<p dir="ltr">Developing functional metallic nanostructured surfaces has seen significant growth in various applications, including sensors, electronics, and biomedical devices. However, conventional fabrication techniques for these nanostructures face limitations such as complexity, high costs, and unstable coatings. Laser-assisted surface processing has emerged as a promising solution to address these challenges by enabling localized processing and modification without altering bulk properties. This dissertation focuses on the development of multifunctional devices using selective laser processing of metallized surfaces, categorized into three routes. The first part explores the utilization of laser-induced oxides (LIO) for simple processing and formation of functional metal oxide nanostructures as electrochemical sensing elements. Different laser processing conditions were systematically studied for cost-effective metals like copper and nickel, evaluating their potential as non-enzymatic glucose sensors. The second part investigates laser selective processing for removing metal coatings on temperature-sensitive substrates, providing a cost-effective and scalable alternative to conventional photolithography and etching processes. Various laser processing conditions were examined to achieve selective patterning of metalized fabric structures for wearable electronics production. The third part explores localized laser processing to create intermetallic nanotexturing mixtures without altering bulk properties. The study involved silver spray- coating onto titanium implants, followed by a post-laser processing. The aim was to achieve simultaneous texturing and intermixing of silver in titanium alloy structures, enhancing antibacterial properties and bone mineralization while preserving mechanical properties.</p><p dir="ltr">Through the comprehensive examination of these three routes, this dissertation demonstrates the immense potential of commercial laser processing systems in the design, fabrication, and characterization of functional metallic nanostructured surfaces. It emphasizes the often-overlooked aspect of chemical alterations in laser-assisted surface processing, bridging the gap between physical and chemical modifications. The research opens new avenues for the development and optimization of multifunctional devices in electronics and biomedical applications.</p>

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The adhesion and durability of model epoxy/silane/SiO2/Si bonded systems were investigated under various conditions, including the type of surface preparation, pH of the environmental media, temperature, cyclic thermal stress, and external applied stress. The fundamental debond mechanism was studied for bonded systems exposed to selected environments. The bond failure mode was characterized by examining the failed bond surfaces using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effectiveness of combining the oxygen plasma treatment and silane coupling agent (SCA) derivatization in adhesion promotion for an epoxy bonded to a silicon surface was evaluated in this research. SCAs with different amine functionalities were studied. The oxygen plasma treatment time was varied systematically to achieve a different extent of oxidation on the Si wafer. The surface chemistry/composition of various silane derivatized Si surfaces was investigated. The studies revealed that SCA interaction with the Si surface was enhanced by the oxygen plasma pre-treatment of the Si substrates. XPS surface analysis results showed that the SCA/SiO2 ratio did not correlate strongly with the increase in oxygen plasma pretreatment time. However, for Si surfaces treated for longer oxygen plasma pretreatment times, more silanol groups may be available to interact with the hydrolyzed silanol groups on silane, resulting in a stronger SCA-Si attachment. Three different tests were employed to determine adhesion and durability of the model epoxy/SCA/SiO2/Si bonded specimens. The immersion test qualitatively evaluates the bond durability for various systems exposed to different chemical and thermal conditions. Second, a novel probe test was used to quantitatively determine adhesion under critical debonding conditions for bonded specimens with different SCA preparations. A general trend of bond durability varied in the manner SCA-2 > SCA-3 > SCA-1 > no silane. Bond durability also increased for samples: model epoxy/SCA modified/O2 plasma treated/Si as the oxygen plasma pre-treatment time increased. Third, bond durability was studied using the wedge DCB (double cantilever beam) test under subcritical debonding conditions with environment-assisted crack growth as a function of applied strain energy release rate. Higher crack velocity and the absence of a Gthreshold value were noted in tests at 70 oC. The Gthreshold value increased as the strength of the interface increased and as the chemical aggressiveness of the environment decreased. For tests involving 25 oC -70 oC thermal cycling, only limited crack growth was found. / Ph. D.

