Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In the presented work, immunosensors for detection of Aflatoxin B1 based on different immobilization platforms were studied. Synthesis of an electroactive hydrogel was also carried out. Aflatoxins are a group of mycotoxins that have deleterious effects on humans and are produced during fungal infection of plants or plant products. Electrochemical immunosensor for the determination of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was developed with anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody immobilized on Pt electrodes modified with polyaniline (PANi) and polystyrene sulphonic acid (PSSA). Impedimetric analysis shows that the electron transfer resistances of Pt/PANi-PSSA electrode, Pt/PANi-PSSA/AFB1-Ab immunosensor and Pt/PANi- PSSA/AFB1-Ab incubated in BSA were 0.458, 720 and 1066 kΩ, respectively. These results indicate that electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a suitable method for monitoring the change in electron-transfer resistance associated with the immobilization of the antibody. Modelling of EIS data gave equivalent circuits which showed that the electron transfer resistance increased from 0.458 kΩ for Pt/PANi-PSSA electrode to 1066 kΩ for Pt/PANi- PSSA/AFB1-Ab immunosensor, indicating that immobilization of the antibody and incubation in BSA introduced an electron transfer barrier. The AFB1 immunosensor had a detection limit of 0.1 mg/L and a sensitivity of 869.6 k ΩL/mg. In the second platform an immunosensor based on gold nanoparticles (AuNP) and polythionine-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the determination of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was developed. Aflatoxin B1-BSA conjugate was immobilised on the modified GCE. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or Bovine serum albumin (BSA) were used to block sites against non-specific binding of the AFB1- conjugate with other compounds such as the salts used in preparing the buffer when the antibody interacts with the AFB1 conjugate and free AFB1. Competition reaction was allowed to take place between the free AFB1 and AFB1-conjugate for the binding sites of the anti-aflatoxin B1 antibody. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) was employed to characterize the electrochemical properties of the modified process. The peak separation of the immunosensor (ΔEp) was 62 mV indicating a quasi reversible process. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used to monitor the analytical signal. The response decreased with an increase in AFB1 concentration in the range of 0.6-2.4 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 0.07 and 0.16 ng/mL for HRP and BSA blocked immunosensors respectively. Significantly the low detection limit of 0.07 ng/mL is within the limits set by worl health organization (WHO) for AFB1 and its derivatives which is 2 ng/mL The proposed method eliminates the use of secondary antibody enzymatic labels. Synthesis and characterization of (p-(HEMA)-polyaniline hydrogels were investigated. The hydrogels were synthesized using: 2-Hydroxyeththyl methacrylate (HEMA), N-Tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl] acrylamide, 3- Sulfopropyl methacrylate potassium salt, Tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, Poly-(2- hydroxyethyl methacrylate), 2, 2-Dimethoxy-2-phenylacetophenone and aniline by UV irradiation. Two sets of the hydrogels were prepared using water / 1, 3, 3, 3-(tetramethyl butyl phenyl polyethylene glycol [Triton X-100] and water / ethylene glycol as the solvent. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a more uniform pore size when Triton X 100 (TX-100 HG) was used as compared to ethylene glycol (EG-HG). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that both hydrogels were stable up to 270 oC. Fourier transform-Infra red (FTIR) spectrum confirmed the incorporation of polyaniline (PANi) and HEMA in the composite. Electrochemical properties of the hydrogels evaluated using Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) demonstrated the electroactivity and conductivity.

Orientador: Rogério Pinto Mota / Resumo: Polímeros a plasma são uma classe de materiais que possuem aplicações em diversos tipos de indústrias, como biomédica, alimentícia, embalagens, eletrônica, farmaceutica, entre outras. Esses materiais possuem características que os diferem dos polímeros convencionais, como uma estrutura química ordenada aleatoriamente, boa adesão a diferentes substratos e possuem cadeias muito entrelaçadas. Estes polímeros podem ser utilizados para a função de drug delivery, podem ser carregados com um medicamento e liberá-lo quando in vivo, este conceito de drug delivery permite a realização de um tratamento localizado e com uma dose mais segura de medicamento. O processo de polimerização a plasma também tem características que o difere da polimerização convencional, ele é capaz de realizar reações que demandam muita energia e não poderiam acontecer por química convencional, os parâmetros aplicados podem ser ajustados para customizar até certo ponto o material obtido e não gera resíduos. Inicialmente a polimerização a plasma era realizada em baixa pressão, mais recentemente a alternativa de realizar o processo em pressão atmosférica vêm ganhando destaque por ser relativamente mais barata e pelas características diferentes da descarga e dos polímeros a plasma resultantes. Existem muitas configurações de fontes de plasma em pressão atmosférico, dentre elas os jatos de plasma (APPJs), nestas fontes o plasma é gerado por descargas DBD ou corona no interior de tubos ou cavidades e é expelida para ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

