High resolution study of local stress inside alumina - micro mechanical analysis using laser scanning confocal microscope

The aim of this work is to measure the stress inside a hard micro object under extreme compression. To measure the internal stress, we compressed ruby spheres (a-Al2O3: Cr3+, 150 µm diameter) between two sapphire plates. Ruby fluorescence spectrum shifts to longer wavelengths under compression and can be related to the internal stress by a conversion coefficient. A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to excite and collect fluorescence at desired local spots inside the ruby sphere with spatial resolution of about 1 µm3. Under static external loads, the stress distribution within the center plane of the ruby sphere was measured directly for the first time. The result agreed to Hertz’s law. The stress across the contact area showed a hemispherical profile. The measured contact radius was in accord with the calculation by Hertz’s equation. Stress-load curves showed spike-like decrease after entering non-elastic phase, indicating the formation and coalescence of microcracks, which led to relaxing of stress. In the vicinity of the contact area luminescence spectra with multiple peaks were observed. This indicated the presence of domains of different stress, which were mechanically decoupled. Repeated loading cycles were applied to study the fatigue of ruby at the contact region. Progressive fatigue was observed when the load exceeded 1 N. As long as the load did not exceed 2 N stress-load curves were still continuous and could be described by Hertz’s law with a reduced Young’s modulus. Once the load exceeded 2 N, periodical spike-like decreases of the stress could be observed, implying a “memory effect” under repeated loading cycles. Vibration loading with higher frequencies was applied by a piezo. Redistributions of intensity on the fluorescence spectra were observed and it was attributed to the repopulation of the micro domains of different elasticity. Two stages of under vibration loading were suggested. In the first stage continuous damage carried on until certain limit, by which the second stage, e.g. breakage, followed in a discontinuous manner.

Non-contact laser-scanning confocal microscopy of the human cornea in vivo

PURPOSE To investigate the utility of using non-contact laser-scanning confocal microscopy (NC-LSCM), compared with the more conventional contact laser-scanning confocal microscopy (C-LSCM), for examining corneal substructures in vivo. METHODS An attempt was made to capture representative images from the tear film and all layers of the cornea of a healthy, 35 year old female, using both NC-LSCM and C-LSCM, on separate days. RESULTS Using NC-LSCM, good quality images were obtained of the tear film, stroma, and a section of endothelium, but the corneal depth of the images of these various substructures could not be ascertained. Using C-LSCM, good quality, full-field images were obtained of the epithelium, subbasal nerve plexus, stroma, and endothelium, and the corneal depth of each of the captured images could be ascertained. CONCLUSIONS NC-LSCM may find general use for clinical examination of the tear film, stroma and endothelium, with the caveat that the depth of stromal images cannot be determined when using this technique. This technique also facilitates image capture of oblique sections of multiple corneal layers. The inability to clearly and consistently image thin corneal substructures - such as the tear film, subbasal nerve plexus and endothelium - is a key limitation of NC-LSCM.

Assessment of conjunctival goblet cell density using laser scanning confocal microscopy versus impression cytology

Purpose To determine the association between conjunctival goblet cell density (GCD) assessed using in vivo laser scanning confocal microscopy and conjunctival impression cytology in a healthy population. Methods Ninety (90) healthy participants undertook a validated 5-item dry eye questionnaire, non-invasive tear film break-up time measurement, ocular surface fluorescein staining and phenol red thread test. These tests where undertaken to diagnose and exclude participants with dry eye. The nasal bulbar conjunctiva was imaged using laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). Conjunctival impression cytology (CIC) was performed in the same region a few minutes later. Conjunctival goblet cell density was calculated as cells/mm2. Results There was a strong positive correlation of conjunctival GCD between LSCM and CIC (ρ = 0.66). Conjunctival goblet cell density was 475 ± 41 cells/mm2 and 466 ± 51 cells/mm2 measured by LSCM and CIC, respectively. Conclusions The strong association between in vivo and in vitro cellular analysis for measuring conjunctival GCD suggests that the more invasive CIC can be replaced by the less invasive LSCM in research and clinical practice.

