<div>An estimated 20 million tons of adhesives are used globally each year, and the amount is continually increasing. Glues are used in nearly every economic sector but are largely consumed by key external drivers of the industry including construction and transportation equipment to replace mechanical fasteners. Many of these applications require specific functionality, like moisture resistance, desirable mechanical properties, or low toxicity. However, specific features usually occur at the expense of adhesive strength, and there is no “one size fits all” adhesive. The search for more practical and stronger glues has contributed to the development of biomimetic adhesives. Marine mussels and other sea creatures produce biological adhesives that stick well underwater. By using nature as an inspiration for better glues, we can combine stronger bonding and additional functionality into one adhesive system. Introducing the same catechol moiety used by marine organisms into synthetic polymers has allowed us to produce adhesives stronger than commercial glues in both dry and wet environments.</div><div><br></div><div>While many of these biomimetic polymer adhesives have been prepared, few have made it to market. Here, multiple biomimetic polymer adhesives are studied and optimized for different applications to provide the next step towards commercialization. The adhesives were tailored for use on different surfaces and conditions through formulation or polymer design. Structure-function studies have showed how surface energy influences optimal adhesion with catechol-containing polymers for applications in bonding dissimilar substrates while maintaining desired mechanical properties. Multiple adhesive systems were studied in mice to assess toxicity and determine viability as potential surgical glues. Underwater formulation and application methods were also pursued to improve product development strategies for offering a competitive advantage as an underwater glue. In addition to these practical-use modifications of the adhesives, industry research and market analysis was conducted to provide insight into further applications to pursue. A cost analysis led to creating new synthetic strategies for cost-reduction and scale-up, both of which are essential in the commercialization of a catechol-containing polymer adhesive.<br></div>

In the research presented in this licentiate thesis the surface specific technique Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy, VSFS, combined with the Langmuir trough has been utilized to investigate Langmuir monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposited mono- and bilayers of phospholipids. Their molecular structure, stability, and hydration were probed to gain additional understanding of important properties aiming at facilitating the use of such layers as model systems for biological membranes. VSFS was applied to in situ studies of the degradation of Langmuir monolayers of 1,2-diacyl-phosphocholines with identical C-18 chains having various degrees of unsaturation. The time-dependent change of the monolayer area at constant surface pressure as well as the sum frequency intensity of the vinyl-CH stretch at the C=C double bonds were measured to monitor the degradation. It was shown that a rapid degradation of the monolayers of unsaturated phospholipids occurred when exposed to the laboratory air compared to the fully saturated lipid, and that the degradation could be inhibited by purging the ambient air with nitrogen. The degradation was attributed to oxidation mediated by reactive species in the air. The molecular structure and order of Langmuir monolayers of 1,2-distearoyl-phosphocholine (18:0 PC) and their hydrating water were investigated at different surface pressures using VSFS. The spectroscopic data indicated a well ordered monolayer at all surface pressures with a more intense signal at higher pressures attributed to the subsequent increase of the number density and more ordered lipid molecules due to the tighter packing. Water molecules hydrating the headgroups or being in contact with the hydrophobic parts were observed and distinguished by their vibrational frequencies, and found to have different average orientations. Additionally, monolayers of 18:0 PC, its fully deuterated analogue, and 1,2-distearoyl-phosphoserine (18:0 PS) were Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) deposited on CaF2 substrates and VSFS was used to investigate the structure and order of the films as well as the hydrating water. The CH-region, water region, and lower wavenumber region containing phosphate, ester, carboxylic acid, and amine signals were probed to obtain a complete picture of the molecule. The data indicates that all deposited monolayers formed a well ordered and stable film and the average orientation of the aliphatic chains was determined using the antisymmetric methyl stretch. / I forskningen som presenteras i denna licentiatavhandling har den ytspecifika vibrationssumfrekvensspektroskopin, VSFS, använts tillsammans med Langmuirtråget för att studera Langmuir-monolager och Langmuir-Blod-gett (LB) deponerade monolager och bilager av fosfolipider. För att utvidga förståelsen av egenskaper som är viktiga för att underlätta användandet av dem som modellsystem för biologiska membran undersöktes såväl deras molekylära struktur som stabilitet och hydratisering. VSFS användes för att genomföra in situ-studier av nedbrytningen av Langmuir-monolager av 1,2-diacyl-fosfokoliner med identiska 18 kolatomer långa sidokedjor med varierande antal omättade kol-kol-bindningar. För att övervaka nedbrytningen mättes såväl den tidsberoende förändringen av monolagernas area vid konstant yttryck som sumfrekevensintensiteten från dubbelbindningarnas CH-vibration. När monolagerna bestående av omättade fosfolipider utsattes för laboratorieluften bröts de ner hastigt jämfört med det helt mättade monolagret. Denna nedbrytning som sannolikt orsakades av reaktiva ämnen i luften kunde inhiberas fullständigt genom att ersätta den omgivande luften med kvävgas. Den molekylära strukturen och ordningen hos Langmuir-monolager av 1,2-distearoyl-fosfokolin (18:0 PC) och deras hydratiseringsvatten undersöktes vid olika yttryck med VSFS. Den spektroskopiska datan visar att monolagerna är välordnade vid alla yttryck samt att sumfrekvenssignalens styrka ökar med ökande yttryck på grund av såväl det större antalet molekyler per ytenhet som den högre ordningen då molekylerna packas tätare. Vattenmolekyler som hydratiserar huvudgrupperna eller är i kontakt med hydrofoba delar och har olika medelorientering observerades och kunde identifieras genom sina vibrationsfrekvenser. Vidare deponerades monolager av 18:0 PC, dess fullt deuterade analog och 1,2-distearoyl-fofsfoserin (18:0 PS) på substrat av CaF2 och VSFS användes för att undersöka filmernas struktur och ordning såväl som hydratiseringsvattnet. CH- och vattenregionerna samt lågvågtalsområdet som innehåller fosfat-, ester-, karboxylsyra- och aminsignaler undersöktes för att få en fullständig bild av den molekylära strukturen. Data visar att alla deponerade monolager bildade en välordnad och stabil film och kolvätekedjornas medelorientering bestämdes med hjälp av signalen från den antisymmetriska metylvibrationen. / QC 20100924

