Computational studies on the structure and stabilities of magnetic inter-metallic compounds

The purpose of this thesis is to further the understanding of the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of ternary inter-metallic compounds using density functional theory (DFT). Four main problems are addressed. First, a detailed analysis on the ternary Heusler compounds is made. It has long been known that many Heusler compounds ($X_2YZ$; $X$ and $Y$ transition elements, $Z$ main group element) exhibit interesting half-metallic and ferromagnetic properties. In order to understand these, the dependence of magnetic and electronic properties on the structural parameters, the type of exchange-correlation functional and electron-electron correlation was examined. It was found that almost all Co$_2YZ$ Heusler compounds exhibit half-metallic ferromagnetism. It is also observed that $X$ and $Y$ atoms mainly contribute to the total magnetic moment. The magnitude of the total magnetic moment is determined only indirectly by the nature of $Z$ atoms, and shows a trend consistent with Slater-Pauling behaviour in several classes of these compounds. In contrast to experiments, calculations give a non-integer value of the magnetic moment in certain Co$_2$-based Heusler compounds. To explain deviations of the calculated magnetic moment, the LDA+$U$ scheme was applied and it was found that the inclusion of electron-electron correlation beyond the LSDA and GGA is necessary to obtain theoretical description of some Heusler compounds that are half-metallic ferromagnets. The electronic structure and magnetic properties of substitutional series of the quaternary Heusler compound Co$_2$Mn$_{1-x}$Fe$_x$Si were investigated under LDA+$U$. The calculated band structure suggest that the most stable compound in a half-metallic state will occur at an intermediate Fe concentration. These calculated findings are qualitatively confirmed by experimental studies. Second, the effect of antisite disordering in the Co$_2$TiSn system was investigated theoretically as well as experimentally. Preservation of half-metallicity for Co$_2$TiSn was observed with moderate antisite disordering and experimental findings suggest that the Co and Ti antisites disorder amounts to approximately 10~% in the compound. Third, a systematic examination was carried out for band gaps and the nature (covalent or ionic) of bonding in semiconducting 8- and 18-electron or half-metallic ferromagnet half-Heusler compounds. It was found that the most appropriate description of these compounds from the viewpoint of electronic structures is one of a $YZ$ zinc blende lattice stuffed by the $X$ ion. Simple valence rules are obeyed for bonding in the 8- and 18-electron compounds. Fourth, hexagonal analogues of half-Heusler compounds have been searched. Three series of compounds were investigated: GdPdSb, GdAutextit{X} (textit{X} = Mn, Cd and In) and EuNiP. GdPdSb is suggested as a possible half-metallic weak ferromagnet at low temperature. GdAutextit{X} (textit{X} = Mn, Cd and In) and EuNiP were investigated because they exhibit interesting bonding, structural and magnetic properties. The results qualitatively confirm experimental studies on magnetic and structural behaviour in GdPdSb, GdAutextit{X} (textit{X} = Mn, Cd and In) and EuNiP compounds. ~

Differentiation and extracellular matrix interactions of chondrocytes in response to signaling molecules and biomaterials for cartilage repair = Differenzierung und Interaktionen von Chondrozyten mit der extrazellulären Matrix als Reaktion auf Signalmoleküle und Biomaterialien für die Wiederinstandsetzung von Knorpel

Chondrocytes live isolated in the voluminous extracellular matrix of cartilage, which they secrete and is neither vascularized nor innervated. Nutrient and waste exchanges occur through diffusion leading to low oxygen tension around the cells. Consequently even normal cartilage under normal physiological conditions suffers from a poor reparative potential that predisposes to degenerative conditions, such as osteoarthritis of the joints, with significant clinical effects.rnOne of the key challenges in medicine is the structural and functional replacement of lost or damaged tissues. Current therapeutical approaches are to transplant cells, implant bioartificial tissues, and chemically induce regeneration at the site of the injury. None of them reproduces well the biological and biomechanical properties of hyaline cartilage.rnThis thesis investigates the re-differentiation of chondrocytes and the repair of cartilage mediated by signaling molecules, biomaterials, and factors provided in mixed cellular cultures (co-culture systems). As signaling molecules we have applied prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1) and we have transfected chondrocytes with BMP-1 expressing vectors. Our biomaterials have been hydrogels of type-I collagen and gelatin-based scaffolds designed to mimic the architecture and biochemistry of native cartilage and provide a suitable three-dimensional environment for the cells. We have brought chondrocytes to interact with osteosarcoma Cal 72 cells or with murine preosteoblastic KS483 cells, either in a cell-to-cell or in a paracrine manner.rnExogenous stimulation with PGE2 or BMP-1 did not improve the differentiation or the proliferation of human articular chondrocytes. BMP-1 induced chondrocytic de-differentiation in a dose-dependent manner. Prostaglandin stimulation from gelatin-based scaffolds (three-dimensional culture) showed a certain degree of chondrocyte re-differentiaton. Murine preosteoblastic KS483 cells had no beneficial effect on human articular chondrocytes jointly cultivated with them in hydrogels of type I collagen. Although the hydrogels provided the chondrocytes with a proper matrix in which the cells adopted their native morphology; additionally, the expression of chondrocytic proteoglycan increased in the co-cultures after two weeks. The co-culture of chondrocytes with osteoblast-like cells (in transwell systems) resulted in suppression of the regular de-differentiation program that passaged chondrocytes undergo when cultured in monolayers. Under these conditions, the extracellular matrix of the chondrocytes, rich in type-II collagen and aggrecan, was not transformed into the extracellular matrix characteristic of de-differentiated human articular chondrocytes, which is rich in type-I collagen and versican.rnThis thesis suggests novel strategies of tissue engineering for clinical attempts to improve cartilage repair. Since implants are prepared in vitro (ex-vivo) by expanding human articular chondrocytes (autologous or allogeneic), we conclude that it will be convenient to provide a proper three-dimensional support to the chondrocytes in culture, to supplement the culture medium with PGE2, and to stimulate chondrocytes with osteoblastic factors by cultivating them with osteoblasts.rn