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.

This disertation thesis is focused on the study of physico-chemical interactions of hyaluronan (with molecular weights from 10 to 1750 kDa) with cationic surfactants measured using uncommon technique named high resolution ultrasonic spectroscopy. Densitometer was also used for the study of these interactions, in measuring of density and ultrasonic velocity of hyaluronan with different molecular weight in dependence on elevated temperature (25 50 °C). The aim is the determination of critical micelle concentration (CMC) and critical aggregation concentration (CAC) of the suractants in the absence and in the presence of hyaluronan with various molecular weights. Interactions in this system are important for the design of the systems for the targeted delivery, especially for the drugs. The experiments were made in water and sodium chloride solution. The significant breakpoint in the ultrasonic velocity showed changes in the system hyaluronan-surfactant.

This work is focused on interaction between hyaluronan (Hya) and amphiphilic molecules. Using fluorescent probes method were carried out screening of the interaction of various surfactants with Hya. For further examination was chosen cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Interactions in this system have also been studied using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and additionally were performed initial tests of the cytotoxicity of the system. As an alternative CTAB were also used hydrophobically modified amino acids. Results showed their self-aggregation, but their interactions with hylauronanem was not as strong as with CTAB. The interaction of gel systems Hya-CTAB have also been studied, and was found to contain a hydrophobic domain capable solubilize hydrophobic substance. Thermogravimetric have been established that are able to contain up to 98% wt. water and rheologically were characterized their mechanical properties. These are tunable due to molecular weight (MW) of the hyaluronate. With increasing value of MW increases mechanical strength of the gel and decreases its fluidity.

A proteína A de superfície de pneumococo (PspA) é encontrada na superfície de todas as cepas de Streptococcus pneumoniae e candidata promissora para novas vacinas pneumocócicas. Foi desenvolvido um processo de purificação da PspA4Pro cujas etapas iniciais foram: ruptura da biomassa celular, precipitação do homogenato obtido com o detergente brometo de cetiltrimetilamônio (CTAB) e remoção do precipitado por centrifugação. Foram avaliadas cromatografias de troca iônica (aniônica, catiônica), afinidade por metais, interação hidrofóbica e mista de troca catiônica e hidrofóbica. Utilizando precipitação com CTAB, cromatografia de troca aniônica, crioprecipitação em pH4,0 e cromatografia de troca catiônica atingiu-se a pureza requerida de PspA4Pro (>95%) com recuperação entre 14% e 33%. O processo alcançou níveis aceitáveis de endotoxina no produto final e a PspA4Pro purificada foi reconhecida por anticorpos anti-PspA4, manteve sua atividade e sua estrutura secundária. / Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is found in all Streptococcus pneumoniae strains and is a promising candidate to be used in new pneumococcal vaccines. A purification process for PspA4Pro which inicial steps were: cell disruption, precipitation of the homogenate with the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and pellet removal by centrifugation. The chromatographic techniques tested were ion exchange (anionic and cationic), immobilized metal affinity, hydrophobic interaction and mix mode with hydrophobic and cationic ligands. Using CTAB precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, crioprecipitation in pH4.0 and cation exchange chromatography the PspA reached the required purity (>95%) with recovery between 14% and 33% . The process reached acceptable levels of endotoxin in the final product and the purified PspA4Pro was recognized by anti-PspA4 antibodies and manteined its activity and secondary structure.

A proteína A de superfície de pneumococo (PspA) é encontrada na superfície de todas as cepas de Streptococcus pneumoniae e candidata promissora para novas vacinas pneumocócicas. Foi desenvolvido um processo de purificação da PspA4Pro cujas etapas iniciais foram: ruptura da biomassa celular, precipitação do homogenato obtido com o detergente brometo de cetiltrimetilamônio (CTAB) e remoção do precipitado por centrifugação. Foram avaliadas cromatografias de troca iônica (aniônica, catiônica), afinidade por metais, interação hidrofóbica e mista de troca catiônica e hidrofóbica. Utilizando precipitação com CTAB, cromatografia de troca aniônica, crioprecipitação em pH4,0 e cromatografia de troca catiônica atingiu-se a pureza requerida de PspA4Pro (>95%) com recuperação entre 14% e 33%. O processo alcançou níveis aceitáveis de endotoxina no produto final e a PspA4Pro purificada foi reconhecida por anticorpos anti-PspA4, manteve sua atividade e sua estrutura secundária. / Pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) is found in all Streptococcus pneumoniae strains and is a promising candidate to be used in new pneumococcal vaccines. A purification process for PspA4Pro which inicial steps were: cell disruption, precipitation of the homogenate with the cationic detergent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and pellet removal by centrifugation. The chromatographic techniques tested were ion exchange (anionic and cationic), immobilized metal affinity, hydrophobic interaction and mix mode with hydrophobic and cationic ligands. Using CTAB precipitation, anion exchange chromatography, crioprecipitation in pH4.0 and cation exchange chromatography the PspA reached the required purity (>95%) with recovery between 14% and 33% . The process reached acceptable levels of endotoxin in the final product and the purified PspA4Pro was recognized by anti-PspA4 antibodies and manteined its activity and secondary structure.

