Acknowledegements

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my profound thanks to Prof. Dr. Daniel Müller, who gave me the invaluable educational opportunity at the Cellular Machines Lab, BIOZ. Prof. Dr. Daniel Müller has encouraged me to open my mind to new challenges, and a competitive team work. Being in a competitive lab environment, with his other brilliant PhD students increased my enthusiasm to learn as much as possible. I am grateful to Prof. Dr. Müller for letting me to experience a great research environment in his distinguished lab.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to Susanne Wegmann for her invaluable instructions and suggestions. Susanne Wegmann´s high level of professionalism and commitment as a PhD student are her valuable assets. She has given me the idea of combining my medicine and molecular bioengineering knowledge to deal with AFM images. Her experience in the field and her kindness to teach have made valuable contributions to this research.

            I would like to thank Arch. Joanna Lorenc for her kind contributions to the processing of the AFM pictures.

            I would like to thank Prof. Dr. Sadik Ersöz and Prof. Dr. Nejat Akar from Ankara University School of Medicine for supporting me for my studies in Germany.

This thesis is dedicated to my family, my father Arch. Hüseyin Yüksel, my mother Prof. Dr. Öznur Yüksel and my sister PhD student Seniha Esen Yüksel, MSc. I can not thank them enough, but shall remain grateful for all they have done.