Role of MMP9 on Invadopodia Formation in Cells From Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Study by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy

Migration, invasion and protease activity are essential for tumor progression and metastasis. Metastatic cells rely on invadopodia to degrade and invade extracellular matrix (ECM). Invadopodia are membrane protrusions with enzymes required for ECM degradation. These protrusions contain cortactin and membrane type I matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) superimposed to areas of digested matrix. Here we characterized invadopodia in a cell line (CAC2) derived from human adenoid cystic carcinoma. We carried out fluorescent-substrate degradation assay to assess in situ protease activity of CAC2 cells. Digestion spots in fluorescent substrate appear as black areas in green background. Cells were cultured on Matrigel-gelatin-FITC and fixed after 1 h and 3 h. CAC2 cells were double labeled to actin and cortactin. Cells were also double stained to actin and MT1-MMR Samples were studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy. In all time points CAC2 cells showed actin, cortactin, and MT1-MMP colocalized with digestion spots in fluorescent substrate. We searched for other proteases involved in invadopodia activity. We have previously demonstrated that MMP9 influences adenoid cystic carcinoma behavior. This prompted us to investigate role played by MMP9 on invadopodia formation. CAC2 cells had MMP9 silenced by siRNA. After I h in fluorescent substrate, cells with silenced MMP9 showed clear decrease in matrix digestion compared with controls. No differences were found in cells with silenced MMP9 grown for 3 h on fluorescent substrate. Our results showed that CAC2 cells exhibit functional invadopodia containing cortactin and MT1-MMR Furthermore, MMP9 would be required in the initial steps of invadopodia formation. Microsc. Res. Tech. 73:99-108, 2010. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Diffusion in heterogeneous systems studied by laser scanning confocal microscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Understanding and controlling the mechanism of the diffusion of small molecules, macromolecules and nanoparticles in heterogeneous environments is of paramount fundamental and technological importance. The aim of the thesis is to show, how by studying the tracer diffusion in complex systems, one can obtain information about the tracer itself, and the system where the tracer is diffusing. rnIn the first part of my thesis I will introduce the Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) which is a powerful tool to investigate the diffusion of fluorescent species in various environments. By using the main advantage of FCS namely the very small probing volume (<1µm3) I was able to track the kinetics of phase separation in polymer blends at late stages by looking on the molecular tracer diffusion in individual domains of the heterogeneous structure of the blend. The phase separation process at intermediate stages was monitored with laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) in real time providing images of droplet coalescence and growth. rnIn a further project described in my thesis I will show that even when the length scale of the heterogeneities becomes smaller than the FCS probing volume one can still obtain important microscopic information by studying small tracer diffusion. To do so, I will introduce a system of star shaped polymer solutions and will demonstrate that the mobility of small molecular tracers on microscopic level is nearly not affected by the transition of the polymer system to a “glassy” macroscopic state. rnIn the last part of the thesis I will introduce and describe a new stimuli responsive system which I have developed, that combines two levels of nanoporosity. The system is based on poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM) and silica inverse opals (iOpals), and allows controlling the diffusion of tracer molecules. rn

Interfacial microrheology as a tool to study viscoelastic transitions in nanoconfined soft matter

We present a method to perform in situ microrheological measurements on monolayers of soft materials undergoing viscoelastic transitions under compression. Using the combination of a Langmuir trough mounted on the inverted microscope stage of a laser scanning confocal microscope we track the motion of individual fluorescent quantum dots partly dispersed in monolayers spread at the air-water interface. From the calculated mean square displacement of the probe particles and extending a well established scheme of the generalized Stokes-Einstein relation in bulk to the interface we arrive at the viscoelastic modulus for the respective monolayers as a function of surface density. Measurements on monolayers of glassy as well as nonglassy polymers and a standard fatty acid clearly show sensitivity of our technique to subtle variations, in the viscoelastic properties of the highly confined materials under compression. Evidence for possible spatial variations of such viscoelastic properties at a given surface density for the fatty acid monolayer is also provided.

