Ce travail décrit une étude quantitative de plusieurs systèmes de reconnaissance biomoléculaire impliquant des interactions multivalentes.<br />Deux chapitres sont axés sur l'utilisation de plateformes supramoléculaires cyclodécapeptidiques appelées RAFT (Regioselectively Adressable Functionnalized Template) permettant la présentation multiple de ligand saccharidique ou cyclopeptidique. Une étude cinétique et thermodynamique des interactions entre les ligands RAFT-saccharide et une lectine modèle, la concanavaline A, a permis de démontrer que deux mécanismes moléculaires sont à l'origine de la meilleure affinité des RAFT multivalents par rapport à leurs homologues monovalents : d'une part un effet de « proximité-statistique » dû à la concentration locale élevée en motif sucre et d'autre part la capacité des RAFT multivalents à se lier à plusieurs lectines selon un effet « cluster ». Des études préliminaires ont également concerné l'analyse de l'interaction entre RAFT-RGD et des récepteurs cellulaires.<br />Dans un dernier chapitre, nous avons démontré, pour la première fois, la formation de films multicouches grâce à des interactions de type hôte-invité entre deux biopolymères de chitosane, l'un fonctionnalisés par des cavités Β-cyclodextrine et l'autre par des entités adamantane. Bien que la stabilité de l'assemblage soit assurée par des interactions de complexation multivalentes, la croissance de l'assemblage, quant à elle, dépend de la disponibilité des sites de complexation offerts par chacune des couches. De plus, les deux polymères chargés positivement confèrent à l'assemblage des propriétés de gonflement-dégonflement en réponse à des variations de force ionique et pH.

The development of the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique has turned out to be an efficient way to physically modify the surface properties of different materials, for example to improve the adhesive interactions between fibers in paper. The main objective of the work described in this thesis was to obtain fundamental data concerning the adhesive properties of wood biopolymers and LbL films, including the mechanical properties of the thin films, in order to shed light on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the adhesion between these materials. LbLs constructed from poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), starch containing LbL films, and LbL films containing nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) were studied with respect to their adhesive and mechanical properties. The LbL formation was studied using a combination of stagnation point adsorption reflectometry (SPAR) and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and the adhesive properties of the different LbL films were studied in water using atomic force microscopy (AFM) colloidal probe measurements and under ambient conditions using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) approach. Finally the mechanical properties were investigated by mechanical buckling and the recently developed SIEBIMM technique (strain-induced elastic buckling instability for mechanical measurements). From colloidal probe AFM measurements of the wet adhesive properties of surfaces treated with PAH/PAA it was concluded that the development of strong adhesive joints is very dependent on the mobility of the polyelectrolytes and interdiffusion across the interface between the LbL treated surfaces to allow for polymer entanglements. Starch is a renewable, cost-efficient biopolymer that is already widely used in papermaking which makes it an interesting candidate for the formation of LbL films in practical systems. It was shown, using SPAR and QCM-D, that LbL films can be successfully constructed from cationic and anionic starches on silicon dioxide and on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates. Colloidal probe AFM measurements showed that starch LbL treatment have potential for increasing the adhesive interaction between solid substrates to levels beyond those that can be reached by a single layer of cationic starch. Furthermore, it was shown by SIEBIMM measurements that the elastic properties of starch-containing LbL films can be tailored using different nanoparticles in combination with starch. LbL films containing cellulose I nanofibrils were constructed using anionic NFC in combination with cationic NFC and poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) respectively. These NFC films were used as cellulose model surfaces and colloidal probe AFM was used to measure the adhesive interactions in water. Furthermore, PDMS caps were successfully coated by LbL films containing NFC which enabled the first known JKR adhesion measurements between cellulose/cellulose, cellulose/lignin and cellulose/glucomannan. The measured adhesion and adhesion hysteresis were similar for all three systems indicating that there are no profound differences in the interaction between different wood biopolymers. Finally, the elastic properties of PEI/NFC LbL films were investigated using SIEBIMM and it was shown that the stiffness of the films was highly dependent on the relative humidity. / <p>QC 20110923</p>