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The first portion of this thesis assesses the structural application of a bracing design inspired by the deep-sea sponge, Euplectella Aspergillum. Many studies have investigated the natural strength found in the unique skeletal structure of this species. The braced design inspired by the sponge features square frames with two sets of cross-braces that are offset from the corners of each frame, creating a pattern of open and closed cells. This study reports the results of multiple Finite Element Analysis (FEA) computations that compare the described bracing pattern to a more common bracing design used in structural design. The designs are compared in two configurations; the first is a simplified tall building design, and the second is a slender plate design. Results indicate that the sponge’s natural pattern produces considerable mechanical benefit when only considering elastic behavior. However, the same was not true when considering plastic material properties. In conclusion to these observations, the sponge-inspired lattice design is determined to be an efficient alternative to slender-solid plates but not for lateral-resisting systems intended for tall building design. The second topic of discussion in this thesis concerns the stability of thin cylindrical shells with imperfections. The structural stability of these members is highly sensitive to the size and shape of an imperfection. An accurate prediction of the capacity of an imperfect cylindrical shell can be determined using non-destructive testing techniques. This method does require previous knowledge of the characteristics of the imperfection, which realistically is unknown. In the hope of creating a technique to find the location of an imperfection, this study analyzes the trends in the stability landscapes of the surrounding area of an imperfection. The imperfection of interest in this study has an amplitude equivalent to the thickness of the shell. Using FEA to simulate non-destructive probing tests, it is established that there is a distinct area surrounding the imperfection where the axial load and peak probe force curves show the influence of the imperfection. This area is referred to as the zone of influence and can be used to create an efficient process to locate an imperfection on a thin cylindrical shell.

<p dir="ltr">Water molecules present an obstacle between most synthetic adhesives and surfaces, limiting molecular contact between the glue and substrates. Water can also hydrolyze or swell bulk adhesives, weakening cohesive strength. Nature has solved these challenges for millennia. Marine mussels’ ability to adhere well to wet surfaces stems from an uncommon amino acid, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa). The amino acid Dopa contains a catechol moiety that contributes to adhesion and cohesion through hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, and oxidative cross-linking. Hence, biomimetic systems often incorporate catechol groups to provide strong adhesion in both dry and wet environments. In addition to Dopa, mussel adhesive proteins are rich in cationic amino acids lysine and arginine. Previous studies have suggested that cations could displace surface-bound ions, enhancing surface adhesion. However, adhesion performance varied between systems, with no agreement on whether cations are advantageous or disadvantageous. A clear picture of how cations influence underwater adhesion has yet to emerge; therefore, this thesis aims to systematically study these effects.</p><p dir="ltr">In Chapter 2, the synthesis of catechol-containing biomimetic polymers with varying amounts of quaternary ammoniums is presented. Quaternary ammoniums, unlike protonated primary amines, contain non-reactive cations and were used to isolate effects from only charges on adhesion. In Chapter 3, differences between reactive primary amines and quaternary ammoniums were investigated. Structure-function studies have shown how cations influence bulk cohesion versus surface adhesion in dry, under deionized water, and under salt water. The roles of cations in adhesion were complex, with both cohesive and surface bonding relevant in different ways, sometimes even working in opposite directions.</p><p dir="ltr">Furthermore, a styrene-based catechol-containing polymer with excellent underwater adhesion performance is ready to enter the market, but several barriers hinder its industrial implementation. In Chapter 4, new synthetic strategies were developed to scale up and reduce the cost of producing p[vinylcatechol-<i>co-</i>styrene], which are essential for commercialization. This was achieved by selecting cheaper starting materials, switching from anionic to suspension polymerization, and optimizing deprotection reaction conditions. This change also improved adhesion in both dry and underwater conditions. This work is presented as part of our effort to advance the design of adhesives that function in challenging environments.</p>

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No description available.

