Inkjet printing of organic transistor devices

In the last two decades inkjet printing passed from the field of graphic art and newspaper industry to that of organic and flexible electronics, as a manufacturing tool, becoming a major topic in scientific research. The appeal of this kind of technology is mainly due to its low cost, non-contact and additive approach, which makes it surely the most promising technique over the other technologies of Printed Electronics. The focus of this thesis is the optimization of the printing process, employing a piezo- electric Drop-on-Demand inkjet printer, for the realization of organic transistors on highly flexible plastic substrates, and their development in more complex systems for sensing applications. Indeed, all the devices realized have been investigated by means of electrical measures and spectroscopic techniques, in order to assess their performances and, consequently, to evaluate the reliability of inkjet printing as fabrication technique for such devices. In the first chapter a general introduction to the field of Printed Electronics, with particular focus on inkjet printing technique, is given. The second chapter provides informations concerning the fabrication characterization procedure followed, including a detailed description of the inkjet printing technology used, a report about the main physical and chemical properties of the materials employed, the explanation of the inkjet printing procedure for each material used in this thesis (as the printing parameters optimization and the approach for the resolution of some technical issues); finally also a brief description of the experimental techniques employed in order to characterize the devices is given. The third chapter is fully dedicated to the results concerning the fabrication and the characterization of all-Organic ElectroChemical Transistors (OECTs), while in the fourth chapter the results about inkjet printed Organic Field Effect Transistors (OFETs) are discussed. Finally, a brief chapter reports a summary of the main results achieved

Heat shock induced changes of adipokines gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

To study the effects of heat shock on adipokines gene expression 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used. Heat shock differently affected gene expression of leptin, adiponectin and acylation stimulating protein (ASP): exposure of cells to temperature higher than 39°C caused upregulation of leptin and downregulation of adiponectin and ASP genes. The present study provides the first evidence about the effects of heat shock on adipokines gene expression. Changes in gene expression of the three adipokines may help to explain the alteration of lipid metabolism and liver functionality occurring in animals exposed to hot conditions

Comparison between conjugated linoleic acid and essential fatty acids in preventing oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells

Some in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated protective effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers against oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. However, only a few and conflicting studies have been conducted showing the antioxidant potential of essential fatty acids. The objectives of the study were to compare the effects of CLA to other essential fatty acids on the thiol redox status of bovine mammary epithelia cells (BME-UV1) and their protective role against oxidative damage on the mammary gland by an in vitro study. The BME-UV1 cells were treated with complete medium containing 50 μM of cis-9,trans-11 CLA, trans-10,cis-12 CLA, α-linolenic acid, γ-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid. To assess the cellular antioxidant response, glutathione, NADPH, and γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase activity were measured 48 h after addition of fatty acids (FA). Intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde production were also assessed in cells supplemented with FA. Reactive oxygen species production after 3 h of H2O2 exposure was assessed to evaluate and to compare the potential protection of different FA against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. All FA treatments induced an intracellular GSH increase, matched by high concentrations of NADPH and an increase of γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase activity. Cells supplemented with FA showed a reduction in intracellular malondialdehyde levels. In particular, CLA isomers and linoleic acid supplementation showed a better antioxidant cellular response against oxidative damage induced by H2O2 compared with other FA

Heat shock induced changes of adipokines gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

To study the effects of heat shock on adipokines gene expression 3T3-L1 adipocytes were used. Heat shock differently affected gene expression of leptin, adiponectin and acylation stimulating protein (ASP): exposure of cells to temperature higher than 39°C caused upregulation of leptin and downregulation of adiponectin and ASP genes. The present study provides the first evidence about the effects of heat shock on adipokines gene expression. Changes in gene expression of the three adipokines may help to explain the alteration of lipid metabolism and liver functionality occurring in animals exposed to hot conditions

Proteome analysis of breast cancer cells (8701-BC) cultured from primary ductal infiltrating carcinoma: relation to correspondent breast tissues

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