Interfacial microrheology as a tool to study viscoelastic transitions in nanoconfined soft matter

We present a method to perform in situ microrheological measurements on monolayers of soft materials undergoing viscoelastic transitions under compression. Using the combination of a Langmuir trough mounted on the inverted microscope stage of a laser scanning confocal microscope we track the motion of individual fluorescent quantum dots partly dispersed in monolayers spread at the air-water interface. From the calculated mean square displacement of the probe particles and extending a well established scheme of the generalized Stokes-Einstein relation in bulk to the interface we arrive at the viscoelastic modulus for the respective monolayers as a function of surface density. Measurements on monolayers of glassy as well as nonglassy polymers and a standard fatty acid clearly show sensitivity of our technique to subtle variations, in the viscoelastic properties of the highly confined materials under compression. Evidence for possible spatial variations of such viscoelastic properties at a given surface density for the fatty acid monolayer is also provided.

Análise da expressão de laminina durante o transplante de células mononucleares de medula óssea em ratos hepatectomizados

A medula óssea adulta possui duas populações de células-tronco importantes no tratamento de diversas doenças hepáticas: células-tronco hematopoiéticas (CTHs) e células-tronco mesenquimais. A regeneração do fígado após a hepatectomia é um processo complexo que requer a proliferação de todas as células hepáticas. Fatores de crescimento, citocinas e componentes da matriz extracelular são elementos-chave nesse processo. As lamininas são uma família de proteínas de matriz extracelular, com funções adesivas e quimiotáticas pelo recrutamento de integrinas e outros receptores de superfície celular. No fígado normal, a laminina é expressa nas veias porta e centrolobular. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a expressão de laminina durante a regeneração hepática induzida por hepatectomia parcial e após o transplante de células mononucleares de medula óssea. As células mononucleares de medula óssea foram obtidas dos fêmures e tíbias de ratos, isoladas, marcadas com DAPI e injetadas pela veia porta em ratos recém-hepatectomizados. Os fígados foram coletados 15 minutos, 1 dia e 3 dias após a hepatectomia e o transplante de células de medula óssea e congelados. Os cortes foram imunomarcados com anticorpos primários anti-CD34 e anti-laminina de rato e observados em microscópio confocal de varredura a laser. Os resultados mostraram que 15 minutos após a hepatectomia parcial, as células-tronco hematopoiéticas CD34+ transplantadas foram encontradas em contato com a laminina localizada nas veias porta e centrolobular, indicando que a laminina poderia participar na adesão inicial das células-tronco a esses vasos logo após o seu transplante. Além disso, 1 e 3 dias após a hepatectomia, as células mononucleares de medula óssea transplantadas foram observadas nos sinusóides hepáticos expressando laminina. Esses resultados sugerem que a laminina pode ser um componente da matriz extracelular importante para a adesão e enxerto de células de medula óssea no fígado após uma lesão. Nós também analisamos a expressão de osteopontina (OPN) em células de medula óssea e CTHs. Os resultados por microscopia confocal demonstraram que a maioria das células mononucleares de medula óssea recém-isoladas expressa quantidades variáveis de OPN. Além disso, algumas CTHs CD34+ também expressam OPN. Após 1 e 4 dias de cultura, observamos uma diminuição de células expressando CD34, e um aumento na expressão de OPN pelas células mononucleares de medula óssea.

