Anna Kanciurzewska

Control of neural stem cell adhesion and density by an electronic polymer surface switch.

Adhesion is an essential parameter for stem cells. It regulates the overall cell density along the carrying surface, which further dictates the differentiation scheme of stem cells toward a more matured and specified population as well as tissue. Electronic control of the seeding density of neural stem cells (c17.2) is here reported. Thin electrode films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT):Tosylate were manufactured along the floor of cell growth dishes. As the oxidation state of the conjugated polymer electrodes was controlled, the seeding density could be varied by a factor of 2. Along the oxidized PEDOT:Tosylate-electrodes, a relatively lower density of, and less tightly bonded, human serum albumin (HSA) was observed as compared to reduced electrodes. We found that this favors adhesion of the specific stem cells studied. Surface analysis experiments, such as photoelectron spectroscopy, and water contact angle measurements, were carried out to investigate the mechanisms responsible for the electronic control of the seeding density of the c17.2 neural stem cells. Further, our findings may provide an opening for electronic control of stem cell differentiation.

Air-stable organic-based semiconducting room temperature thin film magnet for spintronics applications

Herein, we report on a preparation method of vanadium tetracyanoethylene, V(TCNE)x, an organic-based semiconducting room temperature thin film magnet. Previously, this compound has been reported to be extremely air sensitive but this preparation method leads to V(TCNE)x, which can retain its magnetic ordering at least several weeks in air. The electronic structure has been studied by photoelectron spectroscopy and the magnetic properties by superconducting quantum interference device. The properties mentioned above, in combination with complete spin polarization, makes this air-stable V(TCNE)x a very promising material for spintronic devices.

Ferromagnetism above room temperature in nickel–tetracyanoethylene thin films

Room temperature ferromagnetic ordering is reported in Ni–tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) thin films fabricated on Au substrates using physical vapor deposition (PVD) under ultra high vacuum conditions. This technique enables the preparation of very clean films without having any kind of contamination from oxygen-containing species, solvents or precursor molecules. Film stoichiometry was obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. XPS derived stoichiometry points to a ∼1 : 2 ratio between Ni and TCNE resulting in Ni(TCNE)x, x ≈ 2. No evidence of pure Ni metal in the in situ grown films was present in the XPS or the ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) measurements within the detection limits of the techniques.