Polyelektrolytmikrokapseln (PEMC) stellen ein neuartiges System künstlicher Zellen dar. Durch Einbringen von z.B. Hämoglobin in solche PEMC können sie als  künstliche Erythrozyten den Gastransport im Organismus unterstützen bzw. übernehmen. Es muss jedoch berücksichtigt werden, dass jede Zelle des Säugtierorganismus zur Aufrechterhaltung ihrer Funktion Enzyme benötigt, die ihre Stoffwechselfunktionen katalysieren. Um sich der Lösung dieses Problems bei der Entwicklung eines künstlichen Erythrozyten schrittweise zu nähern, wurde als Modellenzym Trypsin ausgewählt. Es wurden Polyelektrolytmikrokapseln (PEMC) auf der Basis von Erythrozyten durch Selbstassemblierung von Polynatriumstyrensuphonat (PSS) und Polyallylamino-hydrochlorid (PAH) hergestellt ((PSS/PAH)2PSS), und anschliessend nach der Layer-by-Layer Methode (LbL) alternierend mit Trypsin und den Polyelektrolyten (PE) PSS, Alginat oder Dextransulphat weiterbeschichtet. Der Schichtenaufbau wurde durch Zellelektrophorese, konfokale Laserscanning-mikroskopie (CLSM), Durchflusszytometrie (FACS) und photometrische Proteinbestimmung charakterisiert und quantifiziert. Die Aktivität des an der PEMC-Membran immobilisierten Enzyms wurde untersucht und mit der Aktivität freien Trypsins verglichen. Weiterhin wurden pH-Profile von freiem Enzym mit denen des immobilisierten Trypsins verglichen. Der Schichtaufbau aus Trypsin und den unterschiedlichen Polyelektrolyten wurde anhand der Änderung der elektrophoretischen Mobilität beim Aufbringen jeder Schicht, sowie durch die Zunahme der photometrisch bestimmten Proteinmenge pro PEMC charakterisiert. Außerdem wurde Trypsin mit Fluoreszeinisothiozyanat (FITC) markiert und in den Beschichtungsserien die Zunahme der flowzytometrisch bestimmten Fluoreszenz-Intensität mit jeder aufgebrachten FITC-Trypsin Schicht beobachtet. Die Aktivität des an den PEMC immobilisierten Trypsins beträgt etwa 30% der Aktivität freien Trypsins gleicher Konzentration. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass sich Trypsin im Rahmen eines Schichtaufbaus nach der LbL-Technologie in die Membran der verwendeten PEMC einbringen lässt. Dabei behält das Enzym einen Teil seiner Funktion. / Artificial cells are not only used to study the biological processes of living cells, they also serve as micro reactors to provide certain functions in the organism. Polyelectrolyte microcapsules (PEMC) represent a new approach to artificial cell studies. When filled with hemoglobin, PEMC are able to perform the erythrocyte gas exchange. This work shows the general possibility of integrating enzymes into the PEMC membrane. PEMC were composed using the layer-by-layer (l-b-l) technique. Glutaraldehyde stabilized human red blood cells (RBC) served as templates and were coated with five layers poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(allylaminehydrochloride) (PAH). After decomposition of the RBC by sodium hypochlorite, the PEMC were coated with ten layer pairs of trypsin and either PSS or alginate. The trypsin layer growth was followed performing measurements by cell electrophoresis, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), flow cytometry (FACS) and protein determination according to Lowry after each adsorption step. Results showed a continuous layer buildup for both polyelectrolytes and no desorption of trypsin. The amount of immobilized enzyme was larger for the coating series with trypsin/PSS compared to that with trypsin/alginat. This was concluded as a result of PSS/trypsin complex formation. Normalizing the enzym activity to the amount of adsorbed trypsin no significant differences between the activity of PSS-PEMC and alginate-PEMC were found. Further experiments prove that PSS inhibits the enzyme activity and alginat does not.