Biomolecular interaction analysis to determine the kinetics and affinity between interacting partners is important for the fundamental understanding of biology, as well as for the development of new pharmaceutical substances. A quartz crystal microbalance instrument suitable for kinetics and affinity analyses of interaction events was developed. The functionality of the sensor system was demonstrated by development of an assay for relative affinity determination of lectin-carbohydrate interactions. Sensor surfaces allowing for effective immobilization of one interacting partner is a key functionality of a biosensor. Here, three different surfaces and immobilization methods were studied. First, optimized preparation conditions for sensor surfaces based on carboxyl-terminated self assembled monolayers were developed and were demonstrated to provide highly functional biosensor surfaces with low non-specific binding. Second, a method allowing for immobilization of very acidic biomolecules based on the use of an electric field was developed and evaluated. The electric field made it possible to immobilize the highly acidic C-peptide on a carboxylated surface. Third, a method for antibody immobilization on a carboxyl surface was optimized and the influence of immobilization pH on the immobilization level and antigen binding capacity was thoroughly assessed. The method showed high reproducibility for a set of antibodies and allowed for antibody immobilization also at low pH. Three broadly different strategies to increase the sensitivity of electroacoustic sensors were explored. A QCM sensor with small resonator electrodes and reduced flow cell dimensions was demonstrated to improve the mass transport rate to the sensor surface. The use of polymers on QCM sensor surfaces to enhance the sensor response was shown to increase the response of an antibody-antigen model system more than ten-fold. Moreover, the application of high frequency thin film bulk acoustic resonators for biosensing was evaluated with respect to sensing range from the surface. The linear detection range of the thin film resonator was determined to be more than sufficient for biosensor applications involving, for instance, antibody-antigen interactions. Finally, a setup for combined frequency and resistance measurements was developed and was found to provide time resolved data suitable for kinetics determination. / wisenet

Les travaux réalisés dans cette thèse proposent une aide à la décision pour améliorer la qualité de l'apprentissage. L'apprentissage scolaire englobe deux dimension; une dimension humaine et une dimension pédagogique. La dimension humaine inclut l'apprenant et l'enseignant. La dimension pédagogique, représentée par le programme fixé par l'établissement éducatif, correspond au savoir. Ce dernier va se transformer en connaissance chez l'apprenant. Les deux notions de connaissance et savoir sont donc tout à fait différentes. La distance entre les deux représente la distance entre ce que l'enseignant présente (le savoir) et ce que l'apprenant acquière (la connaissance). La qualité de l'apprentissage concerne les apprenants qui vont à l'école pour acquérir le savoir. En fait, apprendre consiste à intérioriser le savoir. Cette intériorisation demande des efforts pour un changement intellectuel persévérant et exige une continuité basée sur les expériences antérieures. L'acquisition du savoir et sa transformation en connaissance par l'apprenant sont influencées par plusieurs facteurs qui interviennent positivement ou négativement sur la quantité et la qualité de cette connaissance. Il peut résider chez l'apprenant une confusion entre les deux notions qui peut l'amener à valoriser ou ignorer sa connaissance. Le processus de construction des connaissances par le savoir diffusé exige une constante mise en œuvre de procédures d'évaluation. Le processus d'évaluation apprécie alors la structure de la connaissance pour prendre des décisions destinées à la faire évoluer. Cependant, lors d'une évaluation, la confusion entre connaissance et savoir peut amener l'apprenant à valoriser le score, négligeant ainsi le regard qu'il pourrait porter sur les processus de transformation des connaissances au profit d'une restitution la plus fidèle possible du savoir. Cette confusion peut être mise en évidence pourvu que l'évaluation intègre une dimension processuelle. Dès lors, l'évaluation peut être mieux associée à des actions d'amélioration et de transformation des connaissances. L'évaluation peut alors être abordée dans une logique d'aide à la décision. Dans ce travail nous montrerons donc qu'une situation d'apprentissage s'apparente à une situation d'aide à la décision.

