The material that is covered in this thesis concerns the calibration and application of a set of optical tweezers to be used for one- and two-point micro-rheology experiments on hard sphere colloidal suspensions. The colloidal suspensions that were used in this study were all quasi-monodisperse density- and refractive index-matched PMMA particles that had a radii, a = 0:90 ± 0:05μm or a = 0:86 ± 0:07 for one-point microrheology experiments and radii a = 0:90 ± 0:05μm or a = 0:133 ± 0:010μm for the two-point micro-rheology experiments. By collecting the forward scattered light from a single optically trapped particle the particle's displacements in time were used to determine passive microviscosity, η(Passive) μ , for colloidal suspension in the range of 0:10 < Ø < 0:57 and comparison with literature data has been made and agreement found. Actively dragging an optically trapped particle through suspensions with volume fractions of the same range has yielded the active microviscosities, η(Active) μ , for both high and low shear regimes, displaying shear thinning behaviour. Comparison to literature data has been made and agreement found as well. Collecting the forward scattered light from two optically trapped particles has been used to determine the cross-correlated motion of the two particles in bare solvent and in suspensions with volume fraction Ø = 0:02. The friction coefficients ξ1;1 and ξ1;2 were extracted from the cross-correlated motion of the particles and agreement was found with theoretical predictions for bare solvent only. The suspensions with volume fraction Ø = 0:02 were found to have a friction coefficient ξ1;1 that was greater than what theory predicted with the suspension with bath particles a = 0:90 ± 0:05μm had the greater magnitude. The magnitude ξ1;2 was found to decrease for the suspension with bath particles of radius a = 0:133 ± 0:010μm and to increase for the suspension with bath particles a = 0:90 ± 0:05μm.

In this diploma thesis were investigated in terms of microviscosity liquid and condensed systems composed of hyaluronan (Hya) and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The excitation and emission spectra, lifetime, steady-state fluorescence anisotropy and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy of the samples were measured. First, was studied the formation of hydrophobic domains in the system Hya-CTAB at concentration of CTAB lower than its critical micelle concentration in an aqueous solution and 0.15M NaCl. It was found that in an aqueous solution small hydrophobic domains linked to chains Hya are formed. Then an increasing concentration of CTAB leads to phase separation and formation of gel. Due to the addition of NaCl then leads to the reorganization of this system and probably the formation of free micelles in the solution. Were also studied condensed phase of system Hya-CTAB-NaCl at high concentrations of surfactant during fourteen days of ageing. It was found that the microviscosity of hydrophobic domains is constant, but the microviscosity of hydrophilic parts gradually decreases.

Tato práce je zaměřena na agregační chování nativního a hydrofobně modifikovaného hyaluronanu, v různých molekulových hmotnostech a stupních substituce, ve vodném prostředí. Pro studium bylo vybráno šest fluorescenčních sond s různými vlastnostmi (Pyren; Nilská červeň; Perylen; Akridinová oranž; 6-(p-Toluidino)-2-nafthalenesulfonová kyselina; PRODAN). a výsledky získané pomocí těchto sond byly porovnány s jednoduchým anionaktivním tenzidem (Dodecylsíran sodný). U všech použité sond byly testovány jejich spektrální vlastnosti v závislosti na polaritě okolí a/nebo na koncentraci. Pro stanovení vlastností nepolárního jádra hyaluronového agregátu byly vybrány dvě sondy (Pyren, Nilská červeň). U domén byly sledovány polarita a viskozita vnitřního prostředí a jejich závislost na iontové síle a teplotě. Pro modifikované hyaluronany bylo stanoveno, že jejich kritická agregační koncentrace klesá s rostoucí molekulovou hmotností a stupněm substituce. Pro vlastní doménu platí, že její kompaktnost roste s rostoucí iontovou silou, ale klesá s rostoucí teplotou.