Encapsulation of particles and cells using stimuli-responsive self-rolling polymer films

This thesis is focused on the design and development of an approach, allowing the fabrication of biocompatible/biodegradable self-rolled polymer tubes, which are sensitive to stimuli at physiological conditions, can be homogenously filled with cells and are able to self-assemble into a complex 3D construct with uniaxially aligned pores. These constructs are aimed to recreate the microstructure of tissues with structural anisotropy, such as of muscles and bones. The approach consists of two steps of self-assembly. As a first step, cells are adsorbed on the top of an unfolded bilayer; triggered rolling results in a parallel encapsulation of cells inside the tubes. As a second step, the formed self-rolled tubes with encapsulated cells can be assembled in a uniaxial tubular scaffold. Three polymer systems were designed and investigated in the present work in order to allow triggered folding of the bilayer. These systems allow either reversible or irreversible tube formation. The possibility to encapsulate microobjects inside self-rolled polymer tubes was demonstrated on the example of silica particles, yeast cells and mammalian cells. At conditions when bilayer film is unfolded, particles or cells were deposited from their aqueous dispersion on the top of bilayer. An appropriate change of conditions triggers folding of the bilayer and results in encapsulation of particles or cells inside the tubes. One way swelling of an active polymer allows irreversible encapsulation of cells in a way that tubes do not unroll and cells cannot escape. It was demonstrated that encapsulated cells can proliferate and divide inside the tubes for a long period of time. Since used polymers are optically transparent, encapsulated cells can be easily observed using optical and fluorescent microscopy. Reversible swelling of an active polymer provides the possibility to release encapsulated objects. It was demonstrated that in aqueous media microtubes possessing small amount of negatively charged groups on external walls self-assemble in the presence of oppositely charged microparticles that results in a formation of 3D constructs. In obtained aggregates tubes and therefore pores were well-aligned and the orientation degree was extremely high. Moreover, the approach allows the design of porous materials with complex architectures formed by tubes of different sorts. The assembly of cell-laden microtubes results in a formation of uniaxial tubular scaffold homogeneously filled with cells. The results presented in this work demonstrate that the proposed approach is of practical interest for biotechnological applications. Self-rolled tubes can be filled with cells during their folding providing the desired homogeneity of filling. Individual tubes of different diameters could be used to investigate cell behaviour in confinement in conditions of structural anisotropy as well as to mimic blood vessels. Due to their directionality tubes could be used to guide the growth of cells that is of interest for regeneration of neuronal tissue. Reversibly foldable films allow triggered capture and release of the cells that could be implemented for controlled cell delivery. In perspective, self-assembled 3D constructs with aligned pores could be used for bottom-up engineering of the scaffolds, mimicking such tissues as cortical bone and skeletal muscle, which are characterized by repeating longitudinal units. Such constructs can be also considered as a good alternative of traditional 2D flat cell culture

Thermal stability and hydrogenation behavior of Zr-1Nb alloy with TiNx and Ti/TiNx coatings

Titanium nitride coatings were deposited by reactive dc magnetron sputtering (dcMS) to protect Zr-1Nb alloys from hydrogen embrittlement. Dense titanium (Ti) interlayer was prepared between TiNx protection film and a Zr substrate to improve thermal stability and adhesion between the TiNx and the substrate at high temperatures. Hydrogen absorption of Zr- 1Nb with TiNx and Ti/TiNx at 623 K was reduced in comparison with uncoated Zr-1Nb. No peeling or cracks of Ti/TiNx coatings is observed after thermal cycling up to 1073 K. The high temperature (1073 K) hydrogenation behaviour differs from the hydrogenation at lower temperature by increasing the amount of dissolved hydrogen in the phase of zirconium. The higher rate of hydrogen absorption by Zr-1Nb with TiNx was observed due to the coating delamination as a result of differences in thermal expansion coefficients, while Ti/TiNx demonstrates the lower hydrogen absorption at 1073 K and good adhesion strength

Increasing the Level of Motivation of Foreign International Relations and Bilingual Students in Studying the Language of Professional Communication

The article is devoted to the description of the work of teachers of the Russian Language Department of MGIMO on the development of professional competence of foreign students. The authors describe some methods of active learning such as business games and student conferences. Business games allows teachers to solve the following tasks: activation of the studied lexical and grammatical material, the development of new vocabulary, syntactic constructions, norms of communicative behavior; training in the construction of monological speech and dialogue; motivation of students to increase their linguistic and cultural knowledge. Participation in student conferences helps to strengthen motivation for a more in-depth study of the Russian language, increase the level of education of students, proves the need for independent work. The article analyzes the experience of holding business games, conferences and the UN Model in MGIMO

ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ СТРАТЕГИЙ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ МУНИЦИПАЛЬНЫХ РАЙОНОВ НА ОСНОВЕ СИНТЕЗА МЕТОДОВ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ СЛОЖНЫХ СИСТЕМ

