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Nanoparticles are very interesting building blocks. Their large surface-to-bulk ratio gives them different properties from those of larger particles. Controlling their assembly can greatly affect macroscopic material properties. This often happens in nature, resulting in macroscopic materials with properties far better than those of similar human-made materials. However, in this fast-growing research field, we may soon compete with nature in certain areas. This thesis demonstrates that the distribution and orientation of nanocellulose particles can be controlled, which is crucial for many applications. Nanocellulose is an interesting nanoparticle, for example, because of its high strength, low thermal expansion, and high crystallinity. Nanocellulose particles are called nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). NFC is obtained from wood by mechanically shearing apart fibrils from the fiber wall and to obtain CNCs, parts of the cellulose are broken down by hydrolytic acidic reactions, most commonly, prior to homogenization. NFC particles are longer and less crystalline than are CNCs, but both are similar in width. The particles attract each other in aqueous dispersions and have a high aspect ratio and, thus, a large tendency to aggregate. The rate at which this occurs is typically reduced by charging the particles, generating an electrostatic repulsion between them. To fully utilize the many interesting properties of nanocellulose, the aggregation and orientation of the particles have to be controlled; examining this delicate task is the objective of this thesis. The limits for particle stability and aggregation are examined in papers 2–3 (as well as in this thesis) and orientation of the particles is investigated in papers 3–5. In addition, the liberation of the nanoparticles from different types of wood fibers is studied in papers 1 and 2. It was found that the liberation yield improved with increased fiber charge. In addition, the charge of the fibrils is higher than the charge of the original fibers, indicating that the fibrils were liberated from highly charged parts of the fibers and that the low-charge fraction was removed during processing. Aggregation was both theoretically predicted and experimentally studied. A theoretical model was formulated based on Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek theory, which is intended to predict the influence of salt, pH, and particle charge on the colloidal stability of the NFC. To predict the experimental trends, specific interactions between salt counterions and the particles charges had to be included in the model, which greatly increased the effect of salt on the NFC stability. Below the particle overlap concentration, instability induced by pH or salt created small sedimenting flocs, whereas above the overlap concentration the system gelled. Increasing the particle concentration further also gels the system. Orientation of nanocellulose was first achieved by shearing, salt- or acid-induced NFC gels. This oriented the fibrils and increased the gel modulus in the direction of shear. The orientation persisted after the shear strain was released and did not cause breakdown of the macroscopic gel. The orientation is probably due to rotation in the interfibril crosslinks, which is possible because the crosslinks are physical, not covalent.      Second, orientation was also induced by elongational flow. Shear and acceleration forces were combined to align fibrils in the direction of the flow. The orientation was then frozen by gelation (adding salt or reducing the pH). Drying the gel threads created filaments of aligned fibrils with a higher specific strength than that of steel.      Finally, CNC particles could be aligned on flat surfaces. The particles were first forced to align due to geometrical constraints in grooves on a nanowrinkled surface. The CNCs were then transferred to a flat surface using a contact-printing process. This created surfaces with lines of highly aligned CNCs, where the line–line spacing was controlled with nanometer precision. / <p>QC 20131114</p>

Orientador: Ines Joeks / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T13:30:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cardoso_AtiliodeOliveira_D.pdf: 4999395 bytes, checksum: 7096b1378702c52ba1881ec1b2449019 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Crisotila é um silicato de magnésio de hábito fibroso, com fórmula ideal Mg6Si4O10(OH)8 e estrutura 1:1, intercalando camada tetraédrica de tridimita (sílica) com camada octaédrica de hidróxido de magnésio (brucita). Para haver coordenação entre os planos de tridimita e brucita as bicamadas se curvam e se enrolam sobre si mesmas, formando fibrilas cilíndricas com superfície constituída de brucita. As fibrilas se agregam dando origem a fibras que em meio aquoso, sob extensa faixa de pH, possuem potencial zeta positivo, em razão de haver cátions magnésio na superfície, originados por dissociação de ânions hidroxila, o que ocasiona pH de equilíbrio igual a 8,5. Apesar do potencial zeta essencialmente positivo, crisotila é um material sobre o qual aderem, espontaneamente, e em grande quantidade, materiais particulados de natureza negativa ou positiva. Visando compreender as causas do fenômeno, partículas de látex de poliestireno, com superfície negativa, PS-, e positiva, PS+, foram sintetizadas em meio aquoso, na ausência de surfactantes, e utilizadas em experimentos de