Neste trabalho foi estudada a influência da arquitetura molecular e das condições de fabricação de filmes sobre a birrefringência fotoinduzida em filmes automontados de um azopolímero comercial PS-119 ou do corante Brilliant Yellow (BY) como espécies fotorreativas. Os filmes automontados foram fabricados a partir de seis policátions, a saber, poli(alilamina hidroclorada) (PAH), poli(c1oreto de dodecildimetilamônio) (PDAC) (com 3 massas molares diferentes), poli(etileno imina) (PEI) e dendrímero poli(amidoamina) geração 4 (PAMAM-G4). No processo de fabricação o substrato era imerso alternadamente em solução aquosa de policátions e poliânions nos pHs 4, 6 e 8. O crescimento dos filmes foi monitorado por espectroscopia UV-VIS. após cada etapa de adsorção. Um aumento linear do pico em 480 nm, atribuído a transição , indicou que a mesma quantidade de material era adsorvida em cada passo de deposição. A birrefringência foi opticamente induzida usando-se um laser de 532 nm Nd-YAG. Dentre as propriedades dos filmes automontados, a que mais variou de um sistema para outro foi o tempo de escrita característico, definido como o tempo necessário para atingir 50% da birrefringência máxima. Este tempo dependia do polieletrólito e do pH da solução de partida. Os filmes PEI/PS-119 em pH 8 e PDAC(HMW)/PS-119, em pH 4, PAWBY em pH 8, e PDAC(HMW)/BY em pH 4, forneceram os seguintes tempos característicos: 34 min, 0,5 min, 10 min e 3 s, respectivamente. Estas grandes variações nos tempos de escrita estão relacionadas as diferenças nas estruturas dos policátions, que determinam a intensidade das interações entre os polieletrólitos. Os baixos tempos para PDAC, por exemplo, são atribuídos as menores interações com o poliânion, já que a carga do PDAC, um sal quaternário, sofre efeito de blindagem por grupos CH3. Mencione-se que o tempo de escrita para os filmes automontados de PDACIBY é o menor já relatado para filmes automontados, sendo da mesma ordem de grandeza dos filmes obtidos por spin-coating ou técnica de Langmuir-Blodgett (LB). A birrefringência residual, após o desligamento do laser de escrita, foi superior a 78% em todos os sistemas estudados, demonstrando a utilidade de filmes automontados para dispositivos de memória óptica permanente. / This work was aimed at investigating the influence of the molecular architecture and film fabrication on the photoinduced birefi-ingence of layer-by-layer (LbL) films containing the azopolymer PS 119® or the azodye Brylliant Yellow (BY) as photoreactive materials. The LbL films were produced with six polications, viz.: poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH), poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDAC) (with three different molecular weights), poly(ethy1eneimine) (PEI) and generation 4 dendrimer poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM-G4). They were prepared via the alternate immersion of a substrate into the polycationic and polyanionic aqueous solutions, at concentrations of 0.5 mg/mL at three pHs: 4, 6 and 8. The assembly of multilayers was monitored aRer each adsorption step by UV-VIS spectroscopy. A linear increase was observed in the peak at 480 nm, assigned to the transition of the azobenzene moiety, indicating that the same amount of material was deposited at each deposition step. Birefringence was optically induced in films using a 532 nm NdYAG laser. Among the LbL properties, the characteristic writing time - corresponding to the time to achieve 50% of maximum birefiingence - was the quantity that most varied with the materials and experimental conditions employed. The writing time was estimated as 34 min. for PEI/PS-119 with solution at pH 8 films, 0.5 min. for PDAC(HMW)/PS-119, pH 4 films, ca. 10 min. for PAWBY, pH 8 films and 3 s for PDAC(HMW)íBY, pH 4 films. These differences in writing times are probably related to the structural differences of the polycations, which determine the degree of interactions between polycation and polyanion. Indeed, interactions between polyanion and PDAC are expected to occur to a lesser extent (in comparison to the other films) due to the hindering promoted by the dimethyl group in the quaternary ammonium salt, minimizing the interaction with sulfonated groups from PS-119 or BY. With less interaction the azobenzene groups are more mobile, thus causing the writing time to be shorter for PDACIpolyanion films. It should be stressed that the writing time for PDAC/BY is the shortest ever reported for LbL films, being of the same order of magnitude of writing times in cast and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The residual birefringence, aRer the writing laser was switched off, was at least 78% for all systems, indicating that these LbL films are suitable for long-term optical memories.