The article presents the results of research work on designing the strategies for socio-economic development for the Sholokhovskiy municipal district of Rostov region and Chusovskoy municipal district of Perm Region, which was made by research team of autonomous nonprofit organization of higher education «Eurasian Open Institute» (EOI) during the 2012-2013.В статье представлены результаты научно-исследовательской работы по разработке стратегий социально-экономического развития ряда муниципальных образований Российской Федерации, выполненной научным коллективом Автономной некоммерческой организации высшего профессионального образования «Евразийский открытый институт» (ЕАОИ) в 2012-2013 гг

Encapsulation of particles and cells using stimuli-responsive self-rolling polymer films

This thesis is focused on the design and development of an approach, allowing the fabrication of biocompatible/biodegradable self-rolled polymer tubes, which are sensitive to stimuli at physiological conditions, can be homogenously filled with cells and are able to self-assemble into a complex 3D construct with uniaxially aligned pores. These constructs are aimed to recreate the microstructure of tissues with structural anisotropy, such as of muscles and bones. The approach consists of two steps of self-assembly. As a first step, cells are adsorbed on the top of an unfolded bilayer; triggered rolling results in a parallel encapsulation of cells inside the tubes. As a second step, the formed self-rolled tubes with encapsulated cells can be assembled in a uniaxial tubular scaffold. Three polymer systems were designed and investigated in the present work in order to allow triggered folding of the bilayer. These systems allow either reversible or irreversible tube formation. The possibility to encapsulate microobjects inside self-rolled polymer tubes was demonstrated on the example of silica particles, yeast cells and mammalian cells. At conditions when bilayer film is unfolded, particles or cells were deposited from their aqueous dispersion on the top of bilayer. An appropriate change of conditions triggers folding of the bilayer and results in encapsulation of particles or cells inside the tubes. One way swelling of an active polymer allows irreversible encapsulation of cells in a way that tubes do not unroll and cells cannot escape. It was demonstrated that encapsulated cells can proliferate and divide inside the tubes for a long period of time. Since used polymers are optically transparent, encapsulated cells can be easily observed using optical and fluorescent microscopy. Reversible swelling of an active polymer provides the possibility to release encapsulated objects. It was demonstrated that in aqueous media microtubes possessing small amount of negatively charged groups on external walls self-assemble in the presence of oppositely charged microparticles that results in a formation of 3D constructs. In obtained aggregates tubes and therefore pores were well-aligned and the orientation degree was extremely high. Moreover, the approach allows the design of porous materials with complex architectures formed by tubes of different sorts. The assembly of cell-laden microtubes results in a formation of uniaxial tubular scaffold homogeneously filled with cells. The results presented in this work demonstrate that the proposed approach is of practical interest for biotechnological applications. Self-rolled tubes can be filled with cells during their folding providing the desired homogeneity of filling. Individual tubes of different diameters could be used to investigate cell behaviour in confinement in conditions of structural anisotropy as well as to mimic blood vessels. Due to their directionality tubes could be used to guide the growth of cells that is of interest for regeneration of neuronal tissue. Reversibly foldable films allow triggered capture and release of the cells that could be implemented for controlled cell delivery. In perspective, self-assembled 3D constructs with aligned pores could be used for bottom-up engineering of the scaffolds, mimicking such tissues as cortical bone and skeletal muscle, which are characterized by repeating longitudinal units. Such constructs can be also considered as a good alternative of traditional 2D flat cell culture

Encapsulation of particles and cells using stimuli-responsive self-rolling polymer films

This thesis is focused on the design and development of an approach, allowing the fabrication of biocompatible/biodegradable self-rolled polymer tubes, which are sensitive to stimuli at physiological conditions, can be homogenously filled with cells and are able to self-assemble into a complex 3D construct with uniaxially aligned pores. These constructs are aimed to recreate the microstructure of tissues with structural anisotropy, such as of muscles and bones. The approach consists of two steps of self-assembly. As a first step, cells are adsorbed on the top of an unfolded bilayer; triggered rolling results in a parallel encapsulation of cells inside the tubes. As a second step, the formed self-rolled tubes with encapsulated cells can be assembled in a uniaxial tubular scaffold. Three polymer systems were designed and investigated in the present work in order to allow triggered folding of the bilayer. These systems allow either reversible or irreversible tube formation. The possibility to encapsulate microobjects inside self-rolled polymer tubes was demonstrated on the example of silica particles, yeast cells and mammalian cells. At conditions when bilayer film is unfolded, particles or cells were deposited from their aqueous dispersion on the top of bilayer. An appropriate change of conditions triggers folding of the bilayer and results in encapsulation of particles or cells inside the tubes. One way swelling of an active polymer allows irreversible encapsulation of cells in a way that tubes do not unroll and cells cannot escape. It was demonstrated that encapsulated cells can proliferate and divide inside the tubes for a long period of time. Since used polymers are optically transparent, encapsulated cells can be easily observed using optical and fluorescent microscopy. Reversible swelling of an active polymer provides the possibility to release encapsulated objects. It was demonstrated that in aqueous media microtubes possessing small amount of negatively charged groups on external walls self-assemble in the presence of oppositely charged microparticles that results in a formation of 3D constructs. In obtained aggregates tubes and therefore pores were well-aligned and the orientation degree was extremely high. Moreover, the approach allows the design of porous materials with complex architectures formed by tubes of different sorts. The assembly of cell-laden microtubes results in a formation of uniaxial tubular scaffold homogeneously filled with cells. The results presented in this work demonstrate that the proposed approach is of practical interest for biotechnological applications. Self-rolled tubes can be filled with cells during their folding providing the desired homogeneity of filling. Individual tubes of different diameters could be used to investigate cell behaviour in confinement in conditions of structural anisotropy as well as to mimic blood vessels. Due to their directionality tubes could be used to guide the growth of cells that is of interest for regeneration of neuronal tissue. Reversibly foldable films allow triggered capture and release of the cells that could be implemented for controlled cell delivery. In perspective, self-assembled 3D constructs with aligned pores could be used for bottom-up engineering of the scaffolds, mimicking such tissues as cortical bone and skeletal muscle, which are characterized by repeating longitudinal units. Such constructs can be also considered as a good alternative of traditional 2D flat cell culture

