Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Computing and Engineering and Dept. of Chemistry. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2006. / "A dissertation in engineering and chemistry." Advisor: Bryan R. Becker. Typescript. Vita. Description based on contents viewed Jan. 26, 2007; title from "catalog record" of the print edition. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-130). Online version of the print edition.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Pharmacy and Dept. of Chemistry. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2004. / "A dissertation in pharmaceutical sciences and chemistry." Advisor: Thomas P. Johnston. Typescript. Vita. Description based on contents viewed Feb. 23, 2006; title from "catalog record" of the print edition. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 202-223). Online version of the print edition.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

This thesis includes three stages of experiments. The goal of the thesis was to prepare nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin for the purpose of drug delivery. The first step was the nanoparticle preparation. The self-assembly of block copolymer (poly(ε- caprolactone)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)) and curcumin was conducted on a gas-liquid two phase microfluidic reactor. During preparation, various chemical parameters and flow rates were tested. The nanoparticles showed flow variability; the size decreased and the loading efficiency increased with increased flow rates. Increasing the water content and drug-to-polymer loading ratio also proved to increase loading efficiency and decrease the size of the nanoparticles. The release profiles, however, showed fast release rates under various preparation conditions, with a nearly complete release after ~5 h. In the next stage of the research, we considered release optimization in preparation for future pharmacokinetic studies. Increasing the flow rate had a greater influence on slowing down release rates than changing other parameters, such as decreasing the drug-to- polymer loading ratio or increasing the water content. A procedure to extract and quantify curcumin from mouse blood was also developed in this stage. In the final stage of the research, nanoparticle-encapsulated curcumin was tested on a human breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231. The result showed that the nanoparticle formulation had a growth inhibition effect on MDA-MB-231, although the cytotoxicity was compromised by encapsulation in the nanoparticles. / Graduate / 2019-01-13

A study to develop novel lipophilic metal ion complexes based on dihydrocholesterol was undertaken. Steroid ligands functionalised at the 2- and 3- positions were synthesized as possible bidentate ligands for complexation of metal ions. Condensation of 5α-cholestan-3-one with ethyl formate in the presence of base gave 2-hydroxymethylene-5α-cholestan-3-one, and 2- acetyl-5α-cholestan-3-one was obtained by the reaction between 3- trimethylsilyloxy-5α-cholest-2-ene and acetyl chloride. Attempts to synthesize 2,3-dioximino-5α-cholestane from 5α-cholestan-3-one and 2α-hydroxy-5α-cholestan-3-one were unsuccessful. Likewise 2- methylene-5α-cholestan-3-one, which was expected to lead to other bidentate ligands, could not be prepared satisfactorily from 5α-cholestan- 3-one or 3-trimethylsilyloxy-5α-cholest-2-ene.

Utilisation de nanoparticules pour délivrer des protéines dans les épithéliums respiratoires. Caractérisation des mécanismes impliqués. L’administration de médicaments par les voies respiratoires humaines est un domaine de la recherche en pleine expansion. Un effort croissant est porté sur le développement de systèmes innovants capables d’échapper aux mécanismes de clairance des voies respiratoires, d’améliorer la biodisponibilité des molécules d’intérêt, leur absorption dans la muqueuse et leur efficacité thérapeutique. Dans ce contexte, le but de ce travail était d’évaluer le potentiel de nanoparticules polysaccharidiques cationiques et poreuses (NP+) comme vecteurs de protéines à travers les voies respiratoires humaines. Les NP+ sont utilisées avec succès in vivo, comme vecteurs mucosaux dans de nombreuses applications telles que la vaccination, l’allergie, la thérapie anticancéreuse et la délivrance de molécules thérapeutiques. Cependant, les mécanismes d’interaction de ces nanoparticules avec les cellules épithéliales des voies respiratoires sont peu connus. Nous avons étudié l’endocytose, l’exocytose et la localisation intracellulaire de ces nanoparticules dans des cellules épithéliales bronchiques humaines. Leur toxicité a été évaluée sur ces cellules et plus particulièrement leur cytotoxicité et leur génotoxicité. Enfin, nous avons étudié et caractérisé les mécanismes de délivrance intracellulaire de protéines par ces nanoparticules et l’influence de leur composition interne sur ces mécanismes. Nos travaux montrent une endocytose rapide des NP+ par la voie des clathrines, ainsi qu’une importante exocytose par des mécanismes dépendant du cholestérol. Elles sont localisées dans les vésicules de clathrines, les endosomes précoces et pas dans les endosomes tardifs, ni dans les lysosomes. De manière ces nanoparticules s’associent quantitativement aux protéines et augmentent leur délivrance intracellulaire, tout en les protégeant de l’hydrolyse enzymatique à pH physiologique. De plus, la présence de lipides anioniques dans leur structure interne influence significativement les mécanismes d’interactions avec les cellules et de délivrance intracellulaire de protéines. Enfin, les études de toxicité ne montrent aucune cytotoxicité ni génotoxicité à des concentrations < 326 µg/cm2. Ces concentrations sont toutefois très élevées et difficilement atteignables in vivo. En conclusion, les NP+ ne sont pas toxiques sur les cellules épithéliales des voies respiratoires, elles interagissant fortement avec celles-ci et augmentent significativement la délivrance de protéines. Ce travail souligne l’intérêt de développer ce type de nanoparticules pour la délivrance de molécules d’intérêt pharmaceutique à travers les voies respiratoires humaines. / Drug delivery through the human respiratory tract is a promising field under investigation. A growing effort is focused on developing innovative delivery systems able to escape the clearance mechanisms of the respiratory tract, to improve molecules bioavailability, their absorption and their therapeutic efficacy, in the respiratory mucosa. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of polysaccharide cationic porous nanoparticles (NP+) as airway vectors for proteins. NP+ are successfully used as mucosal vectors in vivo, in many applications, including vaccination, allergy, cancer therapy and drug delivery. However, the mechanisms of NP+ interaction with airway epithelial cells remain poorly understood. We investigated the endocytosis, the exocytosis and the intracellular localization of NP+ in human bronchial epithelial cells. We assessed their toxicity on these cells, and particularly their cyto- and genotoxicity. Finally, we studied and characterized the mechanisms of intracellular delivery of proteins by these nanoparticles, and the influence of their inner composition, on these mechanisms. Our results showed a rapid uptake of NP+ via the clathrin endocytosis pathway, and a significant exocytosis via a cholesterol-dependent mechanism. Moreover, NP+ were located in clathrin vesicles, early endosomes but not in late endosomes nor lysosomes. Interestingly, these nanoparticles quantitatively associated proteins and increased their intracellular delivery, while protecting them from enzymatic degradation at physiological pH. Moreover, the presence of anionic lipids in their inner structure significantly influences their interaction with cells and the mechanisms of intracellular delivery. Finally, toxicity studies show no genotoxicity or cytotoxicity of these nanoparticles at concentrations below 326&#956;g/cm². However, these concentrations are very high and hardly realistic in vivo. In summary, NP+ are not toxic to airway epithelial cells, they strongly interact with these cells and significantly increase protein delivery. This work highlights the importance of developing this type of nanoparticles to deliver molecules via the human respiratory tract.