This thesis aimed at elaborating an optical sensor to detect molecules in a biological fluid. Two steroids and a xenobiotic were identified as biomarkers released in some body fluids: cyproterone acetate, cortisol and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid respectively. On one hand, detection was performed by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). These tailor-made synthetic receptors display numerous qualities that foster their integration in sensors. MIPs were therefore developed against the targeted analytes. Formulation optimization was led thanks to experimental designs. On the other hand, optical transduction was made possible thanks to the structuring of a polymer into a photonic crystal. Opals were manufactured with a new process suitable for large scales and were used to mold MIPs in inverse opals. Thus, submicron structures of the polymer are responsible for the color of the sensor. A change of color is triggered by the recognition of the analyte by the polymer (upon swelling). Polymers studied displayed sufficient swelling observed by spectrophotometry. Finally, the work of this thesis consisted in elaborating polymer formulations and their integration in a sensor so as to detect an analyte with direct, rapid and unobtrusive means.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic form as viewed 2/16/2009.

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Ce travail de thèse avait pour objectif l'élaboration d'un capteur optique pour la détection directe de molécules d'intérêt dans un fluide biologique. Deux stéroïdes et un xéniobiotique (herbicide) ont été choisis en tant que biomarqueurs apparaissant dans des fluides corporels : respectivement l'acétate de cyprotérone, le cortisol et l'acide 2,4 dichlorophénoxyacétique. La partie détection, d'une part, est assurée par les polymères à empreintes moléculaires (MIPs, de l'anglais Molecularly Imprinted Polymers). Ces récepteurs synthétiques sur mesure présentent en effet de nombreuses qualités pour l'intégration dans un capteur. Des polymères à empreintes moléculaires ont ainsi été développés pour les analytes visés. L'optimisation des formulations de polymère a été basée sur des plans d'expériences. La transduction optique, d'autre part, est basée sur la structuration du polymère sous la forme d'un cristal photonique. Des opales ont été fabriquées avec un procédé industrialisable pour permettre la mise en forme du MIP en opale inverse. Ainsi structuré à l'échelle submicronique, le matériau présente une couleur susceptible d'évoluer lors de la détection de l'analyte, et ce, grâce à un changement de conformation (gonflement). Les formulations polymères étudiées ont généré des gonflements réduits mais visibles en spectrophotométrie. Le travail rapporté dans cette thèse consiste donc en l'élaboration de polymères à empreintes moléculaires et leur intégration dans un capteur afin de détecter un analyte de façon directe, rapide et ne nécessitant que des équipements transportables, voire portables. / This thesis aimed at elaborating an optical sensor to detect molecules in a biological fluid. Two steroids and a xenobiotic were identified as biomarkers released in some body fluids: cyproterone acetate, cortisol and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid respectively. On one hand, detection was performed by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs). These tailor-made synthetic receptors display numerous qualities that foster their integration in sensors. MIPs were therefore developed against the targeted analytes. Formulation optimization was led thanks to experimental designs. On the other hand, optical transduction was made possible thanks to the structuring of a polymer into a photonic crystal. Opals were manufactured with a new process suitable for large scales and were used to mold MIPs in inverse opals. Thus, submicron structures of the polymer are responsible for the color of the sensor. A change of color is triggered by the recognition of the analyte by the polymer (upon swelling). Polymers studied displayed sufficient swelling observed by spectrophotometry. Finally, the work of this thesis consisted in elaborating polymer formulations and their integration in a sensor so as to detect an analyte with direct, rapid and unobtrusive means.

