Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds containing carbon and hydrogen atoms of fused benzene rings in linear, angular or cluster arrangements. These compounds have a large (negative) resonance energy, resulting in a thermodynamically stable structures. PAHs may also contain alkyl- and nitro-substituent groups. The complexity in these molecules can be generated by substituting the aromatic carbon atom with nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, giving rise to heterocyclic PAHs.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

This dissertation focuses on the development of biomaterials that could be used to enhance the regeneration of severed peripheral nerves. These materials were designed to be electroactive, biodegradable, and biocompatible. To render the materials electroactive the author chose to incorporate conducting polymer (CP) units into the materials. Because CPs are inherently non-degradable, the key challenge was to create a CP-based material that was also biodegradable. Two strategies were explored to generate a biodegradable CP-based material. The first strategy centered around the incorporation of both electroactive and biodegradable subunits into a copolymer system. In the context of this approach, two bis(methoxyquaterthiophene)-co-adipic acid polyester (QAPE) analogues were successfully synthesized, one through polycondensation (giving undoped QAPE) and the second through oxidative polymerization (giving doped QAPE-2). QAPE was found to be electroactive by cyclic voltammetry, bioerodible, and cytocompatible with Schwann cells. QAPE was doped with ferric perchlorate, although only a low doping percentage was realized (~8%). Oxidative polymerization of a bis(bithiophene) adipate permitted the direct synthesis of doped QAPE-2, which was found to have a higher doping level (~24%). The second strategy pursued with the goal of generating an electroactive biodegradable material involved covalently immobilizing low molecular weight polythiophene chains onto the surface of crosslinked hyaluronic acid (HA) films. HA films are not only biodegradable and biocompatible, but they also provide mechanical integrity to bilayer systems. Dicyclocarbodiimide coupling of carboxylic acids to HA alcohol groups was used to functionalize HA films. The HA-polythiophene composite is still in the early stages of development. However, to date, thiophene has been successfully immobilized at the surface of HA films with a high degree of substitution. The author has also shown that thiophene polymerization can be achieved at the surface of these functionalized films and that the extent of polymer immobilization appears to be affected by the presence of immobilized thiophene. The results reported in this dissertation lead the author to suggest that it is possible to generate biodegradable electroactive materials. Further, she believes that with additional optimization these materials may prove beneficial for the regeneration of peripheral nerves and possibly other tissues that respond favorably to electrical stimulation. / text

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Not available / text

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published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Ecology and Biodiversity / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Zoology / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

In a limited screen of monokaryons and dikaryons of various strains of Trametes versicolor, the monokaryons generally bleached hardwood and softwood kraft pulps more extensively than dikaryons, although there was great variation among both groups. A monokaryotic strain (52J) derived from a Paprican dikaryon (52P) by regenerating mycelium-derived protoplasts had better pulp bleaching ability than its dikaryotic parent. Unusually low extracellular laccase and manganese peroxidase activity levels were associated with reduced pulp bleaching. Mutants of strain 52J were isolated with various manganese peroxidase and laccase activities. Those with markedly reduced laccase and manganese peroxidase activity had impaired abilities to bleach, delignify, and produce methanol from hardwood kraft pulp, mineralize $ sp{14}$C-labelled synthetic lignins, reduce the colour of kraft mill bleach plant effluent, or had lost these abilities altogether. Dechlorination of kraft bleach plant effluent organochlorines was only slightly less in the mutants tried than in 52J. When purified manganese peroxidase was added back to mutant M49 of 52J, significant pulp bleaching was restored. Effluent decolorization also improved with added manganese peroxidase.