Production of biopolymer nanostructures through layer-by-layer deposition with antibacterial and lymphocyte immobilization properties

Orientador: Marisa Masumi BeppuTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia QuímicaResumo: O trabalho trata da produção de filmes nanoestruturados multicamadas de biopolímeros sobre substratos sólidos com a técnica de deposição layer-by-layer (LbL). A técnica de montagem layer-by-layer é uma ferramenta adequada para produção controlada de filmes de multicamadas com propriedades importantes tais como: a biocompatibilidade, a biodegrabilidade, a baixa toxicidade, a hidrofilicidade e a baixa citotoxicidade, concedendo a estes filmes grande versalitidade em suas aplicações. O foco principal da pesquisa foi estudar multicamadas dos polieletrólitos naturais quitosana e ácido hialurônico e sua aplicabilidade para: 1) promover a adesão de linfócitos B, 2) gerar superfícies antibacterianas. Os testes da preparação e o estudo da variação de parâmetros de montagem de filmes dos biopolímeros, assim como sua caracterização foram úteis para a avaliação dessas aplicações. O estudo também incluiu a produção de filmes multicamadas contendo outros biopolímeros (alginato de sódio e carboximetilcelulose), assim como polímeros sintéticos e nanopartículas. A caracterização dos filmes envolveu diversas técnicas de análise, dentre elas: microscopia de força atômica (MFA), que permitiu obter informações sobre a topologia e elasticidade dos filmes, e microbalança de cristal de quartzo com dissipação (QCM-D), que permitiu fazer uma análise em tempo real das características dos filmes durante a deposição dos biopolímeros. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho mostram a viabilidade da fabricação de filmes multicamadas a base de biopolímeros para uso na imobilização de linfócitos B. Os resultados mapeiam e otimizam as variáveis de preparação dos filmes de multicamadas dos polieletrólitos (PEMs) de HA e CHI através do pH, força iônica, e última camada depositada, que influenciam a imobilização seletiva dos linfócitos. Estes filmes exploram as interações CD44-ácido hialurônico sem a necessidade de utilização de reações químicas agressivas e promovem a adesão seletiva de linfócitos assegurando a viabilidade, habilidade de replicação e funções dos linfócitos, após a imobilização. Filmes assim construídos tem aplicação em biossensores a base de células, engenharia do sistema imune, sistemas de diagnóstico e tratamento de doenças entre outras. Os resultados mostraram também que a técnica LbL é viável para a construção de superfícies antibacterianas. As propriedades antibacterianas e de imobilização de linfócitos da superfície desses filmes são passíveis de aplicações biotecnológicasAbstract: This thesis is on the production of biopolymer nanostructured multilayered thin films deposited on solid substrates utilizing the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition technique. The layer-by- layer deposition technique of assembly is a simple yet versatile and powerful tool for the controlled production of biopolymer multilayered thin films carrying important properties, such as: biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, hydrophilicity, low cytotoxicity, which entice them as candidates for a wide variety of applications. The main focus of the research was the study of natural biopolymer polyelectrolytes such as chitosan and hyaluronic acid, and their applicability in: 1) promoting the adhesion of B lymphocytes, and 2) generating antibacterial surfaces. The film preparation process in itself and the study of the film properties as a function of deposition parameters, such as pH and ionic strength, during assembly, were very important in tailoring the multilayer film for specific applications. The study also included the production of multilayered films composed by other biopolymers (sodium alginate, carboxymethylcellulose), as well as by synthetic polymers and nanoparticles. The characterization of the films involved various techniques, such as: atomic force microscopy (AFM) - which allowed the acquisition of information regarding film topology and elasticity, and the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D), which permitted an analysis, in real time, of the film characteristics during deposition of the biopolymers. The results obtained in this work show the feasibility of fabricating multilayered thin films based on biopolymers for their use in the adhesion of B lymphocytes. The results map out and optimize the preparation of polyelectrolyte multilayered (PEMs) composed of HA and CHI through the variation of pH, ionic strength, and choice of last layer deposited, all factors that influence the selective immobilization of lymphocytes. These films explore the CD44- hyaluronic acid interactions without the use of aggressive chemical reactions to promote the selective adhesion of lymphocytes, maintaining their viability, meaning, maintaining their ability to replicate and their native functions after being immobilized. The results also show the feasibility of the LbL technique in producing biopolymer films having antibacterial properties. Both film characteristics - the adhesion and the antibacterial properties - find applicability in the area of bionanotechnology. These films may be used in the fabrication of cell based sensors, in immune system engineering, in diagnostics systems and in disease treatments, among othersDoutoradoEngenharia de ProcessosDoutor em Engenharia Químic

