Echinacea purpurea belongs to adaptogenic plants containig pharmacologically active compounds. The most important parts of the plants for medical use are roots, but also aboveground parts are processed. The plants were grown in triennial precise small-parcel experiment using acetylsalicylic acid as an in vivo elicitor to increase the content of bioactive substances. The contents of cichoric acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and caftaric acid were assayed in roots, tops and flowers. Repeated application elicitors on leaves were conducted with three different concentrations in fortnightly intervals. Ethanol extracts from the plant samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography. The effect of the elicitor on the content of bioactive substances was statistically significant. The optimal concentration of the elicitor considering the content of bioactive substances in roots is the middle one. The effect of elicitor is year-dependent.

This diploma thesis deals with photoelectrochemical cells containing photoactive titanium dioxide anode and their use for photocatalytic degradation of organic compound from water solutions. The electrical properties of the produced photoelectrochemical cells were determined by the use of voltamperometric characteristics, the oxidation ability of the cells was monitored by measuring the fluorescence of the oxidative intermediates. To study these reactions, benzoic acid was used as the fluorescence probe for OH˙ radicals. The aim of the study was to study the influence of material composition and spatial arrangement of the cathode and the relationship between irradiation, current and rate of electrode processes.

Samouspořádání organických molekul je spontánní proces tvorby nanostruktur, při kterém je výsledná struktura určena mezimolekulárními and molekulárně-substrátovými interakcemi. Pochopení principů samouspořádávání je klíčem k přípravě funkčních nanostruktur s atomární přesností. Tato diplomová práce se zaměřuje na přípravu a studium samouspořádaných molekulárních struktur 4,4’-diphenyl dikarboxylové kyseliny na povrchu grafenu připraveného na Ir(111). Pro studium vlastností molekulárních struktur je využito rastrovací tunelovací mikroskopie a nízkoenergiové elektronové mikroskopie. Tato kombinace umožňuje získat informace z oblastí o velikosti v řádu nanometrů až milimetrů. V práci je popsána molekulární strukuktura stabilní při pokojové teplotě. Vazebný motiv této struktury je dán interakcí karboxylových skupin sousedních molekul.

This master thesis is a part of the project TAČR TREND, which aim is the development of new ingredient for treatment of dry eye syndrome. Developed ingredient is derivative of hyaluronic acid, which is in this thesis compared with native hyaluronic acids and commercial eye drops. Aim of this thesis is to describe rheological and tribological properties of measured samples in terms of viscosity, mucoadhesivity and coefficient of friction. Coefficient of friction was measured on created tribological model of the eye in pin-on-plate configuration which represents physiologically relevant sliding speeds of blinking. Comparison with native hyaluronic acids and commercial products of eye drops showed, that derivative reaches higher values of viscosity, has mucoahesive properties and has low values of coefficient of friction. Those key parameters show that modification of hyaluronic acid is promising way for drug development for dry eye disease.

Hydratace patří mezi nejdůležitější faktory ovlivňující sekundární strukturu a tím i funkci molekul v živých systémech. Díky vysoké afinitě tvoří molekuly vody specifické struktury jejichž složení a fyzikální vlastnosti jsou ovlivněny přítomností studované látky. Hyaluronan patří mezi biomolekuly s obrovskou schopností vázat a zadržovat vodu. Cílem této práce bylo prozkoumat hydratační vlastnosti hyaluronanu o různé molekulové hmotnosti a vyčíslit množství molekul vody v jednotlivých hydratačních vrstvách. V první části práce byla využita metoda diferenční kompenzační kalorimetrie. V druhé části diplomové práce, na základě rozdílné kompresibility, byla vázaná voda studována metodou vysoko rozlišovací ultrazvukové spektroskopie.

