Cardiac stem cells (CSCs) have emerged as promising cell candidates to regenerate damaged hearts, because of the potential in differentiating to cardiomyocytes. However, the differentiation is difficult to trigger without inducers. Here we reported that β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) increased the expression of cardiac transcription factors (Nkx2.5 and GATA4), structural proteins (cardiac Troponin T, cTnt), transcriptional enhancer (Mef2c) and induced GATA4 nucleus translocation in adult resident CSCs, thus β-CD could be used to enhance myogenic transition. As the differentiation process was accompanied by autophagy, we constructed the Atg5 knockdown cell line by using the Atg5 siRNA lentivirus, and the myogenic conversion was blocked in Atg5 knockdown cells, which suggested that β-CD induces the cardiomyocytes transition of resident CSCs through autophagy. Furthermore, we found that JNK/STAT3 and GSK3β/β-catenin was the downstream pathways of β-CD-induced autophagy and differentiation using the inhibitors. Moreover, β-CD performed its functions through improving intracellular cholesterol levels and affecting cholesterol efflux. Collectively, our results reveal that β-CD as a novel tool to induce myogenic transition of CSCs, which could mobilize the resident CSCs or used together with CSCs to enhance the therapy effects of CSCs on damaged hearts. In addition, the clarified molecular mechanisms supported the new targets for inducing cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Cyclodextrin mediation offers a unique mechanism with the potential for interesting control of reaction parameters. Cyclodextrin mediation of hydrophobic monomers may offer desirable kinetics over conventional free radical polymerizations, and it has been shown in this work that cyclodextrin mediation facilitates polymerization of hydrophobic monomers in aqueous solution and in ethylene glycol. It also may be a facile method for controlling relative reactivity of comonomer mixtures. In addition, complexation of cyclodextrin with guest molecules has been utilized in selective synthesis where the host cyclodextrin has been utilized to sterically hinder the attack of certain reactive sites contained within the host cavity. This aspect of inclusion complexation could also be utilized in free radical polymerizations of monomers with multiple reactive double bonds to preferentially reduce the reactivity of the hindered reactive sites. This thesis involves the use of methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin (MeCD) as a mediator for polymerizations in solvents that would not facilitate polymerization of the pure monomer in the absence of cyclodextrin. This study focuses on the carbohydrate mediation of a series of methacrylic monomers. t-Butyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate were complexed with methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin and subsequently dissolved in either water or ethylene glycol. The complexes were studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, thin layer chromatography, CPK modeling, and thermogravimetric analysis, and were found to have molar ratios of cyclodextrin to monomer as high as 1.0 to 0.72. These complexes were then free radically polymerized in either water or ethylene glycol and resulted in high molecular weight polymers that precipitated out of solution, allowing for facile polymer isolation through filtration. Isolated yields were found to be as high as 86 %. The majority of the cyclodextrin remained in solution after polymerization. It was also recovered and found to be recyclable. Heterogeneous polymerizations were also performed with 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate in which linear dextrin and methylated (1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin were used in emulsifier quantities. It was found that linear dextrin, at concentrations of 3.0 wt% produced a stable latex product with high molecular weight and an isolated yield of >90%. MeCD on the other hand failed to produce a stable emulsion at concentrations between 0.9-3.0 wt%, but remarkably MeCD at 3.0 wt% gave high molecular weight coagulated polymer with a yield of >90%. It is proposed that a heterogeneous mechanism inconsistent with the four major types discussed by Arshady is taking place. Unlike typical suspension or emulsion polymerizations, the cyclodextrin mediated polymerizations are completely homogeneous at the onset, making them more like a dispersion or precipitation polymerization. However, in dispersion and precipitation polymerizations the pure monomer is soluble in the reaction media. In the absence of cyclodextrin, the monomers utilized in this study possessed no appreciable solubility in the reaction media. Therefore, it is proposed that cyclodextrin acts as a phase transfer agent, effectively solublizing the hydrophobic monomer and allowing for the aqueous dispersion or precipitation type polymerization to occur, depending on the relative solubility of the components. Bulk polymerizations of t-butyl methacrylate, cyclohexyl methacrylate, and 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate and their subsequent use in the preparation of carbohydrate/poly(alkyl methacrylate) blends was also performed in this project. Bulk polymers were utilized as references for physical properties for the polymers produced through polymerization of the MeCD/monomer complexes in either aqueous solution or in ethylene glycol. 1H NMR analysis of the polymers from both the cyclodextrin mediation and bulk polymerizations indicated that the tacticity of the polymers produced in both cases were identical. The bulk polymers were also used in the preparation of carbohydrate/methacrylic blends with potential applications in the areas of selective barriers, biodegradable films. Inclusion of drug molecules or antioxidants into these cyclodextrin containing films also may have potential in drug delivery, or food packaging applications. In addition, the side chain liquid crystalline monomer, 6-(4-hexyloxy-biphenyl-4-yloxy)hexyl methacrylate was synthesized in high purity via a three-step procedure and confirmed by a combination of mass spectrometry, thin layer chromatography, and 1H and 13C NMR. This hydrophobic liquid crystalline monomer was subsequently complexed with 1.0-3.0 equivalents of methylated(1.8)-beta-cyclodextrin in an attempt to alter the water solubility of the monomer. Complexes of this side-chain liquid crystalline monomer have not been studied previously and it is proposed that complexation with cyclodextrin will lead not only to novel polymerizations routes for this monomer, but also to novel smectic phases for this thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer. / Master of Science

