Mattias Östblom

Growth, structure, and mechanical properties of CNxHy films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering in N2/Ar/H2 discharges

Hydrogenated carbon nitride films were deposited by reactive dc magnetron sputtering in mixed Ar/N2/H2 discharges at temperatures of 100 and 350 °C. The total pressure was kept constant at 0.33 Pa and the gas mixtures were varied in order to study the effect of the hydrogen on the resulting film structure and properties. Chemical sputtering effects taking place during deposition were found to be an important factor for the growth and structural evolution. When H2 is mixed into the discharge gas, the growth rate decreases considerably and the films become denser due to desorption of volatile species, like hydrocarbons, NH3 and HCN. For a H2 fraction above 15%, no net film growth takes place. The hydrogen concentration incorporated into the films was highest (up to ∼33 at. %) for low growth temperatures and low nitrogen concentrations. Furthermore, the results indicate that substantial amount of hydrogen are bonded to nitrogen. The incorporation of hydrogen in the structure interrupts the relatively long ba...

Cytocidal effects of atheromatous plaque components: The death zone revisited

Objective: Earlier we suggested that atheroma lesions constitute a “death zone” containing toxic materials that may cause dysfunction and demise of invading macrophages to prevent the removal of plaque materials. Here we have assessed the cytotoxic effects of nonfractionated gruel and insoluble (ceroid‐like) material derived from advanced human atheroma. Methods and Results: The insoluble material within advanced atherosclerotic plaque was isolated following protease K digestion and extensive extraction with aqueous and organic solvents. FTIR, Raman, and atomic absorption spectroscopy suggested that, despite its fluorescent nature, this material closely resembled hydroxyapatite and dentin, but also contained a significant amount of iron and calcium. When added to J774 cells and human macrophages in culture, this insoluble substance was phagocytosed, and progressive cell death followed. However, an even more cytotoxic activity was found in the atheromatous “gruel” that contains abundant carbonyls/aldehydes. Cell death caused by both crude gruel and ceroid could be blocked by preincubating cells with the lipophilic iron chelator salicylaldehyde isonicotinoyl hydrazone, apoferritin, BAPTA/AM, or sodium borohydride, indicating that cellular iron, calcium, and reactive aldehyde(s) are responsible for the observed cytotoxicity. Conclusions: Toxic materials within atheromatous lesions include both ceroid and even more cytotoxic lipidaceous materials. The cytotoxic effects of these plaque components may help explain the persistence of atherosclerotic lesions.—Li, W., Östblom, M., Xu, L‐H., Hellsten, A., Leanderson, P., Liedberg, B., Brunk, U. T., Eaton, J. W., Yuan, X‐M. Cytocidal effects of atheromatous plaque components: the death zone revisited. FASEB J. 20, 2281–2290 (2006)

Anomalous settlement behavior of Ulva linza zoospores on cationic oligopeptide surfaces

Identification of settlement cues for marine fouling organisms opens up new strategies and methods for biofouling prevention, and enables the development of more effective antifouling materials. To this end, the settlement behaviour of zoospores of the green alga Ulva linza onto cationic oligopeptide self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) has been investigated. The spores interact strongly with lysine- and arginine-rich SAMs, and their settlement appears to be stimulated by these surfaces. Of particular interest is an arginine-rich oligopeptide, which is effective in attracting spores to the surface, but in a way which leaves a large fraction of the settled spores attached to the surface in an anomalous fashion. These ‘pseudo-settled’ spores are relatively easily detached from the surface and do not undergo the full range of cellular responses associated with normal commitment to settlement. This is a hitherto undocumented mode of settlement, and surface dilution of the arginine-rich peptide with a neutral triglycine peptide demonstrates that both normal and anomalous settlement is proportional to the surface density of the arginine-rich peptide. The settlement experiments are complemented with physical studies of the oligopeptide SAMs, before and after extended immersion in artificial seawater, using infrared spectroscopy, null ellipsometry and contact angle measurements.

Synthesis and mechanical properties of boron suboxide thin films

The synthesis and mechanical properties of boron suboxide thin films deposited on silicon and graphite substrates was discussed. The deposition was performed using reactive magnetron sputtering tec ...

Structural and kinetic properties of laterally stabilized, oligo(ethylene glycol)-containing alkylthiolates on gold: A modular approach

The formation of highly ordered self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold from an unusually long and linear compound HS(CH2)15CONH(CH2CH2O)6CH2CONH(CH2)15CH3 is investigated by contact angle goniometry, ex situ null ellipsometry, cyclic voltammetry and infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. The molecules are found to assemble in an upright position as a complete monolayer within 60 min. The overall structure of the SAM reaches equilibrium within 24 h as evidenced by infrared spectroscopy, although a slight improvement in water contact angles is observed over a period of a few weeks. The resulting SAM is 60 Å thick and it displays an advancing water contact angle of 112° and excellent electrochemical blocking characteristics with typical current densities about 20 times lower as compared to those observed for HS(CH2)15CH3 SAMs. The dominating crystalline phases of the supporting HS(CH2)15 and terminal (CH2)15CH3 alkyl portions, as well as the sealed oligo(ethylene glycol) (OEG) “core,” appear as unusually sharp features in the infrared spectra at room temperature. For example, the splitting seen for the CH3 stretching and CH2 scissoring peaks is normally only observed for conformationally trapped alkylthiolate SAMs at low temperatures and for highly crystalline polymethylenes. Temperature-programmed infrared spectroscopy in ultrahigh vacuum reveals a significantly improved thermal stability of the SAM under investigation, as compared to two analogous OEG derivatives without the extended alkyl chain. Our study points out the advantages of adopting a “modular approach” in designing novel SAM-forming compounds with precisely positioned in plane stabilizing groups. We demonstrate also the potential of using the above set of compounds in the fabrication of “hydrogel-like” arrays with controlled wetting properties for application in the ever-growing fields of protein and cell analysis, as well as for bioanalytical applications.