Orientador: Antonio Riul Júnior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-02T19:37:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jimenez_MawinJavierMartinez_D.pdf: 7578838 bytes, checksum: def5bc65d8270856f55d63211e1e0f09 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Resumo: Para alcançar alto desempenho em dispositivos e aplicações faz-se necessário uma melhor compreensão do comportamento de materiais a base de grafeno em nanoescala para otimização de design e fabricação. A síntese química é uma excelente rota alternativa para produzir compósitos em nanoestruturas bem definidas de tamanhos semelhantes, garantindo propriedades elétricas reprodutíveis para aplicações confiáveis. O grafeno, na forma de pontos quânticos (QDs, do inglês quantum dots) em dimensão zero e nanofolhas (NPLs, do inglês graphene nanoplateletes) bidimensionais (2D), são materiais emergentes com funcionalidades únicas promissoras para novas aplicações. Neste trabalho apresentamos um estudo detalhado dos mecanismos de transporte em nanoestruturas formadas pela técnica de automontagem por adsorção física (LbL, do inglês Layer-by-Layer) na forma de multicamadas, com controle de espessura em nível molecular. Os filmes LbL foram formados por óxido de grafeno reduzido (rGO) funcionalizado com diferentes polieletrólitos tanto na forma de QDs quanto nanofolhas. As caracterizações elétricas indicaram corrente limitada pela carga espacial em algumas amostras, e em outras arquiteturas moleculares, mecanismo de condução via Poole-Frenkel seguindo a lei de Mott dominada por saltos variáveis. A flexibilidade da técnica LbL aliada à dimensão dos materiais utilizados foram favoravelmente exploradas como um ajuste fino para controle da mobilidade de portadores dentro das nanoestruturas formadas. Foi observado em alguns casos uma condução planar no interior da camada contendo rGOs na estrutura LbL com mobilidade eletrônica efetiva de ~ 35 cm² V^-1 s^-1. Em outros casos um mecanismo de condução 3D (interplanar ao longo de toda nanoestrutura LbL) com mobilidade eletrônica de ~ 151 cm² V^-1 s^-1. Medidas em função da temperatura indicaram alta probabilidade de saltos randômicos entre ilhas condutoras de rGO distribuídas ao longo da camada contendo os pontos quânticos, que contribui para um maior tempo de trânsito dos portadores e, consequentemente, mobilidades menores. O oposto ocorre para as nanofolhas de rGO, que requerem maiores energias de ativação devido ao tamanho e presença de defeitos, resultando em caminhos condutores maiores e com maiores mobilidades / Abstract: To achieve high-performance in devices and applications it is important a better comprehension of the behavior at nanoscale of graphene-based materials to promote a rational design and fabrication. The chemical synthesis is an excellent alternative route to optimize graphene-based composites in well-defined nanostructures of similar sizes, ensuring reproducible electrical properties for reliable applications. Graphene as quantum dots (QDs) and nanoplatelets (NPLs) presents emerging zero- and two-dimensional (2D) materials with promising unique functionalities to novel applications. We present here a detailed study of the charge transport mechanisms in multilayered nanostructures formed by physical adsorption through the layer-by-layer (LbL) technique, with molecular level thickness control. The LbL films were formed by reduced graphene oxides (rGO) functionalized with different polyelectrolytes and processed either as QDs or nanoplatelets. The electrical characterizations indicated a space-charge-limited current (SCLC) in some samples, while in other molecular architectures it was found a Poole-Frenkel conduction mechanism dominated by a Mott-variable range hoping model. The LbL assembly together with the dimensionalty of the materials could be favorably used as a fine tuning to control the charge carrier mobility inside the formed nanostructures. The flexibility of the LbL technique together with the dimensionality of the materials were favorably explored as a fine tuning of the charge carrier mobility inside the nanostructures. It was observed in some cases a 2D intra-planar conduction within the rGO layer in the LbL films, with an effective charge carrier mobility of ~ 35 cm² V-1 s-1, and in other cases a 3D conduction mechanism (interplanar along with the LbL nanostructure) with electronic mobility of ~ 151 cm² V-1 s-1. Temperature measurements indicated a higher probability of random jumps between rGO conducting "islands" distributed along with the plane layer having quantum dots, which contributes for a longer transit time of the carriers and, consequently, lower mobility values. The opposite occurred for the rGO nanoplatelets that required higher activation energy due to size and presence of defects, resulting in larger conductive pathways and higher mobilities / Doutorado / Física / Doutor em Ciências / 1247719 / CAPES / FAPESP

