A utilização de polímeros biocompatíveis na formulação de partículas carreadoras de fármacos visando a redução da toxicidade, o controle da taxa de liberação ou o aumento da biodisponibilidade do princípio ativo, vem sendo amplamente estudada. Neste caso, para que o resultado desejado seja efetivo, em geral, é necessário agregar propriedades distintas de dois ou mais polímeros. Assim sendo, neste trabalho, duas rotas sintéticas foram estudadas para a síntese de copolímeros em blocos, do tipo poli(N-vinilcaprolactama)-b-poli(etileno glicol) (PNVCL-b-PEG). Inicialmente, estudou-se a síntese destes copolímeros via reações de acoplamento, entre a PNVCL-COOH, com terminação carboxila, e o mPEG-OH, com uma hidroxila terminal. Em seguida, avaliou-se a síntese dos copolímeros pelo mecanismo de Polimerização por Transferência Reversível de Cadeias via Adição-Fragmentação (RAFT), partindo-se da síntese de um macroagente de transferência de cadeia à base de PEG (mPEG-oEX), seguido da reação de extensão de cadeia utilizando a NVCL como monômero. Com base nos resultados de massa molar, distribuição de massa molar (PDI) e rendimento de reação, foi escolhida a rota sintética de esterificação para a síntese dos copolímeros em bloco. Os copolímeros obtidos foram empregados na formulação de partículas utilizando a técnica de secagem por atomização. Verificou-se que o tipo de solvente e a concentração dos solutos nas formulações são fatores importantes que afetam diretamente a morfologia das partículas finais. A eficiência de encapsulação do cetoprofeno foi superior a 80% e a eficiência de recuperação das partículas por atomização foi inferior a 60%. A encapsulação de cetoprofeno na matriz polimérica via atomização, resultou na redução da cristalinidade da droga, o que favoreceu o aumento na velocidade de liberação do fármaco. / The use of biocompatible polymers in formulations of carrier particles for drugs aiming to reduce toxicity, to control the release rate or to increase the bioavailability has been widely studied. In this case, for the targeted result to be effective, normally, it is necessary the combinations of different proprieties of two or more polymers. Therefore, in this work, two synthetic routes were studied for the synthesis of block copolymers based on poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-bpoly(ethylene glycol) (PNVCL-b-PEG). Initially, it was studied the synthesis of this copolymer by coupling reaction, between the PNVCL-COOH, with carboxylic endgroup, and the mPEG-OH, with a hydroxyl end-group. Then, it was evaluated the synthesis of this copolymer by Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain-Transfer (RAFT) polymerization, started with the synthesis of a PEG-based macrochaintransfer agent (mPEG-oEX), followed by chain extension reactions, using NVCL as monomer. Based on the results of molar masses and molar masses distribution index (PDI), and the reaction yield, esterification was the synthetic route chosen for the synthesis of the block copolymers. The copolymers obtained were used in particles formulation via the spray drying technique. It was verified that the type of solvent and the solids content of formulation are important factors that affect directly the morphology of the final particles. The encapsulation efficiency of ketoprofen was higher than 80% and the particle recovery efficiency by spray drying was less than 60%. The ketoprofen encapsulation into polymeric matrix by atomization, resulted in the decrease of drug crystallinity, which favored the increase on drug release rate.