松杉类植物花粉发育和传粉生物学的研究

本文用光学显微镜结合荧光技术对青扦花粉的发育过程进行了观察;用共聚焦显微镜观察了白扦生长花粉管细胞内的游离Ca2+分布;利用原子力显微镜对雪松和水杉花粉外壁的亚结构进行了研究：用透射电镜、扫描电镜及解剖镜等技术研究了侧柏、北美香柏、红豆杉、粗榧和白皮松的传粉机制，结果如下。 青扦花粉的发育过程与松科其它一些植物花粉的发育模式相似。从小孢子母细胞到成熟花粉约二十天左右。小孢子母细胞进入减数分裂前彼此分开，但在某些部位仍有连接。细胞质内有大量淀粉粒，在减数分裂过程中减少或消失，没有观察到明显的淀粉粒带。减数分裂中的胞质分裂为同时型，四分体为四面体型。小孢子刚从四分体释放出来时，气囊已开始形成，细胞中含大量淀粉粒。随着小孢子的发育，其体积增大，并出现液泡，细胞核移向一侧。小孢子第一次不对称分裂产生一个大的中央细胞和一个小的原叶细胞。中央细胞不久就进行第二次分裂产生精子器原始细胞和第二原叶细胞。原叶细胞形成后，其与中央细胞或精子器原始细胞之间的壁逐渐沉积胼胝质，以后随着原叶细胞的退化，胼胝质壁消失。精子器原始细胞分裂形成管细胞和生殖细胞，生殖细胞在散粉前分裂形成体细胞（精原细胞）和柄细胞（不育细胞）。成熟花粉为5细胞，但两个原叶细胞已退化消失。 白扦花粉在10%蔗糖+0.01%硼酸的液体培养基内培养12小时后开始萌发。在正常生长的花粉管中，其顶端有一个透明区，而透明区后则含有大量的贮藏物质颗粒。在停止生长的花粉管中透明区消失，而整个花粉管顶端也被储藏物质颗粒充满。正常生长的花粉管顶端有一个较高的Ca2+浓度。在停止生长的花粉管内不具有这样一个Ca2+梯度。 雪松和水杉二种花粉外壁中由孢粉素构成的亚结构单位形态相似，均呈颗粒状，但大小略有不同。雪松的长56-99 nm，宽42-74;水杉的长81-118 nm，宽43-98 nm。在雪松中这些亚单位紧密排列组成短棒状或球状的花粉外壁结构单位，再由几个到十几个这样的结构单位组成较大的岛屿状结构。在这些岛屿状结构之间有大小不一的空隙存在，整个花粉外壁由这样一些岛屿状结构交互连接形成。水杉花粉外壁的亚单位排列也较紧密，且有3-10个成群分布的趋势，但各群之间界限不明显。此外，雪松和水杉的花粉外壁亚单位均无螺旋状排列趋势，这一结果倾向于支持Southworth关于花粉外壁亚单位颗粒状并呈网状排列的观点。 白皮松胚珠倒生，其发育过程与松属的其它种相似，成熟胚珠珠孔端具两手臂状结构，有利于接收花粉。花粉具气囊。传粉期间，没有观察到传粉滴产生，但珠心顶端细胞解体形成花粉室。花粉室内可接受一至几个花粉，花粉在花粉室内的位置无明方向性。传粉时，胚珠处于大孢子线细胞时期。花粉在花粉室内萌发形成花粉管进入珠心组织，花粉管在珠心内生长一段时间后停止生长，并于次年春天重新启动生长。离体生长的花粉管顶端常有胼胝质产生，但顶端区域后的花粉管壁上却无胼胝质沉积。 侧柏、北美香柏、红豆杉和粗榧均为直生胚珠。传粉时胚珠产生传粉滴。在红豆杉胚珠发育早期，珠心表面细胞轮廓清晰;而在后期，其珠心表面则形成了一层膜状结构。这层膜状结构在传粉前随珠心细胞的解体而破裂，珠心细胞的降解产物参与了传粉滴形成。在传粉前和传粉期，珠心细胞内含大量的线粒体、内质网、高尔基体和小泡。传粉滴主要由珠心细胞分泌形成。这四种植物的花粉均无气囊，属可湿性花粉。红豆杉和粗榧的花粉水合时，内壁膨胀，外壁开裂。通常情况下，红豆杉花粉的外壁保留在传粉滴的表面，而花粉的其它部分沉入传粉滴内。侧柏和北美香柏的传粉滴授粉后，花粉进入传粉滴导致传粉滴的明显收缩。在侧柏中传粉滴授粉后100分钟内就完全收缩进入珠孔。传粉滴收缩的速率与所授花粉数量和花粉的种类有关。与侧柏亲缘关系较近植物花粉引起传粉滴的收缩速率和侧柏自身花粉引起的传粉滴收缩速率相似;反之，收缩速率变慢。侧柏传粉滴的收缩可能主要是由于花粉减弱胚珠分泌的结果。但授粉不引起红豆杉和粗榧传粉滴的明显收缩。在红豆杉和粗榧中，从授粉到传粉完全收缩需要20-24小时。这两种植物传粉滴的收缩可能主要是蒸发引起的非代谢性过程，与侧柏和美香柏属于不同的传粉滴收缩机制。