Only in recent times has the true potential of cellulose as a high-end functional and sustainable material been realised. As the world’s most abundant resource cellulose has been utilised by man throughout history for timber, paper and yarns. It is found in every plant as a hierarchical material and can be extracted and converted into fibres which are of great use, especially in the form of nanofibrous materials. This thesis has focused on the utilisation and ability of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) to generate structural colour in fabricated thin films. This has been achieved in two ways: Firstly, the natural morphology of CNCs and their ability to form a suspension have been applied to a layer-by-layer (LbL) regime to produce tunable Bragg reflecting thin films. Secondly, a novel technique combining profilometry and spectroscopy has been developed to estimate the distribution of CNCs within EISA thin films and correlate this with the optical properties of the film. This thesis reports the successful fabrication of synthetic CNC LbL Bragg reflecting thin films. The film was compiled using an additive layer-by-layer technique which allowed the construction of a multi-layered thin film and control over individual layer thicknesses and refractive index. Also reported is the discovered reflection of both left and right handed circularly polarised light (CPL) from CNC EISA thin films. These reflections were found to correlate with CNC distribution within the thin films. The distribution of CNCs was estimated using a novel technique which combined spectroscopically measured film absorbance as a function of the volume of the film area under investigation. The specific volumes were calculated using profilometry measurements and the beam spot size used in the spectroscopy measurements.

The primary focus of my work has been to prepare new solid adsorbents for solid phase microextraction (SPME) via sputtering of silicon. The orientation of the silica substrates/fibers and the sputtering pressure induced the formation of porous and columnar structures. Sputtering was performed for different times to yield fibers with different thicknesses. Piranha treatment of the surface increased the concentration of silanol groups, which underwent condensation with vapor deposited octadecyldimethylmonomethoxy silane to incorporate octadecyl chains onto the fiber surfaces. Silanized, sputtered fibers were preconditioned for 3 h at 320 °C to remove the unreacted chains. Comparison of the extraction efficiencies of 1.0 and 2.0 µm sputtered, silanized fibers with a commercial fiber (7 µm PDMS) for a series of analyte mixtures, which included alkanes, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, and amines, was demonstrated. The silanized, sputtered fiber performed better than the commercial fiber in extraction of most of the compounds. These fibers demonstrated long life as no degradation was seen even after 300 extractions. Carry-over between runs was not observed. The repeatability of the sputtered fibers was similar to commercial ones. The extraction of more than 50 compounds from a real world botanical sample using the 2.0 µm sputtered, silanized fiber was also demonstrated. In my second project, a facile method for the preparation of superhydrophobic surfaces (SHS) on glass and silicon surfaces was developed. A two-tier topography (needed for an SHS) was created in 60 min by the aggregation of nanosilica during in situ urea-formaldehyde polymerization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated rough topography. Vapor deposition of a low surface energy silane imparted hydrophobicity, which was confirmed by the presence of an F 1s signal in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The prepared surfaces exhibited water contact angles (WCA) of greater than 150 °C with very low sliding angles. In my third project, a multilayer assembly of nitrilotris(methylene)triphosphonic acid, a corrosion inhibitor, and zirconium was constructed on alumina at room temperature. Attempts to prepare a layer-by-layer assembly at higher temperature (70 °C) was unsuccessful due to etching of the alumina surface. A suite of analytical techniques, XPS, AFM, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic ellipsometry was used to characterize these surfaces. This thesis also contains appendices of tutorial articles I wrote on modeling in ellipsometry, and data analysis tools (classical least squares and multivariate curve resolution).