Résumé : Durant les dernières années, l’encapsulation d’îlots pancréatiques endocriniens a reçu une grande attention parce qu’elle pourrait constituer une solution pour diminuer les taux d'échecs des transplantations. Dans le contexte de la perte de la matrice extracellulaire (MEC) native des îlots lors de leur isolation et le rejet de greffes par le système immunitaire du receveur, cette thèse vise à améliorer la compréhension des interactions entre la MEC et les cellules des îlots pancréatiques endocriniens ainsi qu’à étudier les effets de stress apoptotiques associés à des éléments du système immunitaire sur la survie et les fonctions des îlots. Ces études pourraient permettre de raffiner notre compréhension des mécanismes associés au rejet des greffes d'îlots de Langerhans. Dans cette thèse, le premier chapitre constitue une revue de la littérature permettant de mettre en lumière les rôles réciproques de la MEC dans l'action des cellules immunitaires et l'influence de ces rôles sur le diabète de type 1 (DT1) et sur la transplantation d'îlots. Ce premier chapitre a été publié dans la revue Pathologie Biologie. Le premier travail expérimental comprend la culture de cellules d'insulinomes de rat (INS-1) sur des surfaces composées de carboxyméthyl dextrane (CMD) recouvertes de fibronectine, RGD ou YIGSR, un peptide synthétique de la laminine. Dans cette étude, l'effet bénéfique d’éléments de la MEC sur ces cellules productrices d'insuline a été démontré. Les cellules INS-1 ont davantage proliféré sur ces surfaces et sécrétaient plus d’insuline que les cellules INS-1 cultivées sur les surfaces contrôle de CMD, CMD+RGE et dans les plaques à multi-puits de polystyrène vendues pour la culture tissulaire (TCPS). Cette première étude a été publiée dans Acta Biomaterialia. La deuxième étude expérimentale avait pour objectif d’étudier l’effet protecteur de gels de fibrine pour enrober des îlots pancréatiques endocriniens isolés de jeunes porcs et exposés à deux concentrations de peroxyde d'hydrogène (H[indice inférieur 2]O[indice inférieur 2]). L’enrobage dans la fibrine a permis de réduire l'apoptose chez les cellules des îlots et d’améliorer la sécrétion d'insuline par ceux-ci lorsque les résultats étaient comparés à ceux des îlots non-enrobés. Ce travail a été publié dans la revue Islets. Dans la troisième étude expérimentale, des îlots porcins étaient enrobés dans des gels de fibrine et d'alginate et exposés à des monocytes humains pour comparer l’effet de l’enrobage par ces deux matériaux sur la survie et les fonctions des îlots. Les monocytes sécrétaient des concentrations importantes de cytokines TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β en réponse à la fibrine seule et aux îlots. Les cellules des îlots enrobés dans les gels de fibrine et d'alginate étaient moins apoptotiques et sécrétaient plus d'insuline que leurs contrôles respectifs non-enrobés. Cette étude a été acceptée dans la revue Pathologie Biologie. // Abstract : In recent years, the encapsulation of endocrine pancreatic islets has received enhanced attention as it might constitute a solution for islet transplantation failure. In the context of the loss of the native islet extracellular matrix (ECM) and graft rejection by the recipient’s immune system, this thesis aims to improve the understanding of ECM-islet cell interactions and immune system-related implications in islet survival and function in the context of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and islet graft rejection. In the first chapter, a literature review introduces the reciprocal roles of the ECM in immune cell action and the influence of these interactions on T1DM and islet transplantation. The most important ECM components are discussed followed by an overview of immune cells and their possible implication in diabetes. Immune cell integrins and cytokines and their communication with and influence on ECM are highlighted, concluding in a brief discussion of the significance of these interactions for islet transplantation and encapsulation. This review has been accepted for publication by Pathologie Biologie. The first experimental work comprises the culture of rat insulinoma cells (INS-1) on welldefined low-fouling carboxymethyl-dextran (CMD) surfaces covalently grafted with fibronectin, RGD and YIGSR, a synthetic laminin peptide, resulting in higher cell proliferation and insulin secretion of INS-1 cells when compared to the controls CMD, CMD+RGE and tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) plates. With this work, the beneficial effect of ECM cues on insulin-producing cells was proven. This study has been published in Acta Biomaterialia. The second experimental work aimed to study the effect of fibrin gels when used to embed endocrine pancreatic islets isolated from young pigs and exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H[subscript 2]O[subscript 2]). Fibrin-embedded islets showed less apoptosis and higher relative insulin secretion than islets on TCPS, verifying the protective effect of fibrin towards islets. This study has been published in Islets. In the third experimental study, porcine islets were encapsulated in fibrin and alginate gels and exposed to human monocytes to compare the two materials and to further investigate the immune protective properties of fibrin and alginate. Monocytes secreted high concentrations of TNFα, IL-6, and IL-1β in response to fibrin, but at the same time islets in both fibrin and alginate gels were less apoptotic and secreted more insulin then their TCPS controls. This study has been submitted to Pathologie Biologie.