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-24T19:37:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ClicianeGuadalupeJesus.pdf: 2429700 bytes, checksum: c3ac935bcc2b97480f80dc8cf9ff472d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-27 / Nanostructured films composed by a 3-n-propylpyridinum silsesquioxane polymer (designated as SiPy+Cl-) and copper (II) tetrasulphophthalocyanine (CuTsPc) were produced using the Layer-by-Layer technique (LbL). The deposition of the bilayers was monitored by UV-Vis spectroscopy accompanying the absorbance of Q-band at 617 nm. It was observed that the absorbance linearly increased with the number of SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc or CuTsPc/SiPy+Cl- bilayers, indicating that the same amount of material was deposited at each step of film formation. FTIR spectra showed that there is a specific interaction by the SO3 - groups of CuTsPc and the pyridinium groups of the polycation, SiPy+Cl-. Morphological studies of films surfaces showed that their roughness and thickness increase with the number of bilayers. The films were employed to detect dopamine (DA) and ascorbic acid (AA) using cyclic voltammetry. It was observed that the number and the sequence of bilayers deposition directly influenced on the electrochemical response in presence of the analytes. LbL films with lower number of bilayers (1 to 5 bilayers) presented higher current values in presence of the analytes, which is attributed to the higher facility of diffusion of target species to the electrode surface and enhancement of the efficiency of the electron transfer process. Considering the sequence of bilayers deposition, it was observed that the CuTsPc/SiPy+Cl- film did not show any redox peaks in the potential range -0.2 V to 1.6 V vs Ag/AgCl in presence of DA and AA. In contrast, the SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc LbL film, presented a defined oxidation redox peak at approximately 1.2 V for DA and 0.8 V for AA, which linearly increased with DA concentration in HCl 1.0x10-3 molL-1 electrolyte solution (pH 3). Studies in different scan rates for the SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc LbL film in presence of these analytes showed that the anodic peak current (Ipa) linearly increased with the square root of the scan rate (n1/2 ) which is a typical behavior for systems governed by a diffusion controlled mechanism. The relationship Ipa/ n1/2 vs n resulted in an exponential profile, confirming the existence of an electrocatalytical process for both AA and DA provided by CuTsPc in the LbL film. Using differential pulse technique, films comprising SiPy+/CuTsPc were able to distinguish between DA and ascorbic acid (AA), with a potential difference of approximately with 400 mV, in the concentration range of 9.0x10-5 to 2.0x10-4 molL- 1(in pH 3.0) and detection limits in the order of 10-5 molL-1. / Filmes nanoestruturados formados entre o polímero 3-n-propilpiridínio silsesquioxano (designado como SiPy+Cl-) e ftalocianina tetrasulfonada de cobre (II) (CuTsPc) foram produzidos usando a técnica Layer-by-Layer (LbL). A formação dos filmes foi monitorada por espectroscopia na região do UV-Vis, acompanhando-se a absorbância da banda Q da ftalocianina em 617 nm. Observou-se que a absorbância aumentou linearmente com o número de bicamadas para os filmes SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc ou CuTsPc/SiPy+Cl-, indicando que a mesma quantidade de material foi depositado a cada bicamada depositada. Espectros FTIR mostraram que há interação específica entre os grupos SO3 - da CuTsPc e o anel piridínio do policátion, SiPy+Cl-. Estudos da morfologia da superfície dos filmes mostraram que a rugosidade média e espessura dos filmes aumentam de acordo com o número de bicamadas. Os filmes foram empregados para detectar DA e AA, utilizando-se