Antibodies are Y-shaped proteins. In the human body, antibodies areproduced by plasma cells, mainly T and B cells which are included inthe adaptive immune system. The production of antibodies is stimulatedby antigens. The binding between an antigen-specific antibody and itsantigen can be like the interconnect between a lock and a key.Therefore, antibodies are widely used as diagnostic tools for avariety of diseases but most importantly cancer. Some rapid diagnostictests are completely dependent on the specificity and reactivity ofantibodies such as UBC® Rapid produced by IDL Biotech AB. Therefore,the quality of these antibodies is important. This master thesis at IDL Biotech aimed to validate six anticytokeratinantibodies that are currently used in several rapid cancerdiagnostic tests produced by IDL. Antibody validation is a processwhere specificity, selectivity and reproductivity of an antibody isdemonstrated through specific laboratory investigations. During thisthesis, two laboratory methods were used to validate antibodies,namely, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis and the Attana QuartzCrystal Microbalance based biosensor. Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis (IEF) is a method that determinesproteins pI-values which can then reveal information about posttranslationalmodifications and protein sustainability during storage.IEF revealed changes in pI-values in two antibodies: AB2 and AB4. Attana biosensor analysis on AB1-5 showed that all antibodies havehigh specificity, reactivity and relatively high affinity to theircytokeratin targets. It also revealed that 4 antibodies (AB1 and AB3-5) have lower cross-reactivity with other cytokeratins than theirtarget cytokeratins compared to AB2. Keywords: Antibody validation, Isoelectric focusing, QCM, Attanabiosensor, biosensors, rapid diagnostics, epithelial carcinomas.

<p>Synthetic carbohydrate carrying polymers have gained substantial attention recently due to their biocompatibility and their wide range of applications such as targeted drug delivery systems, gene therapy and cell-specific biomedical materials. The overall objective of this research is to develop novel carbohydrate bearing polymers through modification of polyvinylamine (PVAm) backbone with galactose groups and to discover potential applications for this new category of glycopolymers.</p> <p>PVAm-g-galactose (PVAm-GAL) with various molecular weights and grafting extents were prepared and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and potentiometric and conductometric titration. Bonding of PVAm-GAL with phenylboronic acid modified PVAm (PVAm-PBA) and phenylboronate modified surfaces were studied on a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D). Multilayer assembly of alternating layers of PVAm-GAL and PVA-PBA was formed on the silica sensor.</p> <p>Interaction of PVAm-GAL with RCA₁₂₀ lectin, a galactose specific protein, was studied on a silica sensor using QCM-D. Galactose binding proteins are overexpressed in hepatocyte and have been widely exploited for targeting the liver tissue with the help of galactosylated polymeric carriers. RCA₁₂₀lectin shows spontaneous adsorption on galactose rich surfaces obtained by the adsorption of PVAm-GAL on silica sensors. Association constant of the interaction was calculated . Effect of pretreatment with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was also examined.</p> <p>Cationic polymers can form polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) with negatively charged DNA, resulting in formation of nano-sized complexes for gene delivery purposes. PECs based on PVAm-GAL and different DNA samples were prepared and their physicochemical properties were investigated using dynamic light scattering (DLS) and electrophoretic mobility measurements. Furthermore, PVAm-GAL was studied as coating for Ca-alginate beads which are widely used for cell encapsulation purposes. PVAm-GAL can strengthen the capsule’s surface and increase the physicochemical stability of the beads against chemical degradations. PVAm-GAL coated alginate beads successfully survived treatment with sodium citrate and high ionic strength solutions.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