Transparent electrodes made from metal oxides suffer from poor flexibility and durability. Highly transparent and electrically conductive thin films based on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were assembled as a potential indium tin oxide (ITO) replacement using layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly. The ultimate objective of this dissertation work is to produce CNT-based assemblies with sheet resistance below 100 Omega/sq and visible light transmission greater than 85 percent. The alternate deposition of positively charged poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) [PDDA] and CNTs stabilized with negatively charged deoxycholate (DOC) exhibit linear film growth and thin film properties can be precisely tuned. Ellipsometry, quartz crystal microbalance, and UV-vis were used to measure the growth of these films as a function of PDDA-CNT bilayers deposited, while TEM, SEM, and AFM were used to visualize the nanostructure of these films. Following a literature review describing potential ITO substitutes and LbL technology, the influence of CNT type on optoelectronic performance of LbL assemblies is described. Three different types of nanotubes were investigated: (1) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), (2) few-walled carbon nanotubes (FWNT), and (3) purified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). SWNTs produced the most transparent (>85 percent visible light transmittance) and electrically conductive (148 S/cm, 1.62 kOmega/sq) 20-bilayer films with a 41.6 nm thickness, while MWNT-based films are much thicker and more opaque. A 20-bilayer PDDA/(MWNT DOC) film is approximately 103 nm thick, with a conductivity of 36 S/cm and a transmittance of 30 percent. In an effort to improve both transparency and electrical conductivity, heat and acid treatments were studied. Heating films to 300 degree C reduced sheet resistance to 701 Omega/sq (618 S/cm conductivity, 38.4 nm thickness), with no change in transparency, owing to the removal of insulating component in the film. Despite improving conductivity, heating is not compatible with most plastic substrates, so acid doping was investigated as an alternate means to enhance properties. Exposing SWNT-based assemblies to HNO3 vapor reduced sheet resistance of a 10 BL film to 227 Omega/sq. Replacing SWNTs with double walled carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) provided further reduction in sheet resistance due to the greater metallic of DWNT. A 5 BL DWNT film exhibited the lowest 104 Omega/sq sheet resistance (4200 S/cm conductivity, 22.9 nm thickness) with 84 percent transmittance after nitric acid treatment. DWNT-based assemblies maintained their low sheet resistance after repeated bending and also showed electrochemical stability relative to ITO. This work demonstrates the excellent optoelectronic performance, mechanical flexibility, and electrochemical stability of CNT-based assemblies, which are potentially useful as flexible transparent electrodes for a variety of flexible electronics.

Thin layers with high barrier to oxygen and other gases are a key component to many packaging applications, such as flexible electronics, food, and pharmaceuticals. Vapor deposited thin films provide significant gas barrier, but are prone to cracking when flexed, require special, non-ambient processing environments, and can involve complex fabrication when layered with polymers. The addition of clay into polymers can enhance barrier properties relative to the neat polymer; however, these composites are subject to clay aggregation at high loadings, which leads to increased opacity and random platelet alignment that ultimately reduce barrier improvement. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly is capable of producing thin films that exhibit super gas barrier properties, while remaining flexible and completely transparent. Montmorillonite (MMT) clay and branched polyethylenimine (PEI) were deposited via LbL assembly to create gas barrier films that can be tailored by altering the pH of the PEI deposition solution or the concentration of the MMT suspension. Films grow linearly as a function of layers deposited, where increasing PEI pH increases spacing between clay layers and increasing MMT concentration increases thin film clay content. An oxygen transmission rate (OTR) below the detection limit of commercial instrumentation (< 0.005 cm3/m2•day•atm) is observed after 70 layers of 0.2 wt % MMT or 24 layers of 2 wt % MMT are deposited with pH 10 PEI onto 179 µm thick poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film. Three-component films of PEI, poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and MMT grow exponentially as a function of PEI/PAA/PEI/MMT quadlayers deposited. A transparent, ultrathin film of only four quadlayers deposited onto PET exhibits the lowest oxygen permeability ever reported for any thin film material, at only 51 nm thick. Finally, the first example of LbL assembly using large aspect ratio vermiculite (VMT) clay was performed. PEI/VMT films grow linearly as a function of layers deposited and exhibit 95 % light transmission with 97 wt % VMT. The barrier of these films is due to the highly aligned nanobrick wall structure that creates a tortuous path for permeating molecules. Coupling high flexibility, transparency, and barrier, these coatings are good candidates for a variety of packaging applications.