a técnica de voltametria cíclica. Observou-se que o número de bicamadas e a seqüência de deposição das mesmas influenciam diretamente sobre a resposta eletroquímica na presença dos analitos. Filmes LbL com menor número de bicamadas (1 a 5 bicamadas) apresentaram maiores valores de corrente, fato este atribuído a maior facilidade de difusão das espécies à superfície do eletrodo, aumentando a eficiência do processo de transferência de elétrons. Com relação à sequência de deposição das bicamadas constatou-se que o filme CuTsPc/SiPy+Cl- não mostrou picos redox na faixa de potencial de -0,2 V a 1,6 V vs Ag/AgCl na presença de DA e AA. Enquanto que o filme SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc, apresentou um pico de oxidação bem definido em aproximadamente 1,2 V, para DA e em 0,8 V para AA, o qual aumentou linearmente com a concentração dos analitos utilizando HCl como eletrólito suporte. Estudos em diferentes velocidades de varredura do eletrodo SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc na presença dos analitos mostraram que a corrente de pico anódica (Ipa) aumenta linearmente com a raiz quadrada da velocidade de varredura (n1/2), indicando que o processo de transferência de elétrons é controlado pela difusão das espécies à superfície do eletrodo. A relação entre Ipa/n1/2 vs n, resultou numa curva exponencial, confirmando a existência do processo eletrocatalítico resultante da oxidação da DA e AA proporcionada pela CuTsPc. Utilizando-se a técnica de voltametria de pulso diferencial, o eletrodo SiPy+Cl-/CuTsPc foi capaz de distinguir AA e DA quando presentes numa mesma solução, com um diferença de potencial de aproximadamente 400 mV, no intervalo de concentração de 9,0x10-5 a 2,0x10-4 molL-1(em pH 3) e limites de detecção (LOD) da ordem de 10-5 molL-1.

Des films multicouches à base de nanoparticules de TiO2 et d’Ag ont été construits sur des substrats modèles et des textiles via la technique du Layer-by-Layer (LbL). Les films à base de nanoparticules de TiO2 construits sur substrats modèles ont montré un comportement photocatalytique non conventionnel pour la minéralisation de l’acide formique en phase gaz sous irradiation UV-A, et une minéralisation très importante a été obtenue avec un film possédant une unique couche de nanoparticule de TiO2. Ces films ont également montré des propriétés biocides sous irradiation UV-A. La mise en œuvre d’une méthode one-pot, combinant la synthèse photo-induite des nanoparticules d’Ag et dépôt de la couche de TiO2 par LbL, a permis la synthèse de nanoparticules d’Ag directement au sein des films et une exaltation très importante des propriétés photocatalytiques des films. Les méthodes de constructions ont été transférées avec succès sur textiles. Les films restent photocatalytiquement actifs et biocides sous irradiation UV-A après plusieurs cycles de lavages. / TiO2 and Ag nanoparticle multilayered films were constructed on model substrates and textiles via Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly. The TiO2 nanoparticle based films constructed on model substrates showed a non-conventional photocatalytic behaviour for gas phase formic acid mineralisation upon UV-A irradiation, and a high mineralisation was obtained for a single layer TiO2 nanoparticle film. These films also showed biocidal properties upon UV-A irradiation. The elaboration of a one-pot method, combining the photo-induced synthesis of Ag nanoparticles and the LbL deposition of TiO2 nanoparticle layer, allowed the direct synthesis of Ag nanoparticles within the films and a high enhancement of the film photocatalytic properties. The construction methods were successfully transfered on textile surfaces. The films were photocatalytically active and biocidal under UV-A irradiation after several washing treatment cycles.