La limitation de solvants toxiques halogénés dans les procédés de préparation de matériaux photoactifs est primordiale pour l’industrialisation des cellules solaires organiques. L’objectif de ce travail de thèse a été de préparer des nanoparticules composées de polymère π-conjugué (PCDTBT) et d’accepteur d’électron (PC71BM) dans l’eau ou en milieu alcool. Des particules composites (PCDTBT+ PC71BM) ontété synthétisées avec deux types de stabilisants : un tensio-actif anionique (SDS) et un copolymère à blocs P3HT-b-PEO, ainsi que sans stabilisant. L’intégration de ces nanoparticules dispersées en phase aqueuse dans la couche active de cellules solaires organiques a par exemple permis d’obtenir des rendements de l’ordre de1%. / The replacement of halogenated toxic solvents is fundamental in photoactive material processes to make the organic photovoltaic sector viable. Herein the use of nanoparticles made of π-conjugated polymer (PCDTBT) and electron-acceptor(PC71BM) was targeted in order to allow for instance the control of the phase separation between the two materials. Thus composite particles of PCDTBT and PC71BM have been synthesized using two kinds of stabilizers: an anionic surfactant (SDS) and a block copolymer P3HT-b-PEO, as well as without stabilizer. As an example such nanoparticles were integrated as active layer into photovoltaic device enabling a power conversion efficiency of 0.94% from aqueous based inks.

L'ADN chromosomique des cellules eucaryotes est fortement condensé au sein d'un complexe nucléoprotéïque, la chromatine. Aussi bien l'organisation spatiale que la composition biochimique (état “épigénomique”) de la chromatine jouent un rôle fondamental dans la régulation des gènes. Grâce aux récents développements des techniques de séquençage à haut-débit, il est possible de déterminer l'état épigénomique local de la chromatine ainsi que la probabilité de contact entre deux sites génomiques (technique dite de “Hi-C”). Ces deux techniques ont permis de mettre en évidence l’existence de domaines d’interaction dont les positions corrèlent fortement avec la segmentation épigénomique de la chromatine. Cependant, les mécanismes responsables de ce couplage sont encore mal compris. L’objectif de cette thèse est de bâtir des modèles physiques permettant de valider l’hypothèse que l’épigénome est un acteur majeur dans le repliement 3D de la chromatine. Pour cela, nous avons tout d’abord développé “IC-Finder”, un algorithme permettant de segmenter les cartes Hi-C en domaines d’interaction. Nous avons alors pu quantifier précisément l’association entre épigénome et organisation de la chromatine. Les corrélations trouvées justifient l’idée de modéliser la chromatine par un copolymère par bloc dont les monomères ont chacun un état épigénomique. Dans ce cadre, nous avons développé une méthode d’inférence des potentiels d'interaction entre sites génomiques à partir des cartes Hi-C expérimentales. Ce travail permettra à plus long terme de prévoir l’organisation de la chromatine sous différentes conditions, ce qui permettra d’étudier en particulier les changements de structure résultant de l’altération de l’épigénome. / DNA of eukaryotes is highly condensed in a nucleoprotein complex called chromatin. Both the spatial organization and the biochemical composition (“epigenomic” state) of the chromatin are fundamental for gene regulation. Remarkably, recent studies indicate that1D epigenomic domains tend to fold into 3D topologically associated domains (TADs) forming specialized nuclear chromatin compartments. In this thesis, we address the question of the coupling between chromatin folding and epigenome. We first built a software called IC-finder to segment HiC maps into interacting domains. We next used it to quantify correlations between the TADs and epigenomic partitions of the genome. This led us to develop a physical model of the chromatin with the working hypothesis that chromatin organization is driven by physical interactions between epigenomic loci. We modeled chromatin as a block copolymer where each block corresponds to an epigenomic domain. With this framework, we developed a method to infer interaction parameters between chromatin loci from experimental Hi-C map. An outcome of such inference process would be a powerful tool to predict chromatin organization in various conditions, allowing investigating in silico changes in TAD formations and long-range contacts when altering the epigenome.

Cancer remains one of the most pressing issues of contemporary science and medicine. Incidence of malignant diseases is rising worldwide and they represent a major problem for the society due to both economic and ethical issues they cause. Although the progress in cancer biology, therapy and immunology has led to the introduction of many novel therapeutic protocols, approaches and drugs with specificity defined on a molecular level into clinical practice, many malignancies retain their poor prognosis. Therefore, intense research into new ways to increase our therapeutic options is warranted. Unfortunately, bringing a completely novel drug into clinical use takes extremely high amounts of time and money and entails a high risk of failure. Therefore, a promising approach has been recently adopted which lies in repurposing compounds already used in human medicine for cancer treatment. This form of research can advance through clinical trials for a new indication much easier, faster and cheaper than researching completely new drugs. The aim of this study was to examine the anticancer potential of one such drug, mebendazole. An anthelminthic from the family of benzimidazoles, mebendazole has been in common clinical use from the 1970s and is marked by its low toxicity as well as its very low solubility....