heterocoagulação com crisotila, variando: i) o grau de desfibrilamento da crisotila, em meio aquoso, através de ação mecânica e através de hidrofobicidade causada por metilação da superfície das fibras usando Si(CH3)2Cl2; ii) o potencial zeta de crisotila através de lavagem com HCl, variação do pH do meio de dispersão usando NaOH e lavagem com solução aquosa de silicato de sódio; iii) a quantidade adicionada de partículas de poliestireno por mg de crisotila; iv) o potencial zeta das partículas de poliestireno através da adsorção de surfactante catiônico brometo de cetil-trimetil-amônio (CTAB). Resultados de análise microscópica via MEV mostraram que a formação de heterocoágulos ocorre preferencialmente sobre fibras de crisotila mais finas e portanto flexíveis, havendo expressiva formação de homocoágulos de látex a partir de aproximadamente 10 partículas por mg de crisotila. De acordo com resultados de medidas de densidade óptica residual de sobrenadantes, os procedimentos que diminuem o grau de desfibrilamento e o potencial zeta de crisotila diminuem a velocidade inicial de formação de heterocoágulos com partículas de PS-. A adsorção de CTAB inibe a adesão de partículas PS- e não interfere na adesão de partículas PS+ sobre crisotila. A heterocoagulação de látex PS- é completamente revertida com a adição de silicato de sódio ao meio de dispersão. Em meio aquoso, silicato de sódio extrai impurezas da crisotila, detectadas por aumento da densidade óptica do meio de dispersão. Partículas de látex PS+ praticamente não aderem sobre crisotila lavada com silicato de sódio. Os resultados indicam que a adesão de partículas negativas sobre crisotila ocorre preferencialmente sobre sítios positivos oriundos de magnésio dissociado de hidroxila, enquanto a adesão de partículas positivas ocorre sobre sítios negativos, ocasionados pela pré-adesão de impurezas durante a etapa de lavagem da crisotila com água. A densidade superficial de sítios positivos é significativa em fibras mais finas e flexíveis, sobre as quais a heterocoagulação ocorre preferencialmente. Sugerese que a homocoagulação seja dependente principalmente da mobilidade de heterocoágulos préformados, que sob agitação do sistema colidem entre si com energia mecânica suficiente para causar a adesão entre as partículas de látex / Abstract: Chrysotile is a magnesium silicate with fibrous habit and ideal formula Mg6Si4O10(OH)8, having 1:1 layered structure of tetrahedral tridimite (silicate) with octahedral brucite (magnesium hydroxide). The layers are curved and rolled, resulting in cylindrical fibrils with brucite in the external surface and tridimite in the hollow internal surface. The fibrils aggregate giving rise to bundles, or fibers, which have a positive zeta-potential in aqueous medium. This results from the Mg occurrence after dissociation of the surface hydroxyl groups. Despite its positive zeta potential, the surface of chrysotile attaches colloidal particles of negative or positive nature. Aiming to understand this phenomenon, polystyrene latex particles, with negative (PS-) and positive (PS+) surface charge, were synthesized in aqueous solution, in the absence of surfactants, and used in experiments of heterocoagulation with chrysotile. The aggregation of the fibers was controled through mechanical action or improved hidrofobicity by metilation of the surface using Si(CH3)2Cl2. The zeta potential of chrysotile was modified by washing with HCl or adding NaOH or sodium silicate aqueous solution. The amount of polystyrene particles was varied and its surface charge adjusted adding cetyl trimethylammonium bromide cationic surfactant (CTAB). Results of microscopic analysis (MEV) showed that the formation of heteroaggregates occurs preferentially on disaggregated fibers, or fibrils, which are the most flexible. Also, an expressive quantity of homoaggregates of latex with approximately 10 particles/mg of chrysotile are formed. According with the results of optical density of the supernatants, procedures that reduce the disaggregation and the zeta-potential of chrysotile decrease the initial rate of formation of heteroaggregates with particles of PS-. The adsorption of CTAB inhibits the adhesion of PS- particles and does not interfere in the adhesion of PS+ particles on chrysotile. The heterocoagulation of PS- latex is completely reverted with the addition of sodium silicate to the dispersion. In aqueous suspension, sodium silicate removes impurities of the chrysotile surface, as detected by the increase in the optical density of the dispersion. Particles of PS+ latex practically will not attach on chrysotile washed with sodium silicate. The results indicate that the adhesion of negative particles on chrysotile occurs preferentially at positive surface sites, while the adhesion of positive particles occurs at the negative surface sites, probably caused by the pre-adhesion of impurities on the chrysotile when washing with water. The surface density of positive sites is more significant in flexible and disaggregated fibers, on which the heterocoagulation occurs preferentially. The homoaggregation of the latex particles seems to be dependent mainly on the mobility of the preformed heteroaggregates, which, under stirring, collide among themselves with enough mechanical energy to cause the adhesion between the latex particles / Doutorado / Físico-Química / Doutor em Ciências