Le stockage optique de l’information et l’imagerie à super-résolution sont des champs d’application dont les besoins en matériaux et en molécules photocommutables sont grandissants. Une des approches consiste à associer au sein d’une même structure moléculaire des photochromes et des fluorophores au sein de laquelle des transferts d’énergie résonants sont possibles. La combinaison des propriétés photophysiques des deux types d’entités conduit à la photocommutation de fluorescence recherchée. Pour concevoir de tels systèmes, nous avons basé notre approche sur le concept de click chemistry qui permet d’avoir une grande flexibilité du point de vue synthétique. Ainsi, en utilisant des plateformes moléculaires comme les dérivés de sucres et la β-cyclodextrine, nous avons synthétisé de nombreuses architectures multichromophoriques. En variant le ratio entre le nombre de photochromes (DAE) et de fluorophores (DCM) au sein d’une même molécule, nous avons pu progresser dans la compréhension des relations entre les structures et les propriétés photophysiques de ces systèmes, impliquant des transferts d’énergie multiples entre les différentes entités. Cette démarche nous a permis, d’une part, d’appréhender les effets d’extinction non-linéaire de fluorescence, et d’autre part, de découvrir l’effet d’hystérèse photocontrôlable résultant de la compétition entre les transferts d’énergie et les réactions photochromes. / The fields of optical data storage and super-resolution imaging are in expansion and attract an increasing demand on photoswitchable materials and molecules. One approach consists in associating photochromic and fluorophores units in the same molecular structure, allowing resonant energy transfer processes. The combination of the photophysical properties of the two units leads to the expected fluorescence photoswitching. To design such systems, we based our approach on the click chemistry concept which offers a great flexibility in terms of synthesis pathways. Thus, using molecular platforms such as sugar derivatives and β-cyclodextrin, we have synthesized many multichromophoric architectures. By varying the ratio between photochromic (DAE) and fluorophore (DCM) units in the same molecule, we improved our comprehension of the structure-properties relationships, involving multiple energy transfers between the different entities. This allowed us, first, to understand the effects of non-linear fluorescence quenching, and secondly, to discover the light-controlled hysteresis effect resulting from the competition between energy transfers and photochromic reactions.