A celulose é o principal polímero derivado de fonte renovável de uso industrial tanto em termos de volume como em número de aplicações. A celulose é comercializada na forma de polpa, que se trata de uma commodity cuja principal aplicação é a indústria de papel e de derivados de celulose, tais como os seus éteres e ésteres. Com o advento das nanoceluloses, que podem ser obtidas diretamente da polpa química, se observa um expressivo aumento no interesse por esses materiais. A modificação superficial tanto das fibras (polpa) como das microfibrilas é de grande interesse, pois podem permitir a ampliação do uso desses materiais uma vez que suas propriedades poderiam ser modificadas. O desenvolvimento de métodos de modificação em meio aquoso da celulose em suspensão é de grande interesse em especial se realizado com o uso de agentes sustentáveis em contexto de química verde. Este trabalho visou a modificação da polpa de celulose por duas vias: química e física, realizadas inteiramente em meio aquoso e utilizando materiais de caráter renováveis. A modificação física da fibra de celulose \"never-dried\" foi feita pelo método de auto-montagem (Layer-by-Layer) com o par de polieletrólito quitosana / carboximetilcelulose (CH / CMC) em meio aquoso. Fibras modificadas foram submetidas à analise morfológica (MEV e microscopia confocal no método de absorção de dois fótons e EDS), propriedade mecânica (módulo elástico e limite de resistência à tração) e potencial zeta. O complexo CH / CMC depositado sobre as fibras apresentou uma espessura de aproximadamente 50 nm por camada e um aumento de aproximadamente 170% no limite de resistência a tração das folhas produzidos a partir das fibras, demonstrando uma forte interação fibra/polieletrólitos. Através da técnica de absorção de dois fótons foi possível identificar a deposição das camadas fora e dentro das fibras sem o uso de cromóforo. A modificação química da nanofibra de celulose foi feita pela enxertia de grupamentos furânicos na superfície da fibra, oxidada. Em seguida de uma reação com uma bismaleimida através da reação de \"click\" de Diels-Alder em meio aquoso. Os géis foram caracterizados por meio da técnica de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e viscosimetria, com os quais pode-se verificar o efeito da termorreversibilidade uma vez que a 65°C ocorre gelificação do sistema e 95°C ocorre reversão do gel como resultado das reações DA e retro Diels-Alder. As modificações das fibras e nanofibras de celulose em meio aquoso foram bem-sucedidas, o que pode impulsionar o uso da polpa de celulose em novas aplicações originais como artefatos de papel fortes e géis biocompatíveis, visando a estratégia green chemistry. / Cellulose is the main polymer derived from renewable sources of industrial use, in terms of volume and number of applications. Cellulose is marketed in the pulp form, which is a commodity whose main application is the paper industry and derived from pulp, such as its ethers and esters. The advent of nanocelluloses, which can be obtained directly from the chemical pulp, there is an expressive increase in these materials. The superficial modification in fibers (pulp) and microfibrils is great interest, since they can allow the amplification of the use of these materials since their properties could be modified. The development of methods for modification of cellulose in aqueous suspension is of particular interest especially if carried out with sustainable agents in the context of green chemistry. This work aimed at the modification of the cellulose pulp by two routes: chemistry and physics, performed entirely in aqueous medium and using renewable character materials. The physical modification of the \"never-dried\" cellulose fiber was done by the self-assembly method (Layer-by-Layer) with the polyelectrolyte pair chitosan / carboxymethylcellulose (CH / CMC) in aqueous medium. Modified fibers were subjected to morphological analysis (SEM and confocal microscopy in two-photon absorption technique and EDS), mechanical properties (elastic modulus and tensile strength) and zeta potential. The CH / CMC complex deposited under the fibers had a thickness of approximately 50 nm per layer and an increase of approximately 170% in the tensile strength of the sheets in compare of unmodified fibers sheets, showing a strong interaction between fiber and polyelectrolyte. Through the technique of two-photon adsorption, it was possible to identify the layers deposition outside and inside the fibers without the use of chromophore. The chemical modification of the cellulose nanofiber was made by the grafting of furanic groups on the surface of the oxidized fiber. Following by reaction with a bismaleimide through the \"click\" reaction of Diels-Alder in aqueous medium. The thermoreversible hydrogels were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and viscosimetry, which the effect of thermoreversibility can be verified at 65 °C when the gelation of the system occurs and 95 °C gel reversion occurs because of DA and retro Diels-Alder reactions. Modifications of cellulose fibers and nanofibers in aqueous media have been successful, which may increase the use of cellulose pulp in novel applications such as strong paper artifacts and biocompatible gels, targeting the green chemistry strategy.