The submitted work is aimed at the unconventional fluoride conversation coating preparation on the AZ31, AZ61, ZE10 and ZE41 magnesium alloys by their immersion in Na[BF4] molten salt. The influence of the preparation parameters (such as temperature and time) on the quality of the fluoride conversion coating is investigated. Methods of light and scanning electron microscopy were used for the evaluation of morphology, chemical composition and thickness of the coating. Short and long-term corrosion tests were executed to analyze the corrosion performance in simulated body fluid solution at 37 ± 2 °C with and without the fluoride conversion coating. The short-term behavior was evaluated by potentiodynamic tests, namely by the linear polarization. Long-term performance was assessed by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy or immersion tests. The coating preparation parameters influence on the character of the formed fluoride conversion coating was defined based on the obtained results. The next part of the thesis deals with the description of the possible mechanism of formation and kinetics of growth of the unconventional fluoride conversion coating on the selected AZ61 magnesium alloy. In this part, further detailed analyses were carried out to investigate the microstructure and chemical composition of the fluoride conversion coating using focused ion beam, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Předložená diplomová práce se zabývá přípravou a charakterizací vzorků z kompozitního kostního cementu na bázi fosforečnanu vápenatého (CPC). V teoretické části jsou popsány vlastnosti a struktura fosforečnanů vápenatých, včetně jejich interakce s tělním prostředím. Experimentální část nejdříve popisuje stanovení optimální techniky přípravy vzorků pomocí experimentů prováděných v ultračisté vodě. Optimální technika pro vytvrzování zahrnuje použití formy z paměťové pěny, ukončení vytvrzovacích reakcí pomocí absolutního chladného etanolu a sušení vzorků ve vakuové sušárně. Následně je v práci popsána příprava vzorků a proces vytvrzování CPC jak v přirozeném (prasečí krev), tak v prostředí simulovaných tělních tekutin (fyziologický roztok, Hankův a Ringerův roztok). Byla provedena morfologická studie pomocí skenovací elektronové mikroskopie (SEM) pro vzorky vytvrzené 1 den, 1 týden, 2 týdny a 1 měsíc kvůli očekávané významné změně v jejich krystalické struktuře, která byla taktéž zkoumána pomocí rentgenové difrakce (XRD), stanovující přeměnu -fosforečnanu vápenatého na kalcium deficitní hydroxyapatit (CDHA). Porozita vzorků byla zkoumána rentgenovou mikrotomografií (-CT) a vzorky vytvrzené v krvi vykazovaly mírně vyšší porozitu. Mechanické vlastnosti CPC vzorků byly zkoumány pomocí mechanických kompresních testů. Výsledky testů ukázaly stabilní pevnost cementových vzorků vytvrzených ve fyziologickém roztoku už po jednom dni vytvrzování, zatímco vzorky vytvrzené v krvi vykazovaly nárůst pevností dokonce i po jednom měsíci vytvrzování. Naopak pevnost vzorků vytvrzených jak v Hankově, tak v Ringerově roztoku rychle klesla po 2 týdnech vytvrzování pravděpodobně důsledkem mírně kyselého pH vytvrzovacích roztoků, které urychluje rozpad CPC vzorků. Výsledky práce ukazují významný vliv vytvrzovacích prostředí na vlastnosti CPC kostních cementů. Vzorky vytvrzené v krvi oproti vzorkům vytvrzených v umělé tělní plazmě vykázaly lepší vlastnosti, protože krev imituje in vivo podmínky.

<p>Određivanje koncentracije etanola u telesnim tečnostima, pre svega u krvi, neophodan je uslov da bi se ustanovio uticaj alkoholemije na psihomotorne sposobnosti. Poznavanje stabilnosti lekova, droga i metabolita u biolo&scaron;kim uzorcima je od ključne važnosti kada se ukaže potreba za ponovljenom analizom i evaluacijom rezultata u sudskom postupku. Osnovni ciljevi ovog rada su da se uz pomoć HS-GC metode (hedspejs gasna hromatografija) ustanovi da li postoji statistički značajna promena koncentracije etanola u uzorcima krvi dobijenih od živih osoba i u biolo&scaron;kim uzorcima uzorcima sa autopsijskog materijala. Na osnovu rezultata potrebno je bilo utvrditi u kojem tipu uzorka uzetog sa le&scaron;nog materijala postoji najmanja promena koncentracije tokom perioda čuvanja uzorka. Istraživanje je bilo otvoreno, randomizirano i prospektivnog tipa. Biolo&scaron;ki uzorci krvi krvi živih osoba i le&scaron;nog materijala (krv, mokraća i staklasto telo) uzimani su metodom slučajnog izbora, u rasponu alkoholemije od 0,1 mg/ml do 5 mg/ml. Nakon inicijalne dvostruke analize, jedan biolo&scaron;ki uzorak čuvan je u trajanju od 180 dana, dok je drugi otvaran i analiziran nakon 60, 120 i 180 dana. Ukupan broj analiza alkoholemije u krvi živih osoba iznosio je 500. Ukupan broj analiza koncentracije etanola u krvi, mokraći i staklastom telu sa le&scaron;eva iznosio je 360. Etanol je u uzorcima krvi živih osoba, kao i u biolo&scaron;kim uzorcima sa autopsijskog materijala određivan metodom HS GC. Tokom čuvanja biolo&scaron;kih uzoraka u periodu od &scaron;est meseci ustanovljeno je da je do&scaron;lo do značajnog smanjenja koncentracije etanola u svim analiziranim uzorcima, nezavisno od njegovog porekla. Promena koncentracije etanola tokom čuvanja u zavisnosti je od tkivne vrste uzorka, inicijalne alkoholemije, dužine čuvanja, integriteta vijala i čepova, temperature, odnosa tečne i gasne faze, prisustva konzervansa i potencijalnog intermitentnog otvaranja radi analiza.