Ce manuscrit de thèse présente la synthèse de nanoparticules d’oxyde de fer superparamagnétiques couramment appelées SPIONs servant d’agents de contraste pour l’imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) et la génération de chaleur pour la thérapie cellulaire par hyperthermie induite par champ magnétique radiofréquence (HMRF). Le contrôle des tailles et de la distribution en tailles des SPIONs et donc de leurs propriétés magnétiques a été obtenu en utilisant un copolymère arborescent G1 (substrat de polystyrène branché en peigne noté G0, greffé avec des groupements pendants poly(2-vinyle pyridine) ) comme milieu « gabarit », tandis que la stabilité colloïdale et la biocompatibilité des SPIONs ont été apportées par un procédé de poly-complexation ionique grâce à un copolymère double-hydrophile acide polyacrylique-bloc-poly(acrylate de 2-hydroxyéthyle) PAA-b-PHEA. / This Ph.D. dissertation describes the synthesis of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) designed to serve as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents and for heat generation in cellular radiofrequency magnetic field hyperthermia (MFH) treatment. Control over the size and size distribution of the iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs), and thus over their magnetic properties, was achieved using a G1 arborescent copolymer (comb-branched (G0) polystyrene substrate grafted with poly(2-vinylpyridine) side chains, or G0PS-g-P2VP) as a template. Good colloidal stability and biocompatibility of the SPIONs were achieved via the formation of polyion complex (PIC) micelles with a poly(acrylic acid)-block-poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PAA-b-PHEA) double-hydrophilic block copolymer.

This paper reports a simple self-assembly strategy towards bowl-shaped carbon-containing hollow particles, as well as an unprecedented potential application for block copolymer vesicles in energy storage. Kippah vesicles (fully collapsed vesicles), formed by solution self-assembly of an amphiphilic polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer, were employed as the template to guide the formation of bowl-shaped nitrogen-doped carbon hollow particles (BNCHPs). As electrode materials of supercapacitors, BNCHPs exhibit superior electrochemical performance. In particular, compared with their spherical counterpart, BNCHPs largely increase their volumetric packing density, leading to much higher volumetric capacitance or volume reduction of electrodes, which is desired for practical supercapacitor devices.