Die Arbeit untersucht den Einfluss des pH - Wertes auf die Fluoreszenzintensität von Multischichtsystemen während des Beschichtungsvorgangs von Siliziumdioxidpartikeln mit kovalent an Polyallylaminhydrochlorid (PAH) gebundenem Rhodamin - B - Isothiocyanat. Durch eine konsequente Pufferung mit 2 -(N - Morpholino)ethansulfonsäure während der Beschichtung kann eine Verbesserung der Homogenität der Schichtbildung und eine Erhöhung der Fluoreszenzintensität erreicht werden. Außerdem liegt eine lineare Steigerung der Fluoreszenzintensität proportional zur Anzahl der fluoreszenten Schichten vor. Weiterhin sollen kolloidale Partikel unter konstanter Pufferung zusätzlich zu Rhodamin – B – Isothiocyanat mit an PAH – gebundenem Fluoresceinisothiocyanat beschichtet werden. Dieses Farbstoffpaar weist bei Annäherung eine Fluoreszenzsteigerung durch einen Fluoreszenzresonanzenergietransfer aus. Durch Variation von Schichtanzahl und Abstand wurden verschiedene Partikelpopulationen hergestellt, die sich in Ihrer Fluoreszenzintensität analog zu einem Bead Array Assay im Durchflusszytometer klar differenzieren lassen und dabei auch eine gleichmäßige Steigerung der Fluoreszenzintensität analog zur Anzahl der fluoreszenten Schichten aufweisen.

Materiais auto-organizados constituídos de V2O5 xerogel, poli(etilenoimina) (PEI) e nanopartículas de carbono (NpCs) foram obtidos por meio da técnica camada-por-camada (LbL). A metodologia aplicada permitiu a obtenção de filmes finos com elevado controle de espessura além de permitir um crescimento linear dos filmes, denominados neste trabalho V2O5/PEI e V2O5/PEI/NpCs. Além disso, o desempenho eletroquímico dos materiais auto-organizados foi comparado a um eletrodo de V2O5. Análises de FTIR mostraram que interações específicas entre os grupos amina do PEI e os grupos carboxila do V2O5 são responsáveis pelo crescimento do filme. Estas interações permitem a formação de um campo eletrostático capaz de blindar as interações entre os íons lítio e os oxigênios da vanadila (V=O) e, por consequência, são responsáveis pelo aumento na mobilidade iônica dos íons lítio no interior da matriz hospedeira e, portanto, um aumento na capacidade de armazenamento de carga. Resultados obtidos através de medidas de carga/descarga mostram que o V2O5/PEI/NpCs apresenta uma melhor desempenho do que os demais materiais estudados neste trabalho. Estes resultados mostram que a capacidade específica do V2O5/PEI/NpCs foi de 137 mA h g-1 para a menor densidade de corrente aplicada e aproximadamente 1,6 vezes maior do que os valores de capacidade específica para os outros materiais para a maior densidade de corrente aplicada. Além disso, estas medidas permitiram a observação de uma menor variação na razão estequiométrica máxima (xmáx) em função das densidades de corrente aplicadas para os filmes auto-organizados, fato este relacionado a uma maior mobilidade iônica dos íons lítio no interior dessas matrizes. Os resultados obtidos a partir de espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS) mostraram que a difusão dos íons lítio no interior das matrizes auto-organizadas é maior do que no caso do V2O5, cujos valores do coeficiente de difusão foram de 1,64 x 10-15, 1,21 x 10-14 e 2,26 x 10-14 cm2 s-1 para os filmes V2O5, V2O5/PEI e V2O5/PEI/NpCs, respectivamente. Sendo assim, o polímero e as NpCs promoveram novos caminhos condutores e permitiram a conexão elétrica entre camadas isoladas da matriz V2O5. Dessa forma, novos nanocompósitos foram obtidos visando demonstrar o método de auto-organização empregado para melhorar o transporte de carga em matrizes hospedeiras. / Self-assembled materials constituted of V2O5 xerogel, poly (ethyleneimine) (PEI), and carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) were