Cells of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) are generated prenatally and generally survive the lifetime of the individual without undergoing proliferation or replacement. Therefore, the mechanisms promoting individual RPE cell survival and longevity in vivo may be distinct from, or a limited subset of, the mechanisms known to promote survival in proliferative cells in culture. To identify specific factors that sustain cell viability independent of effects on cell division, we studied RPE cells in low-density suspension culture, in which cell proliferation is inhibited. Single cells from Xenopus laevis eyes were plated onto a non-adhesive surface in protein-free medium, then assayed for survival using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell viability in these cultures was essentially undiminished over the initial 2 days. However, by approximately 1 week in culture, only an average of 53% of the cells remained alive. Plating cells on a fibronectin-coated substratum significantly enhanced survival, such that the number of cells alive at 1 week was 80-90% of the initial level. Essentially identical results were obtained with laminin- or collagen IV-coated substrata, or with insulin (5μg ml-1) in the medium. The absence of cell division in these cultures was confirmed by cell counting and BrdU incorporation experiments. Interestingly, in suspension cultures derived from monolayers previously established on microporous membrane filters, cells lost viability much faster (average of 80% dead at 3 days), and showed a relatively greater response to extracellular matrix proteins (five-fold increase in cell survival at 3 days). Enhanced RPE survival in response to fibronectin required spreading of the cell on a substratum, rather than mere adherence, as there was a high correlation between the percentage of spread cells and the percentage that were MTT-positive (r = 0·940). Cell spreading apparently enhanced survival by preventing the initiation of programmed cell death: unattached non-viable cells in culture exhibited morphological features expected of apoptosis, as well as positive staining by the TUNEL reaction. These studies demonstrate that, of several factors shown to maintain or increase cell number in proliferating cultures, some have their effect, at least in part, by promoting the survival of individual cells. The increased susceptibility of subcultured RPE to cell death has implications for clinical transplantation applications that may require manipulation of RPE in vitro.

Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Herstellung nicht hierarchischer und hierarchischer, poröser Polymermembranen mittels eines Templatverfahrens. Bei der Herstellung der hierarchischen Membranen wird eine Stützschicht mit mikrometergroßen Mulden und eine aktive Membranschicht mit submikrometergroßen Poren in einem Arbeitsschritt und aus einem Material erzeugt. Als Template für die Poren der nicht hierarchischen Membranen bzw. Mulden der hierarchischen Membran in der Stützschicht dienen Flüssigkeitstropfen. Diese werden auf Substraten mit Bereichen unterschiedlicher Benetzbarkeit erzeugt. Die Substrate werden anschließend mit einer Polymerlösung überschichtet, welche im Falle der hierarchischen Membranen sphärische, monodisperse Siliziumdioxidpartikel enthält. Die Siliziumdioxidpartikel ordnen sich bevorzugt in der Grenzfläche zwischen den Templattropfen und der Polymerlösung an. Nach Verdunsten des Lösungsmittels, Entfernen des Substrats und ggf. der Siliziumdioxidpartikel werden poröse Polymermembranen erhalten. Die nicht hierarchischen weisen Poren in der Größe der Templattropfen aus. Die hierarchischen Membranen zeigen dagegen eine Stützstruktur mit mikrometergroßen Mulden, entstanden durch die Templattropfen und eine Schicht auf der Oberseite der Membran mit submikrometergroßen Poren, die durch die Siliziumdioxidpartikel gebildet wurden. Außerdem wird gezeigt, wie das dargelegte Verfahren auf die Herstellung von Membranen aus dem Monomer VISIOMER HEMA-TMDI übertragen werden konnte

Gegenstand dieser Arbeit ist die Herstellung nicht hierarchischer und hierarchischer, poröser Polymermembranen mittels eines Templatverfahrens. Bei der Herstellung der hierarchischen Membranen wird eine Stützschicht mit mikrometergroßen Mulden und eine aktive Membranschicht mit submikrometergroßen Poren in einem Arbeitsschritt und aus einem Material erzeugt. Als Template für die Poren der nicht hierarchischen Membranen bzw. Mulden der hierarchischen Membran in der Stützschicht dienen Flüssigkeitstropfen. Diese werden auf Substraten mit Bereichen unterschiedlicher Benetzbarkeit erzeugt. Die Substrate werden anschließend mit einer Polymerlösung überschichtet, welche im Falle der hierarchischen Membranen sphärische, monodisperse Siliziumdioxidpartikel enthält. Die Siliziumdioxidpartikel ordnen sich bevorzugt in der Grenzfläche zwischen den Templattropfen und der Polymerlösung an. Nach Verdunsten des Lösungsmittels, Entfernen des Substrats und ggf. der Siliziumdioxidpartikel werden poröse Polymermembranen erhalten. Die nicht hierarchischen weisen Poren in der Größe der Templattropfen aus. Die hierarchischen Membranen zeigen dagegen eine Stützstruktur mit mikrometergroßen Mulden, entstanden durch die Templattropfen und eine Schicht auf der Oberseite der Membran mit submikrometergroßen Poren, die durch die Siliziumdioxidpartikel gebildet wurden. Außerdem wird gezeigt, wie das dargelegte Verfahren auf die Herstellung von Membranen aus dem Monomer VISIOMER HEMA-TMDI übertragen werden konnte

No description available.

The presented doctoral research was aimed at preparation and characterization of ultra thin polymer films on solid substrates using different physical techniques. Each of these physical techniques probes selectively different characteristics of the films. While some of the techniques are strong in the predetermination of some unique properties of the layers, they might be limited and give no specific/conclusive information about some other important characteristics. Therefore, only the combination of the techniques provides a profound picture of the thickness, architecture, composition and functionality of the films/layers. This combined characterization approach elucidates in details the physical characteristics and the mechanisms responsible for the unique behavior of different polymer films/layers in the application that they are intended for. In the thesis, of particular interest were films of high biomedical, biotechnological and tissue engineering importance, such as: 1. poly(lactide) films formed by grafting "from-" a silanized alacrite thin films (L605 Co-based super alloy), 2. polydopamine (PDA) films that could serve as substrate independent mod- ification platform for further surface modification steps, 3. poly(ethylene oxide)films formed by "grafting to-" PDA modified surfaces, 4....