</p> / <p>Determination of ethanol concentration in body fluids, especially blood, is a necessary objective to establish the influence of alcohol on psychomotor skills. Knowing the stability of medicines, drugs and metabolites in biological samples is of crucial importance when there is a need for repeated analysis and result evaluation in court. The main objectives of this work were to determine whether there was a statistically significant change in ethanol concentration in blood samples obtained from living subjects and from autopsy material, by using HS-GC method (headspace gas chromatography). Based on the results it was necessary to determine which type of sample collected from autopsy showed the lowest change in concentration during the storage period. The study was open, randomized and prospective. Biological samples of living person&#39;s blood and autopsy biological samples (blood, urine and the vitreous humor) were taken at random, in the level range between 0.1 mg/ml and 5 mg/ml. After an initial duplicate analysis, one biological sample was stored for a period of 180 days, while the other was opened and analyzed after 60, 120 and 180 days. Total number of analysis of living person&#39;s blood samples was 500. The total number of analysis of autopsy biological samples was 360. All concentrations were determined by HS-GC method. During the storage, results showed that there has been a significant decrease in the concentration of ethanol in all of the analyzed samples, regardless of its origin. The level of this change was dependent on the type of tissue sample, initial alcohol concentration, duration of storage, integrity of the vials and stoppers, temperature, ratio of liquid and gas phases, presence of preservatives and intermittent opening for analysis.</p>

Des recherches en sciences judiciaires ont montré récemment une possible corrélation entre le temps d’entreposage d’échantillons de fluides corporels et la dégradation de l’ARN dans ceux-ci. Le moment où une tache a été déposée sur une scène de crime peut être important pour déterminer la pertinence d’un échantillon dans une enquête. Dans ce mémoire, nous rapportons les profils de dégradation de quatre ARN différents mesurés par RT-qPCR, soit l’ARN ribosomique 18S et les ARNm de la β-actine, de la glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate déhydrogénase et de la cyclophiline A, obtenus de taches de sang, de salive et de sperme, entreposés à la température de la pièce ou au congélateur à -80°C sur une période de 6 mois. Nos résultats montrent une faible variation interindividuelle pour le sang et le sperme, mais une différence importante entre les donneurs pour la salive. De plus, le profil de dégradation est semblable pour tous les transcrits, mais diffère entre les fluides. La congélation des échantillons stabilise les ARN avant leur analyse. Finalement, la quantité d’ARN détecté est en relation avec le temps d’entreposage et pourrait être utilisée afin d’estimer l’âge des échantillons lorsque l’impact des conditions d’entreposage sur la dégradation de l’ARN sera mieux connu. / Recent studies in forensic science have shown a possible correlation between the degradation rate of some RNA transcripts and the age of bloodstains. The time of deposition of a stain can be of major importance to determine the relevance of a sample in a forensic investigation. In this thesis, we describe the degradation profiles of the 18S ribosomal RNA and the β-actin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and cyclophilin A mRNAs, measured by RT-qPCR and obtained from dried blood, semen and saliva stains stored at room temperature or frozen at -80°C up to 6 months. Our results showed low inter-individual variation for blood and semen stains, but a high variation was observed between donors for saliva. Moreover, degradation profile of each transcripts was similar, but differed between fluids. Freezing samples prevented RNA degradation over time. Finally, RNA quantity was in relation with the time of storage and could be used to estimate the time since deposition of a stain when the effects of various storage conditions on RNA degradation profiles will be better documented. / Projet de recherche réalisé en collaboration avec la section Biologie/ADN du Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale (LSJML) de Montréal.