The pharmaceutical industry is at a critical juncture. With little remnants of the “Golden Age of the Pharmaceuticals” and applied pressure from large companies experiencing a dissipation of proprietary compounds, trends indicate a transition from a decade of stagnant productivity to one in which high throughput screening technologies and computational chemistry have diversified the discovery of new chemical entities (NCE). Despite these advances, drug discovery has been challenged by chemical entities that present delivery limitations due to the properties of their molecular structure. A recent evaluation of development pipelines indicated that approximately 70% of drug candidates exhibit poor aqueous solubility; thereby, resulting in erratic dissolution and insufficient bioavailability. Due to intrinsic physical properties, these compounds are known by the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) as class II compounds and are amendable to solubility and bioavailability enhancement platforms. Approaches such as pH adjustment, micronization, nanosuspensions, co-solvent solubilization, cyclodextrin inclusion complexation, salt formation, emulsified drug formulations and amorphous solid dispersions (ASD) are commonly utilized to maximize bioavailability and enrich in vivo absorption by prolonging exposure to high concentrations of dissolved drug in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Single-phase amorphous systems, such as solid dispersions, have been the focal point of the aforementioned practices as a result of their ability to promote a state of drug supersaturation over an extended duration of time. Within the structure of this dissertation, the application of concentration enhancing polymers for bioavailability enhancement of low solubility compounds was evaluated using solvent and fusion-based solid dispersion technologies. Exploiting a variety of analytical methodologies and tools, formulations produced by spray drying and hot melt extrusion (HME) techniques were investigated for sufficient dissolution enhancement. Studies revealed the selected formulation approaches provided a viable platform for manufacturing solid dispersions by illustrating systems that offered rapid and prolonged periods of supersaturation. While of the applications of single-phase amorphous solid dispersions are continuously expanding, their dissolution behavior is not as well understood. The overarching objective of dissolution testing during formulation development is to achieve biological relevance and predict in vivo performance. Proper in vitro dissolution testing can convey the influence of key in vivo performance parameters and be implemented for assessment and comparison of ASD formulations. Studies suggest that existing research fails to accurately address the intricacies associated with the supersaturated state. Upon solvation and during transit in the GIT, several high-energy drug-containing species are present in addition to free drug. Although these species are not absorbed in vivo, they play a pivotal role in generating and maintaining the supersaturation of a drug substance and function to replenish the supply of free drug as it permeates across the gastrointestinal membrane. Established dissolution apparatuses and methodologies in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) focus on evaluation of total dissolved drug and may not be physiologically relevant for determining the amount of drug absorbed in vivo. Within the framework of this dissertation, a dissolution methodology was designed to reflect the physiochemical, physiological and hydrodynamic conditions that transpire throughout dissolution and absorption of an ASD during transit in the GIT. The apparatus and model present the ability to understand the kinetics and mechanisms of dissolution, supersaturation and nucleation. To support this hypothesis, analytical methods including high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection were developed and fully validated. In parallel, a novel plasma membrane treatment was established to fabricate biomimetic membranes that possessed a hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface. The treated membranes are comprised of applied surface chemistries that emulate the unstirred aqueous layer created by microvilli protruding from the intestinal epithelial membrane as well as lipophilic constituents corresponding to the epithelial lipid membrane. Calculated in vitro similarity (f2) and difference (f1) factors support the hypotheses that plasma treated microporous polymer membranes exhibit biorelevant properties and demonstrate adequate biorelevance for in vitro dissolution studies. The described dissolution methodology has been applied as a tool for selection of candidates to move forward to pharmacokinetic studies. In a culminating study, in vitro – in vivo correlations (IVIVC) were performed employing the universal membrane-permeation non-sink dissolution method for formulations of Carbamazepine. To demonstrate the utility of the methodology, multiple level C correlations were established. The membrane-permeation model enables quantitative assessment of drug dissolution and absorption and offers a means to predict the relative in vivo performance of amorphous solid dispersions for BCS class II drug substances. / Chemistry