obtained by the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique. The applied methodology permitted the obtainment of thin films with high thickness control and also permitted a linear growth of the films, which will be named V2O5/PEI and V2O5/PEI/CNPs. Besides, the electrochemical performance of the self-assembled materials was compared to a V2O5 electrode. FTIR analyses showed that the specific interactions between the amine groups of PEI and the vanadyl groups of the V2O5 are responsible for the film growth. These interactions permitted the formation of an electrostatic shield capable of hindering the interactions between the lithium ions and the vanadyl oxygen atoms (V=O) and are consequently responsible for the enhancement on the ionic mobility of the lithium ions within the host matrix, leading to a higher energy storage capability. Results obtained by the charge/discharge measurements showed that V2O5/PEI/CNPs presents a better performance than the other materials studied for this research. These results demonstrated that the specific capacity of the V2O5/PEI/CNPs was 137 mA h g-1 under the lowest current density applied and approximately 1.6 times higher than the specific capacity values obtained for the other materials under the highest current density applied. Moreover, it was observed that the variation of the maximum stoichiometric ratio (xmax) as a function of the current density is lower for the self-assembled materials than for the V2O5 electrode, which can be related to the higher ionic mobility of the lithium ion within the self-assembled materials. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) data demonstrated that the diffusion of the lithium ions within the self-assembled materials is higher than within the V2O5 electrode, and the diffusion coefficients were 1.64 x 10-15, 1.21 x 10-14 e 2.26 x 10-14 cm2 s-1 for V2O5, V2O5/PEI and V2O5/PEI/CNPs, respectively. Thus, the polymer and the CNPs provided new conducting pathways and connected isolated V2O5 chains in the host matrix. Therefore, novel spontaneous nanocomposites were formed, aiming to demonstrate the self-assembled method adopted for improving charge transport within host matrices.

Systemisch applizierte Therapeutika können erhebliche Nebenwirkungen auslösen, welche auf Grund eines unspezifischen Transports oder einer hohen Dosis von appliziertem Wirkstoff auftreten. Daher bedarf es der Entwicklung neuartiger Wirkstoff-Transportsysteme (Drug Delivery Systems) welche in der Lage sind, Wirkstoffe in genau definierbaren Dosen gezielt in die adressierte Zelle zu transportieren. Ein vielversprechender Ansatz, welcher diesen Anforderungen nachkommt, findet sich in der Layer-by-Layer-Technik (LbL), d.h. der wechselseitigen Assemblierung von Polymeren/Wirkstoffen auf soliden sphärischen Templaten, eines funktionellen Supported Lipid Bilayers sowie der Oberflächenfunktionalisierung mit spezifischen Antikörpern. Dabei ist die Homogenität und Regularität des Supported Lipid Bilayers von großer Bedeutung, um in biomedizinischen Anwendungen eine ungewollte Interaktion mit Serumkomponenten sowie eine Opsonierung zu verhindern. Insbesondere die funktionelle Lipidkomponente besitzt allerdings maßgebliche Auswirkungen auf diese Parameter. In dieser Arbeit wurde die Idee der Oberflächenfunktionalisierung von LbL-beschichteten Silica-Mikropartikeln (SiO2) mit einem funktionellen Supported Lipid Bilayer aufgegriffen und weiterentwickelt, wobei insbesondere die Homogenität des Supported Lipid Bilayers auch auf sehr kleinen Längenskalen (wenige Nanometer) bestimmt wurde. In einem letzten Schritt konnte anhand zweier verschiedener Zelllinien (3T3 und Vero) die Adaptivität und Effektivität des entwickelten Drug Delivery Systems nachgewiesen werden.