The thesis deals with the study of hydrophobic domains in phase separated hydrogels. Two types of polyelectrolytes (hyaluronan, dextran) and oppositely charged surfactants (carbethopendecinium bromide, sodium dodecylsulphate ) are used. Phase separated hydrogels are formed by electrostatic interactions. The target of the thesis is to study the polarity of environment in phase separated hydrogeles by fluorescence spectroscopy. Fluorescence measurements is performed by using pyrene, Nile red and laurdane as fluorescence probes. All probes are sensitive to the polarity of the environment. The results showed that probes can be expected in the polar environment of hydrogels.

This thesis studies the properties and behaviour of phase-separated hydrogels prepared by interaction of hyaluronan with oppositely charged surfactants. Three representatives of surfactants, namely cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, chloride and p-toluensulfonate (CTAB, CTAC, CTAT), were selected for comparison. Using the method of rheology, the fact that the system of Hya-CTAT forms the most rigid hydrogels has been proved. Higher molecular weight of hyaluronan has also direct influence on the volume and stiffness of the newly formed hydrogels. Preparation methods were compared as well. Mixing the stock solutions of entry components appeard to be the most suitable. Small-angle X-ray scattering was used for determination of shape and size of surfactant's micelles, concluding that it has no effect on the volume of formed gels. The results of this study indicate that given gels are to a certain extent competitive and incorporation of hyaluronan into their structure is desirable with respect to its biological activity. This offers a potential usage of these substances in the field of medical applications.

This diploma thesis deals with study of hydrogels formed by phase separation of hyaluronan with oppositely charged surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Septonex. It follows the bachelor thesis and extends the knowledge about the detailed characterisation of the inner environment of the hydrogel by determining the diffusion behaviour of the fluorescent probes Atto 488 and Nile Red using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) technique and its modified version dual-focus fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (2f-FCS). Compared results showed that both methods show similar values and probes specifically interact with CTAB but Atto 488 shows only weak interaction with Septonex compared to Nile Red. Additionally, these interactions were not affected by the molecular weight of hyaluronan. In conclusion, it was recommended to measure this type of hydrogel in a small depth of gel using a conventional method.

This work focuses on examination of hyaluronan-sulfactant aggregates in term of determination of aggregate number. The value of critical micellar concentration (CMC) cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) in three different solvents (water, phosphate buffer and physiological solution). Next the effect of the native hyaluronan supplement on the value of CMC was examined. It wasfound out that the solvent has the biggest effect on the value of CMC whilst the hyaluronan supplement affects CMC only a little. The aggregate number (Nagg) CTAB and the effect of the native hyaluronan supplement were determined out by means of fluorescence quenching. Pyrene was used as a fluorescence probe. Iodine and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) were used as quenchers. Sulfactant was dissolved in three different solvents (water, phosphate buffer and physiological solution). Not only the hyaluronan supplement but also the used solvent has the strong effect on the value of the aggregate number. When using 10mM CTAB dissolved in physiological solution the value of Nagg was 119 ± 4 while the value was half in buffer. Then we found out that in most cases the hyaluronan supplement reduces the value of the aggregate number.

Multivariate regression of several different quantum chemical descriptors was used to build a model for the reactivity of nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions, i.e. SNAr reactions, through predictingthe molecular reaction site’s Gibb’s free activation energy (ΔG‡). The datasets used for training provided data of ΔG‡ for several differing halide leaving groups including chloride, bromide, and fluoride. A set of descriptors were tested for the different leaving groups revealing that dissimilar leaving groups are more dependent on certain descriptors than others, meaning each model has to be tailored for the specific leaving groups. Excellent correlations (R2 = 0.93) were achieved between the predicted ΔG‡ and the experimental ΔG‡.The ability of the model to predict regioselectivity in aromatic compounds with multiple leaving groups was tested and successfully predicted the correct regioselectivity through the calculation of ΔΔG‡ in each case tested. However, the model’s validity outside of the training dataset was put into doubt through low R2 values when the model was tested with several external datasets. An unknown factor arose which is speculated to be because of how differing nucleophiles and solvents affect the ΔG‡. One of these tests yielded excellent correlations (R2 = 0.9525) which could be because of similarities between solvents and nucleophiles between the training dataset but a similar factor between predicted ΔG‡ and the experimental ΔG‡ could still be observed.