The present thesis focuses on the selection of polymers and methods to fabricate stable and stimuli responsive multilayer self-assembly via layer-by-layer (LbL) approach. The polymers utilized in this study are biodegradable and biocompatible such as hyaluronic acid, chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). The thesis is comprised of six chapters and a brief discussion on the contents of the individual chapters is given below. Chapter I reviews the LbL self-assembly approach in the context of drug delivery. The various interactions such as electrostatic, hydrogen bonding and covalent bonding involved in preparation of stable multilayer assemblies via LbL approach are discussed. Stimuli responsive behaviour of these multilayer assemblies can be tuned by choosing suitable depositing materials and method. Preparation of hollow microcapsules using LbL approach and its application in drug delivery has also been described in this chapter. Chapter II deals with the LbL assembly of a neutral polymer, poly(vinyl alcholol) (PVA). The negative charge on PVA backbone was induced by physical cross-linking with borax. The PVA-borate can undergo electrostatic interaction with positively charged chitosan in LbL process to form multilayer thin film. The thin film of PVA-borate complex/chitosan was found be responsive towards glucose concentration; disintegration of the multilayer assembly was observed at a high glucose concentration. This finding was rationalized on the basis of strong interaction of glucose with borate ions leading to dissociation of PVA-borate complex and subsequent collapse of the assembly. Thus, this multilayer self-assembly is potent for glucose triggered drug delivery. Chapter III reports the construction of a stable hydrogen bonded multilayer self-assembly based on complementary DNA base pairs (adenine and thymine) interaction. The natural polymer such as chitosan was modified with adenine whereas hyaluronic acid was modified with thymine. These two modified polymers were sequentially deposited on flat substrate and melamine formaldehyde (MF) particles; wherein strong interaction among the DNA base pairs led to the formation of stable assembly without utilizing any external cross-linking agent. The modified polymers are non-cytotoxic as proved from MTT assay. Further the multilayer assembly was used for pH responsive anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) release. In Chapter IV, glutaraldehyde mediated LbL self-assembly of single polymer multilayer thin films on flat and colloidal substrate by covalent bonding is described. A comparitive study between the native polymer (chitosan) and adenine modified polymer in the growth of thin film is performed. It is established from the study that the conformation of polymer and the availability of cross-linking points on the polymer play a crucial role in controlling the growth of these multilayer assemblies. Chapter V is divided into two parts (A and B). Part A describes a simple and unique protocol for fabrication of water dispersed chitosan nanoparticles (CH NPs). The method utilized in this work is based on the fast desolvation technique without using any additional stabilizer or any sophisticated instrumental setup. Furthermore, the CH NPs prepared from the mentioned protocol were proved to be cell-viable and are found to be responsive towards pH of the solution. In part B of this chapter, the LbL self-assembly of the responsive CH NPs is fabricated via electrostatic interaction with hyaluronic acid (HA). The growth of the multilayer thin film was found to be linear as function of number of bilayers. The morphology of thin film was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microscopic images reveal the uniform film morphology devoid of any phase separation of nanoparticles and polymers. Subsequently, the film was loaded with an anticancer therapeutic, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). The release dynamics of encapsulated drug from the self-assembly are tunable and pH responsive. Chapter VI deals with the general and versatile method for the encapsulation of hydrophobic model drugs into polymeric multilayer assembly by using LbL approach. Electrical charge was induced on the surface of pyrene (uncharged organic substance) using an amphiphilic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by micellar solubilization. The SDS micellar solution of pyrene was utilized to grow LbL multilayer thin film on a planar substrate and colloidal particles along with chitosan as a polycation. The LbL self-assembly of pyrene loaded SDS micelles/chitosan is additionally able to encapsulate hydrophobic or hydrophilic model therapeutics, thus providing an opportunity for dual-drug delivery. The desorption kinetics of the two model drugs from the thin film is found to follow a second order rate model.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully coated with two different pseudocapacitive polyoxometalates (POMs) (SiMo12O40-4 (SiMo12) and PMo12O40-3 (PMo12)) via “Layer-by-Layer” deposition. Even with merely a “single-layer” of POM, the modified nanotubes exhibited more than 2X increase in capacitance compared with that of bare nanotubes. To further improve their electrochemical performances, the deposition sequence of the POM layers was adjusted to form “alternate layer” coating to modify MWCNT. A synergistic effect on the capacitance and kinetics was observed with the alternate layer coatings. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) also proved the successful coating of POMs on MWCNTs. The potential-pH relationship provided important insights in terms of the deposition mechanism and suggested that the bottom layer close to the electrode substrate was the dominating layer in alternate layer coated MWCNT electrodes.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were successfully coated with two different pseudocapacitive polyoxometalates (POMs) (SiMo12O40-4 (SiMo12) and PMo12O40-3 (PMo12)) via “Layer-by-Layer” deposition. Even with merely a “single-layer” of POM, the modified nanotubes exhibited more than 2X increase in capacitance compared with that of bare nanotubes. To further improve their electrochemical performances, the deposition sequence of the POM layers was adjusted to form “alternate layer” coating to modify MWCNT. A synergistic effect on the capacitance and kinetics was observed with the alternate layer coatings. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) also proved the successful coating of POMs on MWCNTs. The potential-pH relationship provided important insights in terms of the deposition mechanism and suggested that the bottom layer close to the electrode substrate was the dominating layer in alternate layer coated MWCNT electrodes.