Abstract  Lack of clinical relevance is assumed to be the main reason behind the high failure rate of medical drugs in the very initial phases of clinical trials. Clinical relevance is difficult to achieve with current tools as they lack the biological and physiological cues found in vivo. Microfluidics, the knowledge of fluid manipulation in small channels, has proven to be a promising science to bridge the gap between the current in vitro and the real in vivo features. In this thesis, a scaffold for the growth of spheroids inside a microfluidic device for potential drug screening was developed. Firstly, the surface of a microfluidic device was coated with the polymers cellulose nanofibrils, polyallylamine hydrochloride, and polyethyleneimine using the Layer-by-Layer technique to achieve an even surface coverage. Here, different chip designs, polymer concentrations, and pressure directions were tested. It was decided that using a negative pressure direction with a polymer concentration of 50 mg/L in a chip design with micropillars was optimal and these conditions were then used for testing the spheroid formation. Secondly, spheroids were grown inside the microfluidic channels using different coatings: the previously mentioned polymer buildup, one non-coated channel, and one coated with attachment factor proteins. These three surface conditions were compared and it was shown that the polymer-based surface cover was indeed superior as a scaffold as it encouraged and promoted cell growth in the spheroid formation of liver cancer cells from the HepG2 cell line. Further development of this cellulose nanofibrils-coated microfluidic device displays a promising future for functioning as an in vitro 3D cell culture model that better mimics the close-to-cell microenvironments by imitating cell proliferation, cell-to-cell, and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions. / Sammanfattning Den främsta orsaken bakom den höga antal misslyckade kliniska läkemedelsprövningar i de initiala faserna antas bero på brist på klinisk relevans. Klinisk relevans är mycket svår att uppnå med dagens verktyg då de saknar de biologiska och fysiologiska förhållandena som återfinns in vivo. Mikrofluidik, kunskapen om vätskemanipulation i små kanaler har visat sig vara lovande vetenskap för att överbrygga klyftan mellan de nuvarande in vitro och de faktiska in vivo funktionerna. I detta arbete utvecklades en matris för sfäroider att växa på inuti en mikrofluidisk kanal för att potentiellt användas till läkemedelsscreening. Först användes Layer-by-Layer teknologi för att jämnt betäckta ytan inuti en mikrofluidisk kanal med polymererna cellulosananofibriller, polyallylamin hydroklorid samt polyetylenimin. Här testades olika designer på mikrofluidiska chip, polymerkoncentrationer samt tryckriktningar. Utifrån detta gick det att fastställa att negativt tryck med en polymerkoncentration på 50 mg/L i en chippdesign med mikropelare var optimal för en jämn ytbetäckning och dessa förhållanden användes sedan för att pröva sfäroidernas tillväxt. Härnäst testades därmed sfäroidernas tillväxt inuti mikrofluidiska kanaler under tre olika förhållanden: ett med polymerbetäckningen, ett utan betäckning och ett då ytan var täckt med proteiner med fästfaktorer. Dessa tre förhållanden jämfördes sedan med varandra och således gick det att konstatera att den polymerbaseradebetäckningen fungerade överlägset som matris för tillväxt av HepG2 lever cancer cell sfäroider eftersom den tycks främja dess tillväxt och bildning. Det pekar mot att ytterligare utveckling av denna cellulostäckta yta skulle innebära en lovande modell för in vitro 3D cellodling som bättre efterliknar den cellulära mikromiljön genom att imitera cellproliferation, interaktioner celler emellan samt mellan cell och extracellulär matrisen.