Computational modelling and characterisation of nanoparticle-based tuneable photonic crystal sensors

Photonic crystals are materials that are used to control or manipulate the propagation of light through a medium for a desired application.</p

Light-directed writing of chemically tunable narrow-band holographic sensors

This tunable holographic sensor offers interrogation and a reporting transducer as well as an analyte-responsive hydrogel, rendering it label-free and reusable. A single 6 ns laser pulse is used to fabricate holographic sensors consisting of silver nanoparticles arranged periodically within a polymer film. The tunability of the sensor is demonstrated through pH sensing of artificial urine and validated through computational modeling. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Com o diabo no corpo: os terríveis papagaios do Brasil colônia

Desde a Antiguidade, papagaios, periquitos e afins (Psittacidae) fascinaram os europeus por seu vivo colorido e uma notável capacidade de interação com seres humanos. A descoberta do Novo Mundo nada faria além de acrescentar novos elementos ao tráfico de animais exóticos há muito estabelecido pelos europeus com a África e o Oriente. Sem possuir grandes mamíferos, a América tropical participaria desse comércio com o que tinha de mais atrativo, essencialmente felinos, primatas e aves - em particular os papagaios, os quais eram embarcados em bom número. Contudo, a julgar pelos documentos do Brasil colônia, esses voláteis podiam inspirar muito pouca simpatia, pois nenhum outro animal - exceto as formigas - foi tantas vezes mencionado como praga para a agricultura. Além disso, alguns psitácidas mostravam-se tão loquazes que inspiravam a séria desconfiança de serem animais demoníacos ou possessos, pois só três classes de entidades - anjos, homens e demônios - possuíam o dom da palavra. Nos dias de hoje, vários representantes dos Psittacidae ainda constituem uma ameaça para a agricultura, enquanto os indivíduos muito faladores continuam despertando a suspeita de estarem possuídos pelo demônio. Transcendendo a mera curiosidade, essa crença exemplifica o quão intrincadas podem ser as relações do homem com o chamado “mundo natural”, revelando um universo mais amplo e multifacetado do que se poderia supor a princípio. Nesse sentido, a existência de aves capazes de falar torna essa relação ainda mais complexa e evidencia que as dificuldades de estabelecer o limite entre o animal e o humano se estendem além dos primatas e envolvem as mais inusitadas espécies zoológicas.Since ancient times, parrots and their allies (Psittacidae) have fascinated Europeans by their striking colors and notable ability to interact with human beings. The discovery of the New World added new species to the international exotic animal trade, which for many centuries had brought beasts to Europe from Africa and the Orient. Lacking large mammals, tropical America participated in this trade with its most appealing species, essentially felines, primates and birds - especially parrots - which were shipped in large numbers. It should be noted, however, that at times these birds were not well liked. In fact, according to documents from colonial Brazil, only the ants rank higher than parrots as the animals most often mentioned as agricultural pests. On the other hand, some of these birds were so chatty that people suspected them to be demonic or possessed animals, since only three classes of beings - angels, men and demons - have the ability to speak. Nowadays, several Psittacidae still constitute a threat to agriculture, and the suspicion that extremely talkative birds were demon possessed has also survived. More than a joke or a mere curiosity, this belief exemplifies how intricate man’s relationships with the “natural world” may be. In this sense, the existence of birds that are able to speak adds a further twist to these relationships, demonstrating that the problem of establishing a boundary between the animal and the human does not only involve primates, but also includes some unusual zoological species

Surface modification of polyelectrolyte multilayers by high radio frequency air plasma treatment

Low-temperature plasma treatments are used to perform surface modification on polymers, aiming to improve the surface properties according to the desired application. In this work, polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs), built by layer-by-layer deposition technique, were treated using high frequency low-temperature air plasma. We evaluated the effect of the exposure time (20 and 300 s) and its effects on PEMs with two different top layers: alginate and carboxymethylcellulose. Chitosan was used as the cationic polymer to build the LbL films with the oppositely charged anionic polymers, alginate and carboxymethylcellulose. Our results showed that the surface topology, wettability and free charges within layers are highly correlated to the polymer pair used. PEMs of the chitosan/alginate system are thinner and hydrophilic, and present a surface with wider peaks. We found that plasma treatment promotes substantial changes on the PEMs and that 20 s of exposure time is enough to perform these changes. In all cases, after plasma treatment, PEMs’ thickness and free charge distribution were reduced and wettability was enhanced329287291CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPsem informaçã