Dans ce travail, nous avons développé des nanostructures théranostics à base de polypeptides fonctionnalisées avec un photosensibilisateur (PTS) dans le but d’être utilisées en thérapie photodynamique (PDT). La génération d'oxygène singulet et les propriétés de fluorescence du PTS peuvent ainsi à la fois diagnostiquer et traiter une tumeur. Un dérivé asymétrique et multifonctionnel de l'aza-dipyrrométhènes difluorure de bore chélate (aza-BODIPY) fluorogène a été synthétisé pour être utilisé comme photosensibilisateur en raison de ses propriétés non toxiques, son insensibilité à l'environnement biologique externe, sa production d'oxygène singulet élevée et son important rendement quantique de fluorescence. Pour permettre au photosensibilisant d’atteindre la tumeur, quatre copolymères à blocs amphiphiles différents en termes de localisation du PTS et de la longueur de la chaîne PEG ont été synthétisés. Les blocs amphiphiles sont constitués de segments poly(ɤ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG, DP ~ 50) et poly(éthylène glycol) (PEG, DP = 45 et 113). Ces copolymères sont en outre capables de s’auto-assembler en micelles et en vésicules. Nous avons développé une stratégie de synthèse permettant la liaison covalente du PTS pour les copolymères à blocs amphiphiles, empêchant ainsi une fuite du PTS avant que le nanoparticules atteignent le site de la tumeur. En outre, nous avons étudié l'activité du PTS en fonction de la concentration, de la morphologie des nanoparticules et de la localisation du PTS dans les nanoparticules. Enfin, l'efficacité des nanoparticules a été évaluée in vitro sur des cellules HeLa et B16F1. / In this work, we developed photosensitizer (PTS) functionalized polypeptide-based theranostic nano-assemblies to be used in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The singlet oxygen generation and fluorescence properties of the PTS provide simultaneous diagnosis and therapy of the tumor.An asymmetric and multifunctional derivative of the aza-dipyrromethene boron difluoride chelate (aza-BODIPY) fluorophore was synthesized to be used as a photosensitizer due to its nontoxic properties, insensitivity to external biological environment, high singlet oxygen generation and fluorescent quantum yield. To carry the photosensitizer to the tumor, four different (in terms of PTS localization and PEG chain length) amphiphilic block copolymers consisting of poly(ɤ-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG, DP~50) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, DP=45 and 113) chains, able to self-assembled into micelles and vesicles, were synthesized. We developed a synthetic strategy allowing covalent linkage of PTS to the amphiphilic block copolymers, thus preventing PTS leakage before the nano-assembly reaches the tumor site. Moreover, we investigated PTS activity as a function of concentration, morphology of the nano-assemblies and PTS localization in the nano-assemblies. Finally, the efficacy of the nano-assemblies has been evaluated in vitro on HeLa and B16F1 cells.

The thesis presents work regarding amphiphilic molecules associated in aqueous solution or at the liquid/solid interface. Two main topics are included: the temperature-dependent behavior of micelles and the adsorption of dispersants on carbon nanotube (CNT) surfaces. Various NMR methods were used to analyze those systems, such as chemical shift detection, spectral intensity measurements, spin relaxation and, in particular, self-diffusion experiments. Besides this, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was also applied for structural characterization.   A particular form of phase transition, core freezing, was detected as a function of temperature in micelles composed by a single sort of Brij-type surfactants. In mixed micelles, that phase transition still occurs accompanied by a reversible segregation of different surfactants into distinct aggregates. Adding a hydrophobic solubilizate shifts the core freezing point to a lower temperature. Upon lowering the temperature to the core freezing point, the solubilizate is released. The temperature course of the release curves with different initial solubilizate loadings is rationalized in terms of a temperature-dependent loading capacity.   The behavior of amphiphilic dispersant molecules in aqueous dispersions of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been investigated with a Pluronic-type block copolymer as frequent model dispersant. Detailed dispersion curves were recorded and the distribution of the dispersant among different available environments was analyzed. The amount of dispersed CNT was shown to be defined by a complex interplay of several factors during the dispersion process such as dispersant concentration, sonication time, centrifugation and CNT loading. In the dispersion process, high amphiphilic concentration is required because the pristine CNT surfaces made available by sonication must be rapidly covered by dispersants to avoid their re-attachment. In the prepared dispersions, the competitive adsorption of possible dispersants was investigated that provided information about the relative strength of the interaction of those with the nanotube surfaces. Anionic surfactants were found to have a strong tendency to replace Pluronics, which indicates a strong binding of those surfactants.   CNTs were dispersed in an epoxy resin to prepare nanotube-polymer composites. The molecular mobility of epoxy was investigated and the results demonstrated the presence of loosely associated CNT aggregates within which the molecular transport of epoxy is slow because of strong attractive intermolecular interactions between epoxy and the CNT surface. The rheological behavior is dominated by aggregate-aggregate jamming. / <p>QC 20180103</p>

