In this thesis there was preparation optimized for agarose-gelatin hydrogels with addition of various concentrations of low-molecular and high-molecular hyaluronan and than there were examined viscoelastic properties of them by rheological oscilation tests and high-resolution ultrasonic spektrometry. By rheology were measured values of elastic and viscous modulus for selected amplitude of strain, oscilation frequencies and temperatures. In the second method there were recorded values of ultrasonic velocities of samples at temperature scanning from 85 to 25 °C and from 25 to 85 °C in HR-US 102, which were compared with ultrasonic velocities measured at the temperature 27,0±0,5 °C by gel-modul HR-EX-SSC.

The content of this diploma thesis is study of interactions between humic acids and model probes (such as organic dyes and ions of heavy metals) by the simple diffusion experiments in diffusion cell. The main aim was to desctibe the influence of charge of different diffusion sonds (solved substances) on interactions with humic acids imobilized in model gel phase. As a appropriete model probe was chosen copper ions (as a representation of heavy metals) and organic dyes (methylene blue, rhodamine, fluorescein and chicago blue). Experimental results could be used to improve knowledge based on natural barier properties of humic acids and to inovate simple diffusion laboratory techniques for characterization of reaktivity of biopolymers in general.

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines which play an important role in the migration of immune cells to distant tissues or compartments within tissues. These proteins have also been demonstrated to play a major role in cancer metastasis. The C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7) is a member of the chemokine receptor family. CCR7 along with its ligands CCL19 and CCL21 plays an important role in innate immune response by trafficking of lymphocytes. In cancer, tumour cells expressing CCR7 migrate to lymphoid organs and thus disseminate to other organs. Neutralizing the interactions between CCL21/CCR7 would therefore be expected to inhibit the progression and metastasis of many different types of cancer to regional lymph nodes or distant organs. Our objective was to identify a potent small molecule antagonist of CCR7 as a prelude to the investigation of the role of this axis in cancer metastasis. In this study, we provided a brief description of chemokines and their role in health and disease with an emphasis on the CCR7/CCL19/CCL21 axis, as well as identification of a CCR7 antagonist “hit”. The potency of the CCR7 antagonist “hit” was optimised by synthesizing different CCR7 antagonist analogues. The “hit” optimization process has led to discover the most active compound amongst a series of different analogues which have the ability to bind and block CCR7 receptor. The efficacy of the most active compound and other analogues were evaluated in vitro using a calcium flux assay which is based on detecting fluorescent light emitted upon release of calcium ions. To identify a suitable cell line, which expresses CCR7 and capably respond to it, amongst a panel of cell lines for in vitro assessment of potency of synthesised compounds, we used Western blot assay and later by flow cytometry assay. The activity and selectivity of the most effective compound against CCR7 receptor was evaluated in vitro by other functional assays such as “configured agarose spot assay” and scratch assay. We first configured the existing under agarose assay to fulfil our requirements and then used it to assess activity and selectivity of compounds. The configured agarose spot assay also describes the application of the agarose spot for evaluation of cells chemotactic response to multiple chemokines under identical experiment conditions.

