The effect of native hyaluronan addition on CMC of excluded surfactants (Tween 20, BETADET THC 2, SDS, CTAT a CTAB) in physiological solution (0,15 M NaCl) has been investigated by fluoresence spectroscopy with Pyrene and Nile red as probes. The greatest influence on CMC has been observed in systems with cationic surfactant. System of cetyltrimethylamonnium bromid has been closely studied. Solubilization experiments with a hydrophobic dye Sudan red has been realized and aggregation number of this system has been determinated via fluorescence quenching with cetylpyridinium chloride as quencher and Pyrene as fluorescence probe. Addition of hyaluronan (native or hydrophobicaly modified) reduces aggregation number of system.

This diploma thesis is focused on determination of aggregation behavior of selected phospholipids (lecithin; 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine) in water and on the effect of native hyaluronan addition of various molecular weights and concentrations on this behavior. The behavior has been investigated with fluorescence spectroscopy using pyrene and perylene as fluorescence probes being able to penetrate into hydrophobic cavities of formed aggregates. Critical aggregation concentration and the concentration at which lecithin begins to aggregate have been determined. Regarding 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine, it was possible to determine only the beginning of aggregation value. The values of this parameter for lecithin and for 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphocholine correspond in the order. It has been investigated, that the addition of native hyaluronan has only in some systems slight effect on the aggregate behavior of selected phospholipids.

The thesis is focused on physical hyaluronan gels. The object of study is the interaction of hyaluronan (HyA) with oppositely charged surfactants in physiologic solution (0.15 M NaCl), leading to the formation of gel. In the first part of work have been determined the solids´ contents (X) in gels and their supernatants in percentage and their correlation with molecular weight concentration of original HyA solution and the ratio of binding sites on hyaluronan chain and surfactant CTAB. To conclude, decrease in HyA concentration results in higher values of X and vice versa. On the other hand, increase in the value of X with increasing molecular weight of HyA is not so significant. Analogous conclusions have been made for supernatants and the amount of solids in gel. Drying process has been recorded by drying curves. Swelling process has been used for the characterization of gels. The percentage of water that can be absorbed by dried gel, was determined. The results are in agreement with the measurements of solids´ content in gels. In the next part, the correlation between rheological properties of gels and HyA concentration, HyA molecular weight and concentration of CTAB have been studied by the oscillation and flow tests. The samples with the highest molecular weight and concentration have the most viscoelastic character. The flow test confirmed the assumed pseudoplastic behavior of gels. A very interesting trend arose while comparing HyA concentrations and viscosity in stock solutions and gels. Whereas in stock solution viscosity (at low shear rate) is lower with increasing of HyA concentration, the situation was exactly the opposite in gels. The results are in agreement with frequency tests and observed character of gels.

This thesis studies properties of hydrogel, which arises on the basis of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between hyaluronan chain and micelles of cationic surfactant. A native sodium hyaluronan at molecular weight 750–1 000 kDa and a cationic surfactant CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) were used. This hydrogel was assessed as a material for drug delivery systems. The hydrogels were made by mixing 200mM CTAB with 0.5% hyaluronan, both dissolved in 0.15M aqueous solution of NaCl simulating physiological solution. Methods used in this study were steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, more accurately time-resolved emission spectra (TRES) and deconvolution of steady-state emission spectra of a whole sample by means of parameters gained from fluorescence intensity decays at a set of wavelenghts. Selected systems were investigated by three fluorescent probes, prodan, laurdan and rhodamine 6G. The first two mentioned probes were in hydrogel localized only within micelles in three different microenvironments. Rhodamine 6G pointed out that in hydrogel the aqueous environment is significantly restricted in comparison to purely micellar solution. In addition, rhodamine informed about less available micelle surfaces, caused by hyaluronan chains occupation. There were no interactions between the probes and hyaluronan chains. Freshly made hydrogels showed almost the same results as after a week of maturation under its supernatant.

In this diploma thesis were investigated in terms of microviscosity liquid and condensed systems composed of hyaluronan (Hya) and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The excitation and emission spectra, lifetime, steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of the samples were measured. First, was studied the formation of hydrophobic domains in the system Hya-CTAB at concentration of CTAB lower than its critical micelle concentration in an aqueous solution and 0.15M NaCl. It was found that in an aqueous solution small hydrophobic domains linked to chains Hya are formed. Then an increasing concentration of CTAB leads to phase separation and formation of gel. Due to the addition of NaCl then leads to the reorganization of this system and probably the formation of free micelles in the solution. Were also studied condensed phase of system Hya-CTAB-NaCl at high concentrations of surfactant during fourteen days of ageing. It was found that the microviscosity of hydrophobic domains is constant, but the microviscosity of hydrophilic parts gradually decreases.

