To research the impact of the shape on the assembly of the natural objects (protein, virus, bacteria, living cells) the polymer microcapsules with similar surface chemistry and different by shape (spherical, cubical and tetrahedral) had been synthesized. It was found that the energetically favourable face-to-face attachment of anisotropic microcapsules drives the formation of stable and compacted assembly while isotropic microcapsules assembly is mobile and chain-like structures with a point like a contact area. The difference in assembling behaviour of anisotropic (cubic, tetrahedral) and isotropic (spherical) microparticles is related to the fact that the interfacial hydrophobic energies between the anisotropic microparticles are 6-4 orders of magnitude higher than that for the isotropic microparticles due to the significantly higher contact area of anisotropic microparticles. Such mimicking of the natural objects by polymer microcapsules and research their interaction driven by shape explains the arrangements of isotropic and anisotropic cells in bacteria and its mobility.

BioEmbroidery for medical applications offers the potential of a directed fiber alignment, density and distribution and allows the production of properties that are customized to the needs. The adaption of the mechanical properties of biomaterials to the requirements of human tissues often results in substrates with space-resolved distribution of stress and thus highly anisotropic behavior. A demonstrative example for such a material would be a stress adapted hernia mesh showing a high stiffness in the area of the abdominal opening and a graduated transition in the marginal area discharging into the material properties of the surrounding tissue. For evaluating the influence of the reinforcement patterns a measuring method had to be established featured by the optical measuring system ARAMIS. This study was drafted to establish a method to analyze embroidered reinforcement structures by optical measurement. A feasible base material had to be identified showing a high and isotropic elasticity assuring no influence on the measuring outcomes. A proper procedure had to be established to gain suitable data and to define significant criterions. An embroidered reinforcement pattern could be applied on an isotropic polyurethane foil (Ellastolan soft 45, BASF Polyurethanes, Germany) and tested in a biaxial texting device successfully in uni- and equibiaxial direction. The images could be edited with ARAMIS software, the deformation visualized and local strains determined. An optimum tuning for the ARAMIS parameters facet size and grid point distance could be identified. By placing section lines parallel to the x- and y- axis during deformation a medium strain could be calculated, allowing the quantification of an anisotropy criterion. A higher anisotropy of the reinforced embroidered samples compared to the plain foils could be proved. The measuring set-up established a method to evaluate the influence of different embroidered reinforcement patterns on the anisotropy of the base material.

We summarize the advantages and disadvantages of some of the most commonly used bioinks. We have probed the mechanical and cytotoxicity properties of Cellink and designed our own bioink from gelatin and Xanthan gum.

Electrical properties such as conductivity and permittivity of biological material have notable dependency on frequency. These frequency dependent changes in biomaterial properties can play a prominent role in impedance signature of Electrical Impedance Myography (EIM). EIM is a non-invasive painless four electrode measurement tool, measuring the impedance based on the response of the low amplitude alternating current. In this study, multifrequency Electrical impedance Myography assessment was performed using an applied range of frequencies for getting valuable insight of the biomaterials. In this paper, the objective of our study is to explore the effects of different sized malignant tumor in female breast tissue on the multi-frequency signature of EIM. In this study, a finite element model of a female breast has been developed based on electro-biophysical data for each malignant tissue within a frequency range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz and log frequency vs resistance and log frequency vs reactance of EIM have been analyzed for various sized tumor on breast. It is found that the slope of log reactance vs. frequency and resistance vs log frequency decrease with increasing tumor size. For instance, the percentage deviation of log reactance slope for 8 mm tumor and 6mm tumor from 2 mm (1mm radius) tumor size is 4.12% and 0.412% respectively. The study provides evidence that evaluation of the frequency dependent impedance data can provide rich assessment of the abnormal biological tissue.

Particular attention has been recently devoted to the development of biohybrid photoconverters based on the bacterial Reaction Center (RC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. This highly efficient photoenzyme has a conversion yield close to unit that makes it extremely appealing in the field of artificial photosynthesis. Isolated RCs suffer of a limited absorption cross-section in the visible spectral region that limits their applicative employment. Here we report the synthesis of two heptamethine cyanine molecules, whose photophysical properties make them potentially suitable as light harvesting antennas for the RC.

We have shown that molecular imprinting (MI) technology can be used to produce sensitive, robust, cost-effective biosensing systems with a real-time electrochemical readout that can be utilized for point of care diagnostics. Real time detection of biomarkers is essential when rapid, critical decisions need to be made, such as in situations where public health is threatened. Our biosensor has high sensitivity compared to standard methods like ELISA, and results are obtained within minutes, using inexpensive, accessible potentiometric readout technology. These biosensors utilize surface molecular imprinting of a self-assembling monolayer of hydroxy-terminated alkanethiol chains which form a crystalline ‘lock-and-key’ structure around a target analyte, allowing the sensors to detect and differentiate between bio-macromolecules of similar size and shape with high selectivity and sensitivity. The sensors are extremely versatile and able to detect a diverse range of molecules of varied chemical composition and structure. To fully exploit the sensors’ advantages, especially in remote, economically disadvantaged areas, it is important to quantify their durability and reusability. Biosensor chips were created to test the viability of hemoglobin detection and to evaluate the potential for sensor reusability when washed after detection testing. The successful readsorption of hemoglobin even after washing, accompanied by cyclic voltammetry data indicating the preservation of the SAM, indicate that these biosensors are reusable, significantly augmenting the device’s value. Potential applications include the analysis of complex chemical and biological processes such as stem cell differentiation and on-the-spot detection of diseases such as Zika.

The drying process, self-assembly of the proteins and the phase separation of a thermotropic liquid crystal (LC) from an initial aqueous solution represent a rich area of study. A focus of this work is to compare the behavior of two different proteins, bovine serum albumin [BSA] and lysozyme [Lys] in the ternary system through optical microscopy. During the drying process, the intensity profile shows three regimes in the presence of LC whereas no intensity variation is observed in its absence in both protein drops. The striking outcome is the presence of an umbilical defect of [+1] strength in every domain near the edge of BSA drop, whereas, each domain has a central dark region surrounded by a bright region in the dried Lys drop. Finally, the crack spacing in the dried Lys drop is reduced in the presence of LC whereas, no significant difference is found in the dried BSA drop.