EVANGELICAL IMAGES AND MOTIFS IN SERGEY ORLOV'S POEMS ABOUT THE BATTLE OF KULIKOVO (IN COMPARISON WITH ALEXANDER BLOK'S CYCLE OF POEMS "ON THE FIELD OF KULIKOVO")

The Battle of Kulikovo is one of the most significant events in Russian history. This article studies five poems by Alexander Blok and Sergey Orlov devoted to this battle. Alexander Blok's cycle of poems On the Field of Kulikovo prophetically predicts future changes in Russia. Sergey Orlov's poems devoted to this historical event can be seen as a certain indicator of his creative evolution. The image of the homeland, as well as the image of his wife (widow), both in Blok's and Orlov's poems originates from the image of the Mother of God. Images of a celestial body used by both poets are associated with military paraphernalia and arise from the evangelical images, while the warrior image is based on the evangelical image of brotherhood. Poetic experience of Alexander Blok and Sergey Orlov reveals Orthodox roots that nourish the entire Russian culture

BIBLICAL METAPHORS IN LETTERS OF LEV OF OPTINA

This article presents the first analysis of tropes in the letters of the first Elder Lev (Nagolkin) of Optina Pustyn Monastery (Opta’s hermitage) – i. e. proverbs, allusions, allegories periphrasis and metaphors. Elder Lev most frequently used such tropes as "the storm of temptations", "the heart field", "happy harvest", "rags of the passions", "the marriage of the soul", "verbal sheep", "soldier of Christ", "spiritual milk", "the mind’s wolf", "a log of pride". One special thing about these tropes is that they blend together severalbiblical quotations and the Gospel images. Both simple and extended metaphors are used, and all the metaphors in the letters of St. Lev of Optina have a special function: they actualize biblical events, describe symbolically the inner world of a person and show the way to the salvation of the soul. It is typical of the Elder to use his own unique tropes, which are very diff erent from the traditional poetic images of the Russian literature of the 19th century

The effectiveness of biological and chemical systems for protecting potatoes from harmful organisms in the central zone of the Krasnodar region

The biological and chemical protection system’s influence on the soil mycological composition, potato plant biometric indicators, yield structural indicators, productivity, as well as the potato tuber quality has been studied. It was determined that after the biological protection system application, the genus Penicillium fungi number decreased by 4 times, the genus Aspergillus – more than 2 times, Trichoderma sp. content – 2.5 times. There was an increase in the stem number in the variant with biological protection by more than 2 times, compared with the control, and by 25%, compared with the chemical protection variant. The plant height in the two variants was 6.4-7.3 % higher than the control values. The potato tuber total number per bush in the biological protection variant increased by 40 %, and the tuber mass increased by 12.4-61.7% in comparison with other variants. The yield increase was 157.3 c/ha (50.4%) and 128.0 c/ha (39%) for the biological and chemical systems, respectively. The nitrate amount was within the normal range in all variants. The vitamin C highest content was noted in the variant with the biological protection application (9.3 mg/100 g of raw substance). The starch amount varied from 20.8% to 21.3% in all variants

Influence of a biological fungicide on the development and spreading of

The effect of the biofungicide BFTIM KS-2, Zh on the development and spreading of the Alternaria alternata fungus on vegetable crops (tomato, pepper, eggplant) was studied using classical and modern methods of phytosanitary monitoring. The research was carried out in Krasnodar region in the Pavlovsky District, on the production fields of the ZAO Yubileinoye. To assess the development and spreading of the disease, the classical visual method was used, as well as a modern method for determining the congestion rate of plantings using the OZR-1mp spore trap.The article presents data on the development and spreading of A. alternata, the number of fungal spores on vegetable crops before and after treatments with the biofungicide. It was found that the use of the biological product reduces the development and spreading of the phytopathogen. Its influence is the most effective on tomato and eggplant crops. Also, in the course of research, the possibility of using a spore trap for monitoring Alternaria on vegetable crops has been shown