The main objective of this thesis work was to gain understanding of the principles of biolubrication, focusing on synergistic effects between biolubricants. To this end surface force and friction measurements were carried out by means of Atomic Force Microscopy, using hydrophilic and hydrophobic model surfaces in salt solutions of high ionic strength (≈ 150 mM) in presence of different biolubricants. There was also a need to gain information on the adsorbed layers formed by the biolubricants. This was achieved by using a range of methods such as Atomic Force Microscopy PeakForce imaging, Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation, Dynamic Light Scattering and X-Ray Reflectometry. By combining data from these techniques, detailed information about the adsorbed layers could be obtained.The biolubricants that were chosen for investigation were a phospholipid, hyaluronan, lubricin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) that all exist in the synovial joint area. First the lubrication ability of these components alone was investigated, and then focus was turned to two pairs that are known or assumed to associate in the synovial area. Of the biolubricants that were investigated, it was only the phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) that was found to be an efficient lubricant on its own. Deposited DPPC bilayers on silica surfaces were found to be able to provide very low friction coefficients (≈ 0.01) up to high pressures, ≈ 50 MPa. A higher load bearing capacity was found for DPPC in the liquid crystalline state compared to in the gel state.The first synergy pair that was explored was DPPC and hyaluronan, that is known to associate on the cartilage surface, and we also noticed association between hyaluronan and DPPC vesicles as well as with adsorbed DPPC bilayers. By combining these two components a lubrication performance similar to that of DPPC alone could be achieved, even though the friction coefficient in presence of hyaluronan was found to be slightly higher. The synergy here is thus not in form of an increased performance, but rather that the presence of hyaluronan allows a large amount of the phospholipid lubricant to accumulate where it is needed, i.e. on the sliding surfaces.The other synergy pair was lubricin and COMP that recently has been shown to be co-localized on the cartilage surface, and thus suggested to associate with each other. Lubricin, as a single component, provided poor lubrication of PMMA surfaces, which we utilized as model hydrophobic surfaces. However, if COMP first was allowed to coat the surface, and then lubricin was added a low friction coefficient (≈ 0.03) was found. In this case the synergy arises from COMP facilitating strong anchoring of lubricin to the surface in conformations that provide good lubrication performance. / Huvudsyftet med det här avhandlingsarbetet var att öka förståelsen för den låga friktion som finns i vissa biologiska system, med fokus på synergistiska effekter mellan de smörjande molekylerna. För detta ändamål studerades ytkrafter och friktion med hjälp av atomkraftsmikroskopi. Mätningarna utfördes med hydrofila och hydrofoba modellytor i lösningar med hög salthalt (≈ 150 mM) i närvaro av smörjande biomolekyler. Det var också nödvändigt att få information om de adsorberade skikten av biomolekyler. Det åstadkoms med hjälp av en rad tekniker så som AFM PeakForce avbildning, kvartskristallmikrovåg, dynamisk ljusspridning och röntgen reflektometri. Genom att kombinera data från dessa tekniker erhölls detaljerad information om de smörjande skikten.De smörjande biomolekyler som valdes ut för studierna var en fosfolipid, hyaluronan, lubricin, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) vilka alla finns i synovialledsområdet. Först undersöktes den smörjande förmågan hos dessa komponenter var för sig, och sedan fokuserade vi på två par av biomolekyler som man vet eller antar bildar associationsstrukturer i synovialleder. Av de enskilda biomolekyler som undersöktes var det endast fosfolipiden 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-fosfokoline (DPPC) som visade