Background: The secretory epithelial cells of the prostate gland use sophisticated vehicles named prostasomes to relay important information to sperm cells in semen. This prostasome-forming and secretory ability of the epithelial cells is also preserved in poorly differentiated prostate cancer cells. Aim: The aim of this thesis was to examine different characteristics of prostasomes, especially those derived from malignant prostate cells, linked to their potential role in diagnosis and prognostication of prostate cancer. Results: Serum samples of prostate cancer patients contained autoantibodies against seminal prostasomes in a higher concentration than did control sera. These autoantibodies were most frequently directed against 25 prostasome-associated proteins, but no one was prostate specific. Clusterin was one of the most frequently occurring prostasomal proteins. Elevated titers were however seen in both patients´ and control sera. Clusterin turned out to be a major antigen of seminal prostasomes. No prostate specific or prostate cancer specific protein was discovered upon proteomic analysis of prostasomes deriving from malignant cells of vertebral metastases of prostate cancer patients. Human chromosomal DNA was identified in both seminal prostasomes and PC-3 cell prostasomes and strong evidence existed that the DNA was localized inside the prostasomes. Four out of 13 DNA clones of seminal prostasomes featured gene sequences (31%). The corresponding figures for PC-3 cell prostasomes were 4 out of 16 clones (25%). Conclusions: Prostasomes are immunogenic and give rise to serum autoantibodies. The most frequently occurring autoantibodies were directed against 25 prostasomal proteins but none of these was exclusively prostate specific. Thirty different proteins were identified in prostate cancer metastasis-derived prostasomes but none of these proteins was prostate cancer specific. Human chromosomal DNA was identified in prostasomes of both normal and malignant cell origin.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T19:56:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 3875.pdf: 1789055 bytes, checksum: a2495b6571816afdda74f70d8d9b300d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-25 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / B-glucosidase (BG) is an important enzyme for several biotechnological applications. This enzyme plays an important role in hydrolyses of lignocellulosic biomass in order to produce second generation ethanol (2G ethanol). The enzimatic hydrolysis of cellulose requires the sinergystic action of endoglucanases, exoglucanases and β-glucosidases. Endo e exoglucanases are strongly inhibited by cellobiose and its accumulation into reaction medium decreases the hydrolysis rate. The supplementation of the reaction medium with BG can reduce the inhibition effect, leading to higher conversions of cellulose to glucose. In this work, BG was immobilized on different solid supports in order to obtain an active and stable derivative to be used in hydrolyses of sugarcane bagasse. BG was immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose (GA) and polyacrylic matrix (MP) at 25oC and pH 9.0 and 4.8, respectively. To improve the immobilization yield on glyoxyl-agarose at pH 9.0, a chemical amination of the enzyme surface was required. However, BG was inactivated during the immobilization reaction due to alkaline conditions that are required to immobilize enzymes on glyoxylagarose support. Nevertheless, the presence of a competitive inhibitor (glucose) during immobilization of BG preserved about 70% of the initial activity. However, the reduction step with sodium borohydride (end point of the reaction) drastically reduced the derivative activity even in the presence of glucose. The BG immobilization in presence of competitive inhibitor allowed the preparation of a derivative approximately 4 times more active than one prepared in inhibitor absence. On the other hand, the best derivative was prepared adsorbing the enzyme on polyacrylic resin covered with carboxylic groups. After four hours of reaction, the immobilization yield and the recovered activity were ca. 71% and 97%, respectively. Pretreated sugarcane bagasse (10% w/v, dry basis) was hydrolyzed at 50oC, pH 4.8 (50 mM sodium citrate buffer), for 24 h, using soluble cellulase (Acellerase 1500) in the enzyme/substrate ratio of 20 FPU/gcellulose. Hydrolyses under same conditions were performed by supplementing the reaction medium with BG immobilized on glyoxyl-agarose (BG-GA) or BG immobilized on polyacrylic resin (GA-MP) in the enzyme/substrate ratio of 120 U/gcellulose. Five batches were performed under - xi - conditions described above by reusing the immobilized BG and non-converted cellulose after thoroughly washing with distilled water. The supplementation of the reaction medium with immobilized BG enhanced the cellulose conversions in all batches. This behavior is due to the fact that BG removes cellobiose from the reaction medium, avoiding its accumulation, which could inhibit the endoglucanases and exoglucanases. However, a decrease of the cellulose conversion after the second batch was observed (cellulose conversion decreased from ca. 50% to 15-25%). Anyway, this work shows that supplementation of the commercial enzymatic complexes with immobilized BG is advantagous. However, the stabilization of the immobilized BG is still required. / B-Glicosidase (BG) é uma enzima de grande importância em inúmeras aplicações biotecnológicas. Essa enzima desempenha um papel muito importante na hidrólise enzimática da biomassa lignocelulósica visando a produção de etanol de segunda geração (etanol 2G). A hidrólise enzimática da celulose requer a ação sinergística de endoglicanases, exoglicanases e β-glicosidases. Endo e exoglicanases são fortemente inibidas por celobiose e seu acúmulo no meio reacional reduz a taxa de hidrólise. A suplementação do meio reacional com BG pode reduzir o efeito inibitório, levando a conversões maiores de celulose a glicose. Neste trabalho BG foi imobilizada em diferentes suportes sólidos visando a obtenção de um derivado ativo e estável para uso em reações de hidrólise de bagaço de cana-de-açúcar. BG foi imobilizada em glioxil-agarose (GA) e resina poliacrílica catiônica (MP) a 25ºC e pH 9,0 e 4,8, respectivamente. Para melhorar o rendimento de imobilização de BG em glioxilagarose a pH 9,0 foi necessária uma aminação química da superfície da enzima. Entretanto, BG era inativada durante a imobilização, devido às condições alcalinas requeridas para imobilização de enzimas em glioxilagarose. Contudo, a presença de um inibidor competitivo (glicose) durante a imobilização de BG preservou aproximadamente 70% da atividade inicial. Mesmo na presença de glicose, a etapa de redução com borohidreto de sódio (finalização da reação de imobilização) reduziu drasticamente a atividade da enzima imobilizada. A imobilização de BG na presença de inibidor competitivo permitiu a preparação de um derivado cerca de 4 vezes mais ativo que aquele preparado na ausência do inibidor. Por outro lado, o melhor derivado foi preparado adsorvendo BG em resina poliacrílica funcionalizada com grupos carboxílicos. Após quatro horas de reação, o rendimento de imobilização e a recuperação de atividade foram aproximadamente 71% e 97%, respectivamente. Bagaço de cana pré-tratado (10% m/v, base seca) foi hidrolisado a 50°C, pH 4,8 (tampão citrato de sódio 50 mM), por 24h, utilizando celulase solúvel (Acellerase 1500) na relação enzima/substrato de 20 FPU/gcelulose. Hidrólises nas mesmas condições foram realizadas - ix - suplementando o meio reacional com BG imobilizada em glioxil-agarose (BGGA) ou BG imobilizada em matriz poliacrílica (BG-MP) na relação enzima/substrato de 120 U/gcelulose. Cinco bateladas foram realizadas nas condições descritas acima, reutilizando a BG imobilizada e a celulose não convertida, após lavagem abundante com água destilada. A suplementação do meio reacional com BG imobilizada contribuiu para a obtenção de maiores conversões de celulose em todas as bateladas, devido ao fato da BG remover celobiose do meio reacional, evitando seu acúmulo, o qual poderia inibir a ação das endoglucanases e exoglucanases. Entretanto, observou-se uma redução da conversão de celulose após a segunda batelada (de 50% para 15-25%). De qualquer forma, esse trabalho mostra que a suplementação dos complexos enzimáticos comerciais com BG imobilizada é vantajosa, entretanto, a estabilidade da BG imobilizada ainda precisa ser melhorada.