Cette thèse rapporte l’étude de dispersions de nanotubes de carbone par des polymères, la mise en forme de films composites et l’étude de leurs propriétés mécaniques ou de conduction électrique. La première partie est centrée autour de l’utilisation de l’acide poly-acrylique (PAA), qui se révèle un excellent agent dispersant des nanotubes dans l’eau. Une étude des interactions entre le polyélectrolyte et les nanotubes en fonction du pH est réalisée afin d’identifier les conditions de dispersion optimales. La réalisation de composites pour de potentielles applications dans les encres et peintures conductrices révèle qu’un contrôle suffisamment fin de l’adsorption du PAA et de la stabilité de la dispersion permet l’obtention de films à la fois homogènes et conducteurs électriques. La seconde partie de ce travail concerne l’utilisation d’un copolymère à blocs, le SBM, possédant des propriétés remarquables d’auto-organisation pour la réalisation de composites par voie solvant à base de nanotubes. L’originalité du système réside dans le fait que le SBM est à la fois agent dispersant des nanotubes mais également matrice structurante. Ce travail montre que la structure adoptée par le copolymère, qui dépend beaucoup du solvant employé, influence directement les propriétés mécaniques du matériau. De plus, l’addition de nanotubes améliore sensiblement les performances du composite. / This thesis deals with the study of carbon nanotube dispersions by polymers, the processing of composite films and the study of their mechanical and electrical properties. The first part of the work focuses on the use of poly(acrylic) acid (PAA), which proves to be an excellent dispersing agent in water. A study of the interactions between the PAA and the nanotubes is realised, tuned by the pH conditions. The fabrication of composite films, for future applications in the field of conductive inks and paints, shows that a fine control of the PAA adsorption and the dispersion stability allows the formation of homogeneous and conductive composites. In a second part, nanotube composites are elaborated from a block copolymer, the SBM, well-known for its remarkable self organization properties. Interestingly, the copolymer is at the same time the nanotube dispersing agent in the solvent and the structuring matrix of the final composite. This thesis shows that the copolymer structure, which strongly depends on the solvent used, influences the mechanical properties of composite films, and that the addition of nanotubes noticeably improves the performances.

Deux séries de copolymères tribloc thermo-sensibles et amphiphiles, à savoir poly(L-lactide)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N-diméthylacrylamide) et poly(L-lactide)/poly(2-(2-méthoxyéthoxy) éthyl méthacrylate-co-oligo(éthylène glycol) méthacrylate) ont été synthétisées par polymérisation radicalaire par transfert d'atomes en utilisant le Br-PLLA-Br comme macroamorceur dans des conditions douces. Les copolymères obtenus présentent une structure de chaînes bien définie avec une dispersité étroite, et sont capable de s'auto-assembler dans un milieu aqueux pour donner des micelles sphériques de taille en dessous de 100 nm et de faible concentration micellaire critique (<0.016 mg mL-1). La température critique inférieure de solution peut être ajustée avec précision en faisant varier le rapport NIPAAm/DMAAm ou MEO2MA/OEGMA. Un principe actif hydrophobe, curcumine, a été choisi comme modèle pour déterminer les propriétés de libération des micelles à différentes températures. Une libération thermo-sensible de curcumine a été observée, indiquant que ces copolymères sont prometteurs pour la libération ciblée de principes actifs anti-tumoraux. / Two series of thermo-responsive and amphiphilic triblock copolymers, i.e. poly(L-lactide)/poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) and poly(L-lactide)/poly(2-(2-methoxyethoxy) ethyl methacrylate-co-oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization using Br-PLLA-Br as macroinitiator under mild conditions. The obtained copolymers present well defined chain structures with narrow dispersity, and are able to self-assemble in aqueous medium yielding spherical micelles with size below 100 nm and low critical micellization concentration (<0.016 mg mL-1). The lower critical solution temperature is precisely adjusted by changing the NIPAAm/DMAAm or MEO2MA/OEGMA ratio. A hydrophobic drug, curcumin, is taken as a model to evaluate the drug release properties of micelles at different temperatures. Thermo-responsive drug release behavior is observed, indicating that these copolymers are promising candidate for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.