sig vara en effektivt smörjande molekyl. Deponerade biskikt av DPPC på silikaytor gav upphov till mycket låga friktionskoefficienter (≈ 0.01) upp till höga pålagda tryck, ≈ 50 MPa. DPPC bilager i flytande kristallin fas visade sig ha högre lastbärande förmåga än DPPC bilager i geltillstånd.Det första synergistiska par som undersöktes var DPPC och hyaluronan vilka man vet associerar på broskytan, och vi visade att hyaluronan associerar med såväl DPPC vesiklar som med DPPC bilager. Genom att kombinera dessa två komponenter uppmättes en smörjande förmåga som var jämförbar med den som DPPC ensam uppvisar. Även om friktionskoefficienten var något högre i närvaro av hyaluronan. Synergieffekten här består inte av en bättre smörjande förmåga, utan istället gör närvaron av hyaluronan att de smörjande fosfolipiderna kan ansamlas i stora mängder där de behövs, dvs. på de glidande ytorna.Det andra synergiparet var lubricin och COMP vilka nyligen har visats vara lokaliserade på samma platser på broskytan, vilket tyder på att de associerar med varandra. På egen hand var lubricins smörjande förmåga av PMMA, våra hydrofoba modellytor, dålig. Emellertid, om COMP först adsorberades på PMMA och sedan lubricin tillsattes uppmättes en låg friktionskoefficient (≈ 0.03). I det här fallet består synergin av att COMP möjliggör en stark inbindning till ytan av lubricin i konformationer som ger god smörjande förmåga. / <p>QC 20141202</p> / Stiftelsen för strategisk forskning - SSF

The Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a life-threatening nosocomial pathogen due to its generally low susceptibility toward antibiotics. Furthermore, many strains have acquired resistance mechanisms requiring new antimicrobials with novel mechanisms to enhance treatment options. Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides, such as the apidaecin analog Api137, are highly efficient against various Enterobacteriaceae infections in mice, but less active against P. aeruginosa in vitro. Here, we extended our recent work by optimizing lead peptides Api755 (gu-OIORPVYOPRPRPPHPRL-OH; gu = N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylguanidino, O = L-ornithine) and Api760 (gu-OWORPVYOPRPRPPHPRL-OH) by incorporation of Ile-Orn- and Trp-Orn-motifs, respectively. Api795 (gu-O(IO)2RPVYOPRPRPPHPRL-OH) and Api794 (gu-O(WO)3RPVYOPRPRPPHPRL-OH) were highly active against P. aeruginosa with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 8–16 and 8–32 μg/mL against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Assessed using a quartz crystal microbalance, these peptides inserted into a membrane layer and the surface activity increased gradually from Api137, over Api795, to Api794. This mode of action was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy indicating some membrane damage only at the high peptide concentrations. Api794 and Api795 were highly stable against serum proteases (half-life times >5 h) and non-hemolytic to human erythrocytes at peptide concentrations of 0.6 g/L. At this concentration, Api795 reduced the cell viability of HeLa cells only slightly, whereas the IC50 of Api794 was 0.23 ± 0.09 g/L. Confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed no colocalization of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein-labeled Api794 or Api795 with the mitochondria, excluding interactions with the mitochondrial membrane. Interestingly, Api795 was localized in endosomes, whereas Api794 was present in endosomes and the cytosol. This was verified using flow cytometry showing a 50% higher uptake of Api794 in HeLa cells compared with Api795. The uptake was reduced for both peptides by 50 and 80%, respectively, after inhibiting endocytotic uptake with dynasore. In summary, Api794 and Api795 were highly active against P. aeruginosa in vitro. Both peptides passed across the bacterial membrane efficiently, most likely then disturbing the ribosome assembly, and resulting in further intracellular damage. Api795 with its IOIO-motif, which was particularly active and only slightly toxic in vitro, appears to represent a promising third generation lead compound for the development of novel antibiotics against P. aeruginosa.