DE LA TESIS EN CASTELLANOAntecedentesUn avance importante en el campo de química analítica se hizo por Clark y Lyons en los años setenta. Ellos propusieron acoplar la especificidad de la enzima glucosa oxidasa con la transducción electroquímica de la señal en "biosensores". En general, los biosensores son artefactos integrados autocontenidos, capazes de proporcionar información analítica, cuantitativa utilizando un elemento biológico de reconocimiento (receptor bioquímico) que se retiene en contacto espacial directo con un elemento de transducción. Posteriormente, los primeros biosensores de glucosa, basados en la detección amperométrica de peróxido de hidrógeno generado por glucosa oxidasa en la presencia de oxígeno fueron introducidos en el mercado por la empresa estadounidense Yellow Spring Instrument Co. (Ohio, EE. UU.) en 1975. La respuesta de biosensores electroquímicos basados en el uso de oxígeno como cosustrato para oxidasas se ve desviada por la presencia de interferencias que pueden contribuir a la corriente. Por lo tanto la superficie de electrodo debe estar protegida por una membrana no permeable por sustancias que pueden interferir con la señal. Para evitar corrientes que perjudican la selectividad de los biosensores, el potencial aplicado puede ser aminorado usando electrocatalizadores difusionales ("mediadores") en lugar de oxígeno, con un potencial redox controlable. Pero la respuesta de estos sensores también depende de la concentración de oxígeno porque este compite con los mediadores, para la reoxidación de las oxidasas. Un inconveniente adicional del uso de mediadores diffusionales artificiales en biosensores es la baja estabilidad de los mismos debida al escape de mediadores desde la superficie del electrodo cuando esto se usa en linea. Se puede aliviar este problema creando enlaces covalentes entre los mediadores y la superficie del electrodo o usando polímeros redox que se adsorben fu&#263;rtemente en la superficie del electrodo. Una de las posibles maneras para disminuir la influencia del oxígeno a la corriente de la respuesta de biosensores es el uso de las deshidrogenasas dependientes de la pareja redox NAD+/NADH. El potencial estándar redox de esta pareja es -0.56 V vs. SCE pero para conseguir la oxidación de NADH en la superficie de electrodos de carbono un sobrepotencial de +0.5 V vs. SCE debe aplicarse. Bajo estas condiciones los electrodos tienen tiempo de vida corto debido a la adsorción de los productos de oxidación en su superficie ya que la oxidación de NADH no es reversible químicamente. Por otro lado estos electrodos sufren por la oxidación no especifica de interferencias a estos potenciales de operación. Los electrodos modificados químicamente por mediadores pueden oxidar NADH a potenciales más bajos. Sin embargo, muchos de los mediadores mencionados en la bibliografía no son estables o/y no forman NAD+ enzimaticamente activo. Un problema adicional de los sistemas analíticos basados en deshidrogenasas dependientes de NAD+ es la necesidad de añadir este cofactór, que tiene alto coste y es inestable, en las muestras. Se puede inmovilizar NAD+ en la superficie de electrodos para producir biosensores capaces de funcionar en muestras que no contienen NAD+, biosensores reagentless (sin necesidad de adición de reactivos). Los métodos descritos en la bibliografía para la fabricación de biosensores reagentless se basan en cinco estrategias: (1) la inmovilización en hidrogeles formados in situ; (2) la inmovilización por una membrana; (3) la inmovilización en películas preparadas por electropolimerización; (4) la inmovilización en una pasta de carbono; (5) la inmovilización en monocapas auto ensambladas. Sólo los electrodos preparados con la estrategia (4) son biosensores reagentless con estabilidad operacional relativamente alta. Las demás estrategias no resultan en biosensores con suficiente estabilidad operacional por culpa de la perdida del mediador, de NAD+ o de la deshidrogenasa. Sin embargo la estrategia basada en electrodos de pasta de carbono no permite su aplicación a la producción de microsensores (electrodos