Thesis-PDF - IAP/TU Wien

them captive. Later Leonardo da Vinci fills whole notebooks with his sketches of
bird flight maneuvers, making detailed observations of how birds execute turns,
noting their wing and tail postures. He used these then to devise novel concepts for
man-carrying machines (see Fig. 1.2) and devices for the testing of wings. Then
Figure 1.2: To the left a part of a flight machine sketch of Leonardo da
Vinci. To the right a bird wing study of Otto Lilienthal. Images adapted
from [9]
other inventors like Sir George Cayley (1773-1857), Otto Lilienthal (1848-96) and
the Wright brothers Orville and Wilbur (1871–1948, 1867–1912), also deduced key
principles of flight from their studies of birds ([10]). The winglet, an inspiration
drawn from bird flight, was already invented in 1897. It can be described as small
fin sticking straight up on the wingtip of many modern airplanes and considerably
helps reducing fuel consumption ([11]).
This work investigates such a promising system - the alga Euglena gracilis,
exhibiting many properties with high potential interest for nanotechnological applications.
How nanotechnology can be characterized and some of its main aspects are
discussed in the second chapter (3).
The third chapter (3) deals with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Techniques
are explained and classified, with a focus on the application to biological systems.
The biological system Euglena gracilis is investigated in chapter 4. The description
focuses on its morphology in respect to structure, organization and function.
Subsystems of the alga are evaluated regarding their potential as templates
and idea supply for man-made nanotechnological applications.
The experimental part of this work is divided into two chapters. The setup of
the experiments as well as the methods of investigation used is presented in chapter
5. This includes how the algal cultures had to be kept under laboratory conditions,
how they were collected, treated and prepared and how the AFM investigations
were carried out. A preparation method for atomic force microscopy investigation
12