Research on bacteria in their biofilm form is limited by the ability to artificially culture bacterial biofilms in a system that permits the visualization of individual cells. The experiments comprising this thesis research are on-going investigations of bacterial culture systems engineered to provide an environment that mimics biofilms while enabling real-time microscopy. Specifically, the microfluidic systems developed and assessed as part of this thesis permit the visualization of individual bacteria cells within consortia growing within a narrow space provided by a microfluidic device. This research demonstrates the versatility of these microfluidic systems across potentially high-throughput microbiological experiments utilizing genetically engineered Escherichia coli. Before demonstrating the efficacy of these systems, the development of the field of synthetic biology over the past half century is reviewed, focusing on synthetic genetic circuits and their applications (Chapter 2). The first and main microfluidic device explored in this research was developed to mimic the nutrient-deficient conditions within biofilms by forcing media to enter the culture area through a narrow, torturous channel. The microfluidic channel was thin enough (0.97 μm) to prevent the motility of 1-μm-wide E. coli cells, enabling visualization of individual cells. The bacteria cultured in the device contained either a simple Plux-driven quorum sensing receiver (Chapters 3 and 5) or a LacI- and TetR-driven genetic toggle switch (Chapter 4). Under the culture conditions, the quorum sensing reporter signal was detected even without addition of the signaling molecule (Chapter 3). The genetic toggle switch was stable when the system began in the high-LacI expression state, but after 5 days of culture, >5% of high-TetR expression cells began to consistently express the high-LacI state (Chapter 4). This system was also employed to track lineages of cells using real-time microscopy, which successfully characterized the inheritance of aberrant, enlarged cell phenotypes under stress (Chapter 5). Another microfluidic device, a droplet bioreactor, was also developed to culture small numbers of cells in an aqueous bubble suspended in oil (Chapter 6). Quorum sensing receiver cellswere cultured in this device, demonstrating that it is well suited for testing the effects of compounds on biofilms within water-in-oil droplets. / Ph. D. / Bacteria are the most abundant organisms globally, yet relatively little is understood about the basic biology of biofilms, one of the most common natural states of bacteria. Biofilms are ubiquitous consortia of individual microbial cells that send and received chemical signals from one another to carry out group behaviors such as quorum sensing. The impacts of biofilms range from the contamination of food processing equipment to antibiotic resistant bacterial infections. The vast majority of microbiological research has been conducted on bacteria in their planktonic state as individual cells cultured in a liquid medium. This form of culture does not permit the types of research that can help address the impacts of biofilms on human health and economic activities, never mind examine the biological mechanism of random gene and morphological expression within bacterial biofilm. This thesis presents research utilizing two microfluidic devices that will enable further large-scale studies to unravel the mechanisms that create biofilms as well as permit high-throughput testing of chemical compounds to control the growth and development of biofilms. Moreover, these devices permit the use of real-time microscopy to track cells and their growth over time. The first microfluidic device utilized in this research mimics the nutrient-limiting conditions of biofilms. This biofilm-mimicking device was used to culture a common research bacteria, Escherichia coli, with one of two engineered genetic circuits (reviewed in Chapter 2): a quorum sensing receiver (Chapters 3 and 5) or genetic toggle switch (Chapter 4). Both of these genetic circuits demonstrated stochasticity in their gene expression states under the culture conditions in the biofilm-mimicking device. The second microfluidic device successfully permitted the culture of small numbers of isolated cells within a small bubble of bacterial media suspended in oil (Chapter 6). Additionally, this device enabled the addition of chemical compounds to influence the growth and metabolism of the trapped cells. Collectively, these microfluidic devices provide the ability to effectively study both the mechanisms underlying random gene expression within biofilms as well as explore the chemical factors that can be used to control and mitigate biofilm formation and growth.

Yes / Creation of functional skin substitutes within a clinically acceptable time window is essential for timely repair and management of large wounds such as extensive burns. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of fabricating skin substitutes via a bottom-up nanofiber-enabled cell assembly approach and using such substitutes for full-thickness wound repair in nude mice. Following a layer-by-layer (L-b-L) manner, human primary skin cells (fibroblasts and keratinocytes) were rapidly assembled together with electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/collagen (3:1 w/w, 8% w/v) nanofibers into 3D constructs, in which fibroblasts and keratinocytes were located in the bottom and upper portion respectively. Following culture, the constructs developed into a skin-like structure with expression of basal keratinocyte markers and deposition of new matrix while exhibited good mechanical strength (as high as 4.0 MPa by 14 days). Treatment of the full-thickness wounds created on the back of nude mice with various grafts (acellular nanofiber meshes, dermal substitutes, skin substitutes and autografts) revealed that 14-day-cultured skin substitutes facilitated a rapid wound closure with complete epithelialization comparable to autografts. Taken together, skin-like substitutes can be formed by L-b-L assembling human skin cells and biomimetic nanofibers and they are effective to heal acute full-thickness wounds in nude mice.