The bio-enabled syntheses of functional nano-structured metal oxide thin films is of importance for a range of applications, in photonics, electronics, sensing, cell engineering, and biochemical devices. This type of novel syntheses method can overcome problems common in conventional oxide processing. In general, conventional oxide processes often require thermal treatment, caustic chemicals, and mechanical processing when producing shape-controlled inorganic materials. In contrast, biological processes are usually carried out under mild conditions (low temperature, neutral pH, and atmospheric pressure) and are therefore promising for the development of benign processes. Functional materials synthesized at room temperature using biomolecules are promising due to their expediency. During recent years, significant discoveries and progress have been made in discovering, and finding new applications for such biomimetic oxide-based minerals. However, much of the research has focused on SiO- and TiO-bearing organic-inorganic hybrid materials, of which a significant limitation is that, there are relatively few water-soluble inorganic oxide precursors commercially available for such biological syntheses. Two common compounds that are used in the biomimetic syntheses of SiO₂ and TiO₂ are tetramethoxisilane (TMOS) and Ti(IV) -bis(ammonium lactato) dihydroxide ( TiBALDH ). As a result, approaches to synthesize new water-soluble transitional metal complexes for use as precursors in the biomineralization of the corresponding functional metal oxide thin films were explored in this work, in order to expand the range of functional oxide chemistries formed via bio-enabled methods. A Ti-containing compound was synthesized to compare the behavior of commercially-available and as-synthesized TiBALDH. Another titanium-containing complex with citrate ligands, instead of lactate, was also synthesized to investigate the influence of the ligand type on the deposition behavior of the precursors. Zirconium- and hafnium-containing complexes were also synthesized to demonstrate the feasibility and versatility of the idea of applying bio-enabled syntheses to the fabrication of functional mineral oxides other than the reported SiO₂ and TiO₂. The second part of this thesis focuses on developing a novel way to fabricate porous functional mineral oxide thin films with controlled pore size, which can be used in a variety of applications, such as dye loading for optical, photochemical, or electrochemical purposes. Commercially-available, carboxyl-group-terminated polystyrene spheres of different sizes were utilized as pore-size controllers in the bio-enabled syntheses of TiO₂ by protamine. This approach has been found to be an effective means of creating uniform pores in inorganic mineral oxide coatings. The accomplishments of this work have the potential to be integrated so as to expand the boundaries of biomineralization in materials science and engineering fields.

The processing and properties of novel polymer-based nano-composite (PNC) dielectrics for capacitor applications has been studied. PNCs were fabricated via a vacuum based deposition technique and their micro/nano-structure, chemical and dielectric properties investigated. After process development and optimisation, co-deposited Al and nylon-6 PNCs had a dielectric constant k∼7 at an approximate Al volume fraction of 0.3 that agreed with analytical predictions if it was assumed that the Al transformed to an oxide in-situ and/or after deposition. The significant effect of absorbed water vapour and temperature on PNC dielectric properties was revealed using different types of post-deposition heat treatment. Alternately-deposited PNCs consisting of Al or Ag 2-20 nm layers sandwiched between nylon-6 layers were fabricated in which the overall PNC Al or Ag volume fraction was controlled by varying the nominal Al or Ag layer thickness. Ag layers comprised of discrete nano-islands that produced a nano-capacitor network effect that increased k to ∼11. In the case of Al layers, when the layer thickness was ≥ 5 nm, corresponding to a nominal volume fraction of 0.1, Al (core)-oxide (shell) nanoparticles were formed and the PNC dielectric constant increased to ∼19. The detailed nano-structure of the core-shell particles was studied using various types of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the elevations in dielectric constant ascribed to multiple-interface polarisation effects dependent on the formation of the core-shell structure. PNCs based on alternate deposition of Ti sandwiched in nylon-6, and then both Ti and Ag in nylon-6 were also fabricated, with k reaching ∼73 for Ag+Ti/nylon-6 PNCs. As well as Ti-based core (metal)-shell (oxide) particles, the Ag volume fraction was sufficiently high in the 10 nm nylon-6 layers to again form a nano-capacitor network that contributed to the overall device capacitance and effective dielectric constant. Again, various types of high magnification TEM were critical in resolving the Ti-based core-shell structure and its role in high-k behaviour. The vacuum-based alternate deposition technique has been developed to offer ease of operation, reliability, flexibility and applicability to chemically different filler and matrix systems in the fabrication of high-k PNC based capacitors, in which high-k performance relies critically on the formation of core (metal)-shell (oxide) particles in both Al and Ti based systems.