This diploma thesis is focused on the determination of distribution a surfactant at phase separation in polymer-surfactant system. Sodium hyaluronate of three molecular weights was chosen as a polymer, CTAB was used as a surfactant. The experiments were performed in an environment of 0,15 M NaCl. The measurement of the CTAB concentration in samples was based on the formation of coloured complexes of CTAB and picric acid in chloroform. UV-VIS spectroscopy was used for the detection of these complexes. The content of CTAB was determined in four gels of different composition (2% Hya + 200 mM CTAB, 2 % Hya + 50 mM CTAB, 0,5 % Hya + 200 mM CTAB, 0,5 % Hya + 50 mM CTAB). All gels were gradually washed five times with 0,15 M NaCl. The content of CTAB was determined for newly prepared gels and for gels after 2 and 4 months since the preparation. Initial concentrations of CTAB and hyaluronan have greater influence on the distribution of CTAB after phase separation, than the molecular weight of hyaluronan. The content of CTAB in newly prepared gels and after 4 months since preparation is very similar and demonstrates the stability of the system.

This thesis deals with a summary of individual method for determining of hyaluronan concentration, especially in aqueous solutions. Selected methods were compared to their functionality in university workplace. Any functional methods may be used for many purposes in university workplace in research of materials based on hyaluronan. It has been studied usability to assess residual content of hyaluronan in supernatant of gel formed from hyaluronan and surfuctant, in this thesis. We choosed sptectrophotometric methods, especially with UV spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. Two precipitation methods using alcian blue were also tested. As the most reliable, the least demanding and specific method seems to be the method using IR spectroscopy, thanks to it we are able to determine the concentration of HA from 0.01 %. With this method, it has been found, that if there will be located some amount of HA in supernatant, it will be below the detection limit of assay. The remanining methods were modified to help determine the concentrations of HA, but works only in aqueous solutions. A possible variation for determination of very low concentrations of HA may be the method using ELISA kits. However their cost is higher than the above-mentioned methods.

This master's thesis deals with gelation of hydroxyethylcellulose and hyaluronan crosslinked with nontoxic crosslinking agent – citric acid. First of all, the optimalization of gelation process of hydroxyethylcellulose took place. After obtaining the product insolube in the ultrapure deionized water, a reaction mixture of hyaluronan and hydroxyethylcellulose in two different weight ratios were prepared. There was prepared solution containing only hyaluronan as the polymeric part too. Citric acid was used in concentrations of 5 %, 10 % and 20 % (w/w of polymer). These solutions of polymers and citric acid were gelated under the same conditions and the products were compared to each other using Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The products containing hydroxyethylcellulose and hyaluronan with hydroxyethylcellulose in weight ratio equal to 3 : 7 were considered crosslinked.

This thesis focuses on the study of interactions between hyaluronan and lipid DOTAP and its mixtures with DPPC in water. First, the aggregation behavior of the lipid itself and its mixtures was measured, afterwards the influence of hyaluronan in different concentration was studied. Further the fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescence probe DPH in these mixtures and influence of cholesterol was measured. These properties were investigated by fluorescence spectoscopy using pyrene and DPH as fluorescence probes. The measurements revealed that the addition of hyaluronan has observable influence on the aggregation behavior of the lipid DOTAP and its mixtures with DPPC and that cholesterol influences liposomes fluidity.

This diploma thesis deals with the use of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy technique for microrheological characterization of hydrogel in a system of hyaluronate-cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Fluorescently labelled particles were used for microrheological FCS analysis. To optimize the method the most appropriate size of particles was chosen on the basis of Newtonian glycerol solutions analysis. Among other things, the discussion was focused on the influence of refractive index change of analysed solutions on analysis results. After hyaluronate solutions analysis it was possible to assess the biopolymer concentration and molecular weight impact on the FCS microrheology results, which could then be compared with analysis results of model hydrogels of hyaluronate and CTAB. Finally, usability and limitations of FCS microrheology have been discussed.