con diámetro de menos de 10 &#61549;m) para su uso in vivo. MetodologíaEl objetivo principal de esta tesis es el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias para la fabricación de biosensores reagentless basados en deshidrogenasas dependientes de NAD+ con características mejoradas respecto a la densidad de la corriente, de la estabilidad operacional y de almacenamiento. Para cumplir el objetivo se han sintetizado dos nuevos mediadores para la oxidación de NADH: un polímero insoluble en agua [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)2(PVP)4Cl]Cl, (Os-fendiona-PVP) y un complejo amfifílico [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)24,4'-(n-C18H37NHCO)2bpi)](PF6)2 (Os-fendiona-surfactante). El polímero Os-fendiona-PVP fue producido vía la derivatización de poli(vinilpiridina) (peso molecular 50000) con [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)2Cl2]. El estudio electroquímico de este polímero redox adsorbido en electrodos de grafito se realizó por voltametría cíclica a distintas velocidades de barrido para evaluar el número de protones y electrones que participan en la reacción redox, la influencia del pH a su potencial estándar formal, y la constante de la transferencia heterogénea del electrónes kS. Bajo bien definidas condiciones hidrodinámicas se realizaron estudios para encontrar la constante de la interacción con NADH k[NADH]=0. Os-fendiona-surfactante fue producido por la complejacion de [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)2]Cl2 con el ligando hidrófobo octadodecilamida del acido 2,2'-Bipiridina-4,4'-dicarboxilico. Las monocapas de Langmuir-Blorgett de Os-fendiona-surfactante y las de su análogo [Os(bpi)24,4'-(n-C18H37NHCO)2bpi)](PF6)2 fueron estudiados en un equipo de Langmuir-Blodgett. Os-fendiona-surfactante fue aplicado a la construcción de biosensores reagentless del glutamato vía la inmovilización de glucosa deshidrogenasa y de NAD+ entre las bicapas en la fase lamelar formada por Os-fendiona-surfactante y el lípido 1,2-dioleoilo-sn-glicero-3-fosfatidilcolina. Dos métodos adicionales para la fabricación de los biosensores reagentless de glutamato y glucosa basados en deshidrogenasas fueron desarrollados. Los electrodos del grafito fueron modificados con Os-fendiona-PVP y utilizados para (a) la inmovilización de deshidrogenasa y de NAD+ en un hidrogel formado por entercruzamiento de poli(vinilpiridina) modificado por grupos amino con el éter diglicidil de poli(etilenglicol); (b) la inmovilización por adsorción de la deshidrogenasa y del ácido algínico modificado por NAD+. Se ha hecho un estudio de los biosensores reagentless para calcular sus constantes de Michaelis, el efecto del pH y de la temperatura en su respuesta y su estabilidad operacional. Además se ha comparado la estabilidad operacional a temperaturas elevadas de biosensores de la configuración (a) usando glutamato, glucosa y glucosa-6-fosfato deshidrogenasas termófilas y mesófilas. Por otro lado se han estudiado métodos nuevos para mejorar le estabilidad durante el almacenamiento de sensores de glutamato. Con este fin, se han preparado electrodos utilizando glutamato deshidrogenasa mesófila y termófila con varios estabilizadores. Conclusiones1. El polímero [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)2(PVP)4Cl]Cl, (Os-fendiona-PVP) para la oxidación de NADH se puede sintetizar por la complejación de [Os(1,10-fenantrolina-5,6-diona)2Cl2] con poli(vinilpiridina). La adsorción física de este polímero sobre los electrodos de grafito desde su solución en etilenglicol resulta en la formación de una monocapa de este polimero redox en la superficie del electrodo. 2. El proceso redox de este mediador es casi-reversible e implica 4 electrones y 4 protones dentro del rango del pH de 3-6.5. El mediador pierde su estabilidad química en valores de pH más altos que 6.5. Tres ramas lineales en el diagrama de E0' frente a pH con diversas pendientes se observan. 3. La constante heterogénea de la velocidad de transferencia de electrones (kS) de Os-fendiona-PVP es del mismo orden de magnitud que la de otros mediadores capaces de oxidar NADH mencionados en la bibliografía (kS= 18±2 s-1) . 