Dreiwertige Actinide (An(III)) und Lanthanide (Ln(III)) stellen im Falle ihrer Inkorporation eine ernste Gefahr für die Gesundheit des Menschen dar. An(III) sind künstlich erzeugte, stark radioaktive Elemente, die insbesondere bei der nuklearen Energiegewinnung in Kernkraftwerken entstehen. Durch Störfälle oder nicht fachgerechte Lagerung radioaktiven Abfalls können sie in die Umwelt und die Nahrungskette des Menschen gelangen. Ln(III) sind hingegen nicht radioaktive Elemente, die natürlicherweise vorkommen und für vielfältige Anwendungen in Technik und Medizin abgebaut werden. Folglich kann der Mensch sowohl mit An(III) als auch Ln(III) in Kontakt kommen bzw. sie inkorporieren. Es ist daher von enormer Wichtigkeit, das Verhalten dieser Elemente im menschlichen Körper aufzuklären. Während makroskopische Vorgänge wie Verteilung, Anreicherung und Ausscheidung bereits sehr gut untersucht sind, ist das Wissen hinsichtlich der chemischen Bindungsform (Speziation) von An(III) und Ln(III) in Körperflüssigkeiten noch sehr lückenhaft. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde daher erstmals die chemische Bindungsform von Cm(III) und Eu(III) in natürlichem menschlichem Urin (in vitro) spektroskopisch aufgeklärt und die gebildeten Komplexe identifiziert. Hierzu wurden auch grundlegende Untersuchungen zur Komplexierung von Cm(III) und Eu(III) in synthetischem Modellurin sowie mit den urinrelevanten organischen Modellliganden Harnstoff, Alanin, Phenylalanin, Threonin und Citrat durchgeführt und die noch unbekannten Komplexbildungskonstanten bestimmt. Abschließend wurden alle experimentellen Ergebnisse mit Literaturdaten und Vorherberechnungen mittels thermodynamischer Modellierung verglichen. Auf Grund der hervorragenden Lumineszenzeigenschaften von Cm(III) und Eu(III) konnte insbesondere auch die Eignung der zeitaufgelösten laserinduzierten Fluoreszenzspektroskopie (TRLFS) als Methode zur Untersuchung dieser Metallionen in unbehandelten, komplexen biologischen Flüssigkeiten demonstriert werden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit liefern damit neue Erkenntnisse zu den biochemischen Reaktionen von An(III) und Ln(III) in Körperflüssigkeiten auf molekularer Ebene und tragen zu einem besseren Verständnis der bekannten, makroskopischen Effekte dieser Elemente bei. Darüber hinaus sind sie die Grundlage weiterführender in-vivo-Untersuchungen. / In case of incorporation, trivalent actinides (An(III)) and lanthanides (Ln(III)) pose a serious health risk to humans. An(III) are artificial, highly radioactive elements which are mainly produced during the nuclear fuel cycle in nuclear power plants. Via hazardous accidents or nonprofessional storage of radioactive waste, they can be released in the environment and enter the human food chain. In contrast, Ln(III) are nonradioactive, naturally occurring elements with multiple applications in technique and medicine. Consequently it is possible that humans get in contact and incorporate both, An(III) and Ln(III). Therefore, it is of particular importance to elucidate the behaviour of these elements in the human body. While macroscopic processes such as distribution, accumulation and excretion are studied quite well, knowledge about the chemical binding form (speciation) of An(III) and Ln(III) in various body fluids is still sparse. In the present work, for the first time, the speciation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) in natural human urine (in vitro) has been investigated spectroscopically and the formed complex identified. For this purpose, also basic investigations on the complex formation of Cm(III) and Eu(III) in synthetic model urine as well as with the urinary relevant, organic model ligands urea, alanine, phenylalanine, threonine and citrate have been performed and the previously unknown complex stability constants determined. Finally, all experimental results were compared to literature data and predictions calculated by thermodynamic modelling. Since both, Cm(III) and Eu(III), exhibit unique luminescence properties, particularly the suitability of time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) could be demonstrated as a method to investigate these metal ions in untreated, complex biofluids. The results of this work provide new scientific findings on the biochemical reactions of An(III) and Ln(III) in human body fluids on a molecular scale and contribute to a better understanding of the known macroscopic effects of these elements. Furthermore, they are the basis of subsequent in vivo investigations.