This diploma thesis investigates the suitability of relaxation tests as a part of complex characterization of hydrogel materials using classical rheology methods. With respect to the current research, creep and three interval thixotropy tests were taken into account. For them, general optimization was done aiming to find an ideal parameter settings. The optimization was performed using physically crosslinked agarose (AG) hydrogel and the tuned tests were also applied to two more samples: hyaluronan (HyA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVAl) gel. These materials were selected due to their mutually different crosslinking principle. The experiments showed, the AG gel proved to have the best ability to recover after deformation of all studied samples. On the other hand, the HyA gel relaxed the worst. Although the final results of both tests were comparable, the regeneration process itself was different. Hence, the complex relaxation characteristics cannot be described using one of the performed tests alone and both the creep and three interval thixotropy tests have great importance in the scope of complex relaxation behaviour. The obtained results may lead to more precise description of deformation and relaxation, which are frequent phenomena occurring during treatment and application of hydrogel materials.

This diploma thesis is focused on the determintaion of viscoelastic properties of agarose hydrogels containing different polyelectrolytes by microrheological and macrorheological techniques. From microrheological techniques the dynamic light scattering was used. Firstly, the influence of different polyelectrolyte volume was studied. Then the effect of variously charged polyelectrolyte and ionic strenght on microrheological properties of agarose hydrogels were determined. Classic rheology was used to compare the results obtained using the DLS microrheology method. Finally, the results from macro- and microrheology were correlated with each other.