Předmětem této práce bylo popsat agregační vlastnosti kyseliny hyaluronové (HA) a jejích hydrofobně modifikovaných derivátů. Za tímto účelem byly připraveny vodné roztoky kyseliny a dvou derivátů, lišící se stupněm substituce a druhem anorganické soli jako prostředím. Koncentrační řady čisté kyseliny hyaluronové a jejích derivátů byly studovány dvěma metodami, tensiometricky a spektrometricky. Povrchové vlastnosti roztoků byly měřeny s použitím kroužku Du Noüy. Zkoumáno bylo také solubilizační chování ve vodě a v chloridu sodném pomocí dvou sond: Coomassie brilantní modři a sudanu III. Amfifilní deriváty hyaluronanu mohou skutečně tvořit hydrofobní agregáty v roztoku a adsorbovat se na rozhraní vzduch–voda. Tato vlastnost je důležitá v souvislosti s transportními systémy léčiv, protože právě hydrofobní domény agregátů hyaluronanu mohou být použity jako nosiče hydrofobních léčiv. Byly zjištěny kritické agregační koncentrace roztoků derivátů hyaluronanu (tensiometricky a spektrometricky), které odpovídají právě těm koncentracím, při kterých vznikají hydrofobní domény.

The diploma thesis deals with a detailed study of he esterification reaction between PVAl and acrylic and methacrylic acids. Tha goal is to prepared PVAl-based macromers bearing (meth)acrylic moieties bound to PVAl macromolecular backbone. Attention will be paid especially to equlibrium establishing times and to the influence of reaction mixture composition on the properties of resulting products.

This diploma work discusses the chemical and physical characteristics of phytic acid, its positive and negative influence on people’s health, on the substances usability in the human organism and also its possible use in the food industry. Methods for analyzing phytic acid in the feed and food industry are also discussed. This diploma work also states the characteristics of analyzed raw materials and, for the analyzed raw material malt, it also covers the technological procedure for its production. For direct determination of phytic acid in barley caryopses and in malt, the isotachophoresis (ITP) method was used. This diploma work contains results of phytic acid determination in treated and untreated barley and malt variants by 6 different varieties in 4 test stations - specifically for harvests during the years 2006 and 2007. The final work contains comparisons of phytic acid content in different varieties of treated/untreated barley and malt variants. Comparisons are always within a single test station. Comparison are also included of phytic acid content for single varieties (across all examined test stations). This work furthermore, presents decreases in phytic acid content after malting. The ITP method was evaluated as quick and relatively simple. A method by using tests (from a commercial company) for obtaining phytic acid content was also used. This diploma work lists results of phytic acid content determination in untreated barley and malt variants at two test stations, for the year of harvest 2007. Further, this work contains a comparison of phytic acid content in different varieties for the given test station. The method by using tests was evaluated as a orientation method. This work states comparisons of phytic acid content obtained by measurements during the years 2006 and 2007. The diploma work also compares ITP with the method realized by using tests in two test stations for 5 untreated varieties of barley and malt for 2007 harvest.

Diploma thesis deals with preparation of polymer blend of polymer A and polymer B. Knowledge of polymer blends forming, thermodynamics and function of compatibilizer is contained in the theoretical part. Polymer blend A/B of weight ratios 75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 wt% were prepared by physical compatibilization. Concentration of compatibilizer was 5 wt%, in the case of A/B 50/50 wt% concentration of compatibilizer was 10 and 30 wt%, respectively. Blending was achieved with twin-screw extruder at 230 °C and 100 rpm. Second method used for A/B blending was based on reactive compatibilization which was achieved with Brabender kneader at 230 °C, 50 rpm and reaction time 10 minutes. Concentration ratios of A/B were 75/25, 50/50 and 25/75 wt%. Itaconic acid anhydride and maleic anhydride 0.5 and 5 wt% were used as monomer. 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-bis(tert-buthylperoxy)hexan was (Luperox 101) used as an initiator. Difference between compatibilized and noncompatibilized blends was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, tensile test, differential scanning calorimetry, melt flow index measuring, acid-base titration and FT-IR spectroscopy.

The diploma thesis deals with the growth of biomass and production of selected metabolit–lactic acid by thermophilic bacteria Bacillus coagulans. The resulting selected metabolite was determined by HPLC method. Cultivations of this genus were performed on synthetic media, where the influence of carbohydrate used as carbon source was tested. Lactose was more suitable fot growth of biomass and glucose for production of lactic acid. On natural whey media the influence of different conditions were tested. The highest yields of biomass and production of lactic acid were observed on enriched whey medium. The last part deals with comparing the production of biomass and metabolites, depending on the volume of media. There were compared selected bioengineering characteristics of all cultivations.