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This study examined the feasibility of using (BETA)-cyclodextrins ((BETA)CDs), which are derived from starch, as agents to stabilize volatile and leachable biocides for the protection of wood and wood composites. The encapsulation of volatile natural antimicrobial compounds, such as allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) and essential oils (EOs), in βCDs was qualitatively confirmed by Attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) method and the maximum inclusion yield was quantitatively estimated by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/VIS) while the partial fixation of leachable borates with βCD was confirmed by ATR-FTIR and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The efficacy of the βCD complexes as wood preservatives of southern yellow pine and randomly Oriented Strand Board (OSB) was examined in soil block tests (AWPA E10-16 and E22-16 standard). The results indicate that (A) (BETA)CDs suppress the premature leaching of otherwise volatile natural compounds and suggest a novel approach to the application of volatile or water-immiscible natural preservatives for wood and wood composites protection; (B) (BETA)CD can be used as an agent for partial fixation of boric acid to form boric acid esters. However, the borate esters are susceptible to leach out after AWPA E11 test and not suitable for protection against Gloeophyllum trabeum and Postia placenta in outdoor conditions.

Foods contaminated with pathogens are common sources of illness. Currently the most common and sensitive rapid detection methods involve the PCR. However, food matrices are complex and limit the sensitivity and thus detection limits. The use of coated activated carbon can effectively facilitate the removal of PCR inhibitors while not binding targeted bacterial cells from food samples. With activated carbon coated with the optimal amount of milk proteins a cell recovery at pH 7.0 of 95.7 ± 2.0% was obtained, compared to control uncoated activated carbon, which yielded a cell recovery of only 1.1 ± 0.8%. In addition, the milk protein coated activated carbon (MP-CAC) was able to absorb similar amounts of soluble compounds as uncoated activated carbon with the exception of bovine hemoglobin. This is evidence that the use of milk proteins to coat activated carbon should therefore serve as a suitable replacement for bentonite in the coating of activated carbon, which has previously been used for the removal of PCR inhibitors from food. The high amount of PCR inhibitors present in ground beef is a major factor that affects molecular based techniques such as the PCR for the detection of Salmonella enterica. In this study, a novel detection system was developed for eliminating PCR inhibitors and increasing the recovery of S. enterica in ground beef samples with the use of β-cyclodextrin and MP-CAC without enrichment of samples. invA, present in all Salmonella, was used as target the gene in the conventional PCR protocol. With ground beef containing 7.0, 15, and 27 % fat, treatment of stomached samples with 5.0, 10, and 15 % β-cyclodextrin respectively followed by treatment with MP-CAC, resulted in detection of 3 CFU/g which is equivalent to 75 CFU in 25 g samples. The total assay time was 4.5 hr. The methodology described in this study for the detection of S. enterica in ground beef without enrichment is rapid, sensitive, and has the potential to be applied to a number of food matrices to detect low numbers of food-borne bacterial pathogens before product is shipped to prevent costly recalls.

Among non-viral vectors, cationic polymers, such as poly(propylene imine) (PPI), play a prominent role in nucleic acid delivery. However, limitations of polycationic polymer-based DNA delivery systems are (i) insufficient target specificity, (ii) unsatisfactory transgene expression, and (iii) undesired transfer of therapeutic DNA into non-target cells. We developed single-chain antibody fragment (scFv)-directed hybrid polyplexes for targeted gene therapy of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA)-positive tumors. Besides mono-biotinylated PSCA-specific single-chain antibodies (scFv(AM1-P-BAP)) conjugated to neutravidin, the hybrid polyplexes comprise -cyclodextrinmodified PPI as well as biotin/maltose-modified PPI as carriers for minicircle DNAs encoding for Sleeping Beauty transposase and a transposon encoding the gene of interest. The PSCA-specific hybrid polyplexes efficiently delivered a GFP gene in PSCA-positive tumor cells, whereas control hybrid polyplexes showed low gene transfer efficiency. In an experimental gene therapy approach, targeted transposition of a codon-optimized p53 into p53-deficient HCT116p53 /PSCA cells demonstrated decreased clonogenic survival when compared to mock controls. Noteworthily, p53 transposition in PTEN-deficient H4PSCA glioma cells caused nearly complete loss of clonogenic survival. These results demonstrate the feasibility of combining tumor-targeting hybrid polyplexes and Sleeping Beauty gene transposition, which, due to the modular design, can be extended to other target genes and tumor entities.

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