and 3D cell culture constructs are investigated and results are discussed in this section. It deserves to be mentioned that the modified oxygen and glucose sensor in this thesis are excellent for in vitro biomedical applications, the simultaneously investigation of PO2 and glucose concentration gradient in 3D cell constructs is also a pioneering work in this research field. Chapter 6 illustrates the overall conclusions resulting from the experiments described in the thesis and points out possible future research directions.

The increasing availability of nanopowders and nanotubes combined with new processing techniques is enabling the development of new multifunctional materials. Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) are one of the recently discovered allotropic forms of carbon. They have exceptional mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. The application of CNTs in the reinforcement of ceramic nanocomposites has not yet been fully investigated and is the subject of this study. Alumina is the main matrix used in this study. CNTs need to be de-agglomerated and homogeneously distributed in ceramic nanocomposites. Dimethylformamide (DMF) produces fine and stable CNT and alumina dispersions. All nanocomposites were sintered by Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). Nanocomposites prepared using DMF dispersions showed better dispersions, higher electrical conductivity and mechanical properties as compared to those prepared using ethanol dispersions. The addition of CNTs or Carbon Black (CB) to alumina significantly aids its densification. The CNTs produce significant grain growth retardation. CNTs were found to be well preserved in alumina after being SPSed up to 1900 oC. Structural preservation of CNTs in ceramic nanocomposites depends on the nature of ceramic and SPS processing conditions. The electrical conductivity of alumina – CNT nanocomposites is four times higher as compared to alumina – CB nanocomposites due to the fibrous nature and high aspect ratio of CNTs. Alumina coated CNTs were used for better interfacial adhesion with the matrix. Oxidative resistance of CNTs was increased by coating them with alumina and by decreasing the grain boundary area in alumina – CNT nanocomposites. Coated and uncoated CNTs showed higher mechanical reinforcement in alumina nanocomposite as compared to CB. The future for ceramic – CNT nanocomposites is very bright, especially for applications associated with the electrical and thermal properties. Apart from a good understanding of nanocomposites, the commercial development of CNT based technologies heavily relies on the availability and price of CNTs.

<p> Three dimensional fiber reinforced foam cores (3DFRFC) can have improved mechanical properties under specific strain rates and fiber volumes. This study explored different manufacturing techniques for the 3DFRFC and tested the specimens at dynamic loading rates of 69&ndash;10³ s^&ndash;1. Flexural bend test showed that glass fibers made the samples stronger yet more brittle while quasi-static compression tests showed a decrease in performance with 3DFRFC. High strain impact tests validated previously published studies by showing an 18&ndash;20% reduction in the maximum force experienced by the fiber reinforced core and its ability to dissipate the impact force in the foam core sandwich panel. The results show potential for the cost-effective manufacturing method used in this study to produce an improved composite foam core sandwich panel for armored applications where high strain rates are present and reduce the overall weight of vehicles while maintaining the desired strength performance.</p><p>

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 40-02, Section: B, page: 0875. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1978.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 34-09, Section: B, page: 4490. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1973.

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<p>Molecular control of plasmon coupling is investigated in biomolecule-linked nanoparticle assemblies in two-particle, small cluster, and extended network formats. The relationship between structure and optical properties is explored through comparison of measured spectra with simulated spectra calculated using structural models based upon measured structural parameters. A variety of techniques are used to characterize nanoparticle assemblies, including ensemble extinction and elastic scattering spectroscopy, single-assembly scattering spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. Initially, molecular control of plasmon coupling is investigated in ~100 nm assemblies composed of 13 nm gold "satellite" particles tethered by duplex DNA to a 50 nm gold "core" particle. Comparison of core-satellite assemblies formed with duplex DNA tethers of varying length demonstrates that, while core-satellite separation is controlled by the number of base pairs in the DNA tether, structural properties such as core:satellite ratio and yield are independent of DNA tether length. Thus, plasmon coupling within these assemblies is determined by the number of base pairs in the duplex DNA tether; compact assemblies in which tethers are composed of fewer base pairs exhibit plasmon bands that are red-shifted relative to the bands of extended assemblies, indicating increased plasmon coupling in the compact assemblies. Subsequently, core-satellite assemblies are formed with reconfigurable DNA nanostructure tethers that modulate interparticle separation in response to a molecular stimulus. Assembly reconfiguration from a compact to an extended state results in blue-shifting of the assembly plasmon resonance, indicating reduced interparticle coupling and lengthening of the core-satellite tether. Comparison between measured and simulated spectra revealed a close correspondence and provided validation of the structural models that link assembly plasmonic properties with DNA control of interparticle separation.</p><p>Plasmon coupling is investigated also in binary metal systems. A new method for forming stable oligonucleotide-silver conjugates is presented, and controlled plasmon coupling is observed in reconfigurable core-satellite assemblies composed of 20 nm silver satellites linked to a 50 nm gold core by DNA tethers. Reconfiguration of the DNA linkers from a compact to an extended state results in decreased plasmon coupling and a blue-shift of the gold core plasmon resonance, similar to the response observed in analogous structures formed with gold satellites. Simulations of structures composed of gold and silver cores and satellites are performed to determine how the optical properties of binary metal assemblies may differ from those composed of a single metal. It appears that gold plasmons are systematically red shifted by silver particles, whereas plasmons supported by silver particles appear differentially sensitive to gold particles according to whether the silver particle is in a core position or a satellite shell. Next, the plasmonic properties of immobilized binary nanoparticle assemblies that incorporate a single strongly scattering component that acts as a template for assembly of weakly scattering plasmonic particles are investigated. Assemblies are composed of a streptavidin-coated gold "core" nanoparticle and BSA-biotin-coated gold or silver "satellite" particles. Through correlation of measured and simulated spectra, the dependence of assembly optical properties upon satellite coverage and satellite orientation about the core is addressed. It appears that plasmon coupling in gold core-gold satellite structures depends upon satellite orientation about the core and can manifest as either peak shifting or peak splitting, while the gold plasmon response to silver satellite assembly appears to be independent of satellite orientation. Finally, binary coupling is studied in one-dimensional particle pairs and three-dimensional extended networks composed of gold and silver particles linked by DNA. Investigation of particle pairs is performed by correlating assembly structure and optical properties. From both measured spectra, and simulated spectra based upon models that incorporate measured structural parameters, it appears that plasmon coupling within gold-silver particle pairs results in damping of the silver band and enhancement of the gold band. The optical response of plasmon coupling in extended networks composed of gold and silver particles is found to be qualitatively similar to coupling observed in unlike particle pairs. However, spectral simulations reveal that interactions between unlike components in binary gold and silver nanoparticle networks lead to modulation of coupling between like particle plasmons as well as pair-wise damping and enhancement.</p> / Dissertation