This diploma thesis was focused on study of barrier and transport properties of selected polyelectrolytes in hydrogel matrices by using diffusion techniques. The study of these properties was performed in horizontal diffusion cells where is observed the change in diffusion probe concentration over time. Diffusion experiments were performed on an agarose hydrogel with the addition of alginate, hyaluronic acid, polystyrene sulfonate, humic acids and as a model probe rhodamine 6G was used. Important parts of this thesis are also the methods which characterize the substances and hydrogel matrices such as rheology and potentiometric titration. The main aim of this diploma thesis was to investigate the effect of interactions between passing model dye (rhodamine 6G) and the appropriate gel (agarose + polyelectrolyte) on the fundamental diffusion parameters (effective diffusion coefficient, lag time, etc.).

No description available.

Individer med homozygot familjär hyperkolesterolemi(FH), har höga halter av Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) vilket leder till ökad risk för kardiovaskulära sjukdomar. Behandling av dessa individer kan göras med extrakorporal elimination av LDL med hjälp av specifika reningskolonner. Syftet med studien var att utvärdera några agarosmodifierade adsorbenter för denna applikation. Adsorbenterna, modifierad polyakrylat (DALI), agaros (Zetaros), direkt sulfateradZetarose och taurin immobiliserad Zetarose, inkuberades med humant plasma spädd med PBS, och en volyms förhållande mellan matris och plasman på 1:5. Inkubering utfördes i rumstemperatur under 60 min med kontinuerlig blandning i rotator. Efter inkubation centrifugerades proverna och LDL bestämdes i såväl supernatant som pellet. Totalmängd adsorberade proteiner analyserades också i eluat från erhållen pellet. LDL bestämdes indirekt med hjälp av Friedewaldsformel (LDL = totalkolesterol (TC) –highdensitylipoprotein (HDL) - (0,45 x Triglycerider(TG)). TC och TG bestämdes enzymatiskt medan HDL kvantifierades som TC efter utfällning av LDL med dextransulfat. Resultaten visar tydligt att DALI har god adsorptionsförmåga.Dock uppvisar de modifierade Zetaroserna begränsad adsorptionskapacitet för LDL. Vid desorption av adsorbenterna visar SDS en bättre elueringsförmåga än NaCl relaterad till protein, vilket tyder hydrofoba proteiner. Metodiken som används i studien är lämplig för vidare studier av andra adsorbenter som förväntas användas i kliniska applikationer för elimination av LDL hos FH patienter. / Individuals that suffer from homozygote Familiar Hyperkolesterolemia (FH), has increased amounts of Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL) which leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Treatment of these individuals can be achieved by extracorporeal elimination of LDL using specific columns. The aim of this study was to evaluate different agarose-modified adsorbents ability to adsorb LDL from human plasma. The adsorbents (DALI, Zetarose, sulphonated Zetarose and taurine immobilized onto Zetarose) were incubated for 60 minutes with human plasma diluted with PBS, in a ratio of 1:5 between the matrix and the plasma during rotation with a rotator. After incubation the samples were centrifuged and the LDL content was determined in both the supernatant and the pellet. The amount proteins adsorbed were assayed by eluting the pellets. LDL was determined indirectly using Friedwalds equation; LDL= Total cholesterol (TC) - High density lipoprotein (HDL)-(0,45x Triglycerides (TG). The values of TC and TG in the sample were determined enzymatically, whilst HDL was quantified as TC after LDL-precipitation by dextran sulfate. The results clearly show that DALI has good adsorption capacity, but none of the modified Zetaroses shows any capacity to absorb LDL from human plasma. Desorption of the adsorbents using SDS gave higher amounts of eluated protein compared to NaCl elution, indicating hydrofobic proteins. However, the methods used in this study could be used to evaluate new adsorbents for LDL-elimination applications in patients with chronic hyperlipemia.