Corrosion of metallic materials is a natural process, and our study shows that even in an alkaline environment severe corrosion may occur on a carbon steel surface. While corrosion cannot be stopped it can be retarded. Many of the traditional anti-corrosion approaches such as the chromate process are effective but hazardous to the environment and human health. Mefp-1, a protein derived from blue mussel byssus, is well known for its extraordinary adhesion and film forming properties. Moreover, it has been reported that Mefp-1 confers a certain corrosion protection for stainless steel. All these facts indicate that this protein may be developed into corrosion inhibitors with ‘green’, ‘effective’ and ‘smart’ properties. In this study, a range of surface-sensitive techniques have been used to investigate adsorption kinetics, film forming and film compaction mechanisms of Mefp-1. In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables the protein adsorption on substrates to be visualized, whereas the ex situ AFM facilitates the characterization of micro- and nano-structures of the protein films. In situ Peak Force AFM can be used to determine nano-mechanical properties of the surface layers. The quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) was used to reveal the build-up of the Mefp-1 film on substrates and measure the viscoelastic properties of the adsorbed film. Analytical techniques and theoretical calculations were applied to gain insights into the formation and compaction processes such as oxidation and complexation of pre-formed Mefp-1 films. The electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to obtain the chemical composition of the surface layer. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements were performed to evaluate the corrosion inhibition efficiency of different forms of Mefp-1 on carbon steel substrates. The results demonstrate that Mefp-1 adsorbs on carbon steel surfaces across a broad pH interval, and it forms a continuous film covering the substrate providing a certain extent of corrosion protection. At a higher pH, the adsorption is faster and the formed film is more compact. At neutral pH, results on the iron substrate suggest an initially fast adsorption, with the molecules oriented preferentially parallel to the surface, followed by a structural change within the film leading to molecules extending towards solution. Both oxidation and complexation of the Mefp-1 can lead to the compaction of the protein films. Addition of Fe3+ induces a transition from an extended and soft protein layer to a denser and stiffer one by enhancing the formation of tri-Fe3+/catechol complexes in the surface film, leading to water removal and film compaction. Exposure to a NaIO4 solution results in the cross-linking of Mefp-1, which also results in a significant compaction of the pre-formed protein film. Mefp-1 is an effective corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel when added to an acidic solution, and the inhibition efficiency increases with time. As a film-forming corrosion inhibitor, the pre-formed Mefp-1 film provides a certain level of corrosion protection for short term applications, and the protection efficiency can be significantly enhanced by the film compaction processes. For the long term applications, a thin film composed of Mefp-1 and ceria nanoparticles was developed. The deposited Mefp-1/ceria composite film contains micro-sized aggregates of Mefp-1/Fe3+ complexes and CeO2 particles. The Mefp-1/ceria film may promote the further oxidation of ferrous oxides, and the corrosion resistance increases with time. Moreover, phosphate ions react with Fe ions released from the surface and form deposits preferentially at the surface defect sites. The deposits incorporate into the Mefp-1/ceria composite film and heal the surface defects, which result in a significantly improved corrosion inhibition effect for the Mefp-1/ceria composite film in both initial and prolonged exposure situations / <p>QC 20130610</p>

Résumé indisponible / This PhD work is dedicated to investigate potentialities of phthalocyanines materials to realize a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) sensor for Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes (BTX) detection in air. The goal is to develop a sensor-microsystem capable of measuring BTX concentrations quantitatively below the environmental guidelines with sufficient accuracy. To achieve these objectives, our strategies mainly focused on experimental works encompassing sensors realization, sensing material characterizations, development of gas-testing facility and sensor testing for different target gases. One of the main aims is to identify most appropriate phthalocyanine material for sensor development. After comparative sensing studies, tert-butyl-copper phthalocyanine based QCM device is found as most sensitive and detail metrological characteristics are further investigated. Results show repeatable, reversible and high magnitude of response, low response and recovery times, sub-ppm range detection limit, high resolutions and combined selectivity of BTX gases among common atmospheric pollutants. Special focus is given to understand the gas/material interactions which are achieved by (a) XRD and SEM characterizations of sensing layers, (b) formalization of a two-step adsorption model and (c) assessing extent of diffusion of target gas in sensing layer. At last, possible ageing of sensor and suitable storage conditions to prevent such effect are investigated.