4. Os-fendiona-PVP es un electrocatalizador eficiente para la oxidación del NADH. La modificación de los electrodos del grafito con Os-fendiona-PVP conduce a la disminución del sobrepotential para la oxidación electroquímica del NADH desde +0.33 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KClsat para los electrodos no modificados hasta +0.11 V vs. Ag/AgCl/KClsat. La constante cinética para la interacción del polímero redox con el NADH (k1,[NADH]=0 = (1.9±0.2)x103 s-1 M-1) coincide prácticamente con la de Os-fendiona que sugiere que el número de los ligandos de fendiona en los complejos del osmio es proporcional a la corriente de la respuesta al NADH pero no afecta a las constantes cinéticas electroquímicas. / The objective of this work was the development of new configurations of reagentless biosensors based on NAD+ dependent dehydrogenases. These configurations are based on the immobilisation of enzyme, cofactor and the electrochemical catalyst used for its regeneration. In addition to being reagentless these configurations yielded biosensors with improved current density and operational stability compared to the state of the art. To achieve the objective two new NADH oxidising mediators were synthesised: a water insoluble polymer [Os(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)2(PVP)4Cl]Cl (Os-phendione-PVP) and an amphiphilic complex [Os(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)24,4'-(n-C18H37NHCO)2bpy)](PF6)2 (Os-phendione-surfactant). The electrochemical study of Os-phendione-PVP has revealed a rate constant for the heterogeneous electron transfer of the phendione redox couple ks = 25&#61617;2 s-1, and a second order rate constant for NADH oxidation k[NADH]=0=(1.1&#61617;0.1)x103 M-1 s-1. These constants are higher or of the same order of magnitude as those of previously described NADH oxidising mediators. The tensoactive mediators Os-phendione-surfactant and its analogue [Os(bpy)24,4'-(n-C18H37NHCO)2bpy)](PF6)2 (Os-bpy-surfactant) form very stable monolayers at the air-water interface collapsing at the surface pressure 60-65 mN m-1. The Os-phendione-surfactant was used for the construction of reagentless glutamate biosensors via the immobilisation of dehydrogenase and NAD+ between bilayers in lamellar phase formed by Os-phendione-surfactant and the lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine. The resulting glutamate biosensors demonstrated maximum current density of 3.5 &#61549;A cm-2 (RSD=25%), apparent Michaelis constant of 47 mM, and operational half life of 0.5 h. In addition graphite electrodes were modified by Os-phendione-PVP and utilised for (a) immobilisation of dehydrogenase and NAD+ in a hydrogel formed by crosslinking of poly(vinylpyridine) carrying amino groups with polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether and (b) immobilisation of dehydrogenase and an NAD+-alginic acid derivative by adsorption. The configuration (a) yielded glutamate sensors with maximum current density of 8.7 &#61549;A cm-2 (RSD=5%), apparent Michaelis constant of 9.1 mM, operational half life of 12 h and glucose sensors with maximum current density of 37 &#61549;A cm-2 (RSD=14%), apparent Michaelis constant of 4.2 mM, the operational half life of 1 h. The glutamate sensors based on the configuration (b) showed maximum current density of 15.8 &#61549;A/cm2 (RSD=21%), apparent Michaelis constant of 17.6 mM and operational half life of 1.5 h. Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and glutamate biosensors were prepared and characterised. The employment of the thermophilic enzymes helps to dramatically increase the operational stability of biosensors at elevated temperatures higher than 60oC. The shelf life of glutamate electrodes built with the use of thermophilic dehydrogenase was eleven times longer than this of electrodes modified with the mesophilic enzyme. The addition of the copolymer of vinyl-pyrrolidone and dimethylamino ethyl methacrylate termed as Gafquat HS100 to the enzyme also significantly improved shelf life