RESUMO
Modern biomedical technologies predict the application of materials and devices that not only can comply effectively with specific requirements, but also enable remote control of their functions. One of the most prospective materials for these advanced biomedical applications are materials based on temperature-responsive polymer brush coatings (TRPBCs). In this review, methods for the fabrication and characterization of TRPBCs are summarized, and possibilities for their application, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the TRPBCs, are presented in detail. Special attention is paid to the mechanisms of thermo-responsibility of the TRPBCs. Applications of TRPBCs for temperature-switchable bacteria killing, temperature-controlled protein adsorption, cell culture, and temperature-controlled adhesion/detachment of cells and tissues are considered. The specific criteria required for the desired biomedical applications of TRPBCs are presented and discussed.
RESUMO
In the present work we suggest an original ellipsometric technique for independently determining strongly correlated refractive index and thickness of transparent ultrathin films. We demonstrate significant accuracy improvement for the single-wavelength null-ellipsometry measurements when using multiple incidence angles for the system "transparent film on a transparent substrate" studied in the thickness range of 1.0-20.0 nm and the low-contrast region for the film-substrate surface. A straightforward relationship is obtained between the refractive index n(1) of the transparent film and the incidence angle φ. It follows from invariability ensured for the amplitude ellipsometric parameter Ψ with respect to the film thickness changes.