口腔移植材料与成骨细胞相容性的激光共聚焦显微镜观察

下载PDF阅读器目的:观察不同处理的钛金属表面与成骨细胞的生物相容性.方法:利用共聚焦显微镜荧光信号通过物镜返回光电倍增管成像的原理,获取不透光的钛金属表面图像,对钛金属表面(打磨、喷砂、喷砂酸蚀表面)接种的成骨细胞骨架进行荧光标记,并用共聚焦显微镜获取荧光图像,观察细胞和钛金属表面的生物相容性,并且通过逐渐深入的多层扫描,探索细胞和移植材料结合的进一步信息.结果:喷砂表面适合成骨细胞的贴附和生长.结论: 钛金属与成骨细胞的结合情况主要与金属表面的物理形态有关.

Estudo do desempenho de filmes de Ti02 como aceptor de elétrons e obtenção de fases puras de nanopartículas de Ti02: anatase e rutila, sintetizado por uma nova rota química

Pós-graduação em Ciência dos Materiais - FEIS

Untersuchungen zum nichtphotochemischen Lochbrennen auf Einzelmolekülebene am Modellsystem Terrylen in p-Terphenyl

Die Arbeit beschreibt Untersuchungen zum nichtphoto- chemischen Lochbrennen, das bei 1.4 Kelvin in Form von rein lichtinduzierten Frequenzsprüngen einzelner in p-Terphenyleingebetteter Terrylenmoleküle beobachtet werden kann. Dabei zeigen alle Chromophore aus der X1-Einbaulage ein exzellent reproduzierbares Verhalten, sowohl im bistabilen primären Photozyklus wie auch in dem daran angegliederten sekundärenPhotozyklus, welcher aus drei weiteren spektralen Positionen besteht. Aus den Ergebnissen der nach der genauen Charakterisierung dieser Eigenschaft des Systems durchgeführten Experimente - Fluoreszenzspektroskopie der Photoprodukte, Stark-Effekt-Messungen und Polarisationsmodulation - wird ein Modell für die den lichtinduzierten Änderungen der Absorptionsfrequenzzugrundeliegenden Konformationsänderungender Wirt/Gast- Struktur abgeleitet und diskutiert. Die mittlerweile verfügbaren Ergebnisse von diesbezüglichen molekular- dynamischen Simulationen einer Theoriegruppe ausBordeaux, die alle grundlegenden Annahmen dieses Modellsbestätigen und eine noch genauere mikroskopische Beschreibung des Systems liefern, werden zur Abrundung der Darstellung ebenfalls vorgestellt. Außerdem geht die Dissertation auf die durchgeführten Einzelmolekül- untersuchungen an Terrylen in p-Terphenyl bei Raumtemperatur ein und stellt das im Rahmen der Arbeit aufgebaute temperaturvariable laserscannende Konfokalmikroskop im Detail vor.

The applicability of hematoxylin-eosin staining plus fluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy to the study of elastic fibers in cartilages

This study focuses on the use of hemotoxylin-eosin staining plus fluorescence microscopy for the investigation of elastic fibers in some elastic cartilages. We have observed that elastic fibers are consistently imaged by the proposed procedure and the resolution attained is similar to that obtained with the classical Weigert's fuchsin-resorcin. The results also demonstrate that elastin autofluorescence gives little or no contribution to the final fluorescence and that the use of the confocal laser scanning microscope adds to the resolution, permits the use of thicker sections and reveals of minute structural features. We conclude that this is a relevant tool in elastin research.

Fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging of elastic fibers in hematoxylin-eosin stained sections

We have studied the possibility of associating fluorescence microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining for the identification of elastic fibers in elastin-rich tissues. Elastic fibers and elastic laminae were consistently identified by the proposed procedure, which revealed itself to be easy and useful for the determination of such structures and their distribution. The fluorescence properties of stained elastic fibers are due to eosin staining as revealed by fluorescence analysis of the dye in solution, with no or only minor contribution by the elastin autofluorescence. The main advantage of this technique resides in the possibility of studying the distribution of elastic fibers in file material without further sectioning and staining. The use of the confocal laser scanning microscope greatly improved the resolution and selectivity of imaging elastic fibers in different tissues. The determination of the three-dimensional distribution and structure of elastic fiber and laminae using the confocal laser scanning microscope was evaluated and also produced excellent results.