Within a colloidal dispersion, the presence of negatively adsorbing material can produce a variety of effects on the dispersion properties and interactions. With increasing concentration, the negatively adsorbing material induces both depletion and structural forces on the dispersion, which can dramatically affect both colloidal stability and near-contact hydrodynamics. This project focused on expanding our understanding of the effects of such negatively adsorbing materials on both equilibrium and dynamic interactions between particles. The effects of charged, hard spheres (silica nanoparticle) on the hydrodynamic drag force a particle experiences as it approaches a flat plate were measured experimentally using colloid probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM). Deviation was found between the measured drag force and predictions for the drag force in a simple, Newtonian fluid. The measured drag force was always smaller than the predicted drag force as the particle approached contact with the plate. An effective viscosity, that approached the dispersing fluid viscosity at contact and the bulk viscosity at large separations, was determined for the system. This effective viscosity displayed similar characteristics to those predicted theoretically by Bhattacharya and Blawzdziewicz (J. Chem. Phys. 2008, 128, 214704.). The effects of both anionic and cationic micelles on the depletion and structural forces in a colloidal dispersion were studied both experimentally (with CP-AFM) and theoretically. The depletion and structural forces between a microparticle and a flat plate were measured and compared with the depletion force predicted by the force-balance model of Walz and Sharma (J. Colloid Interface Sci. 1994, 168, 485-496.). Consistent with previous work, the measured depletion force for both micelles was smaller in magnitude than that predicted by the Walz and Sharma model for hard, charged spheres. It is theorized that rearrangement of the micelle surfaces charges or physical deformation of the micelles may be responsible for the observed result. An effective surface potential for the micelles is proposed as a correction to the Walz and Sharma model. Finally, the stability of colloidal dispersions was studied macroscopically in solutions of ionic micelles. The colloidal dispersions displayed clear flocculation behavior in both cationic and anionic micelles. This flocculation behavior was compared with energy profiles determined from CP-AFM experiments between a single particle and a flat plate. A simple phase diagram was proposed for predicting the stability of colloidal dispersions based solely on the depth of the depletion energy well and the height of the repulsive energy barrier. / Ph. D.

An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the possible use of highly-charged spherical nanoparticles to stabilize an aqueous dispersion of weakly-charged microspheres. At low pH values, the surface of silica is weakly charged, which leads to flocculation of colloidal suspensions of silica microspheres. Binary solutions of weakly charged silica microspheres and highly charged polystyrene latex nanoparticles result in adsorption of the nanoparticles onto the surface of the silica microspheres. This effectively "recharges" the silica spheres, with effective zeta potentials increased to the range that is unfavorable for flocculation of microspheres in a silica-only solution. However, this does not guarantee stability, and comparisons between positively charged amidine latex nanoparticles and negatively charged sulfate latex nanoparticles indicate that the degree of coverage plays an important role in the restabilization. The sulfate latex nanoparticles do not cover the surface sufficiently, and though they seemingly provide sufficient charge, the weakly charged patches of the exposed silica substrate can lead to flocculation. The amidine latex nanoparticles, on the other hand, cover the surface more completely, and effectively prevent flocculation of the silica microspheres. The mechanisms responsible for this different adsorption and stabilizing behavior are not entirely understood, as both the amidine and sulfate latex nanoparticles are of similar size and the magnitude of the zeta potentials of the different particle types are comparable. / Master of Science

Neste trabalho, foi realizado um estudo da obtenção de nanomateriais luminomagnéticos visando potenciais aplicações biológicas, a partir de dois diferentes tipos de estruturas, sendo elas: a formação de heteronanoestruturas luminomagnéticas de NPM de FePt/Fe3O4-CdSe recobertas com sílica; e a formação de nanomateriais luminomagnéticos por ligação covalente entre NPM de FePt/Fe3O4-Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 e pontos quânticos de CdSe/ZnS-LA-PEG-COOH. Para o primeiro tipo de nanomaterial citado, foram testadas duas metodologias para obtenção das heteronanoestruturas: a mudança da estabilidade coloidal pela adição de pequenas quantidades de NaCl no meio contendo as NPM e os pontos quânticos previamente sintetizados; e o método de injeção a quente do precursor de selênio em um meio contendo as NPM como sementes, o precursor de cádmio e os agentes de superfície. O método de injeção a quente foi o que apresentou melhores condições para a formação das heteronanoestruturas. Para providenciar estabilidade coloidal em meio aquoso e superfície com biocompatibilidade, foi realizado o recobrimento com sílica na superfície das heteronanoestruturas luminomagnéticas com melhores condições. Para essa amostra, o tamanho médio obtido foi de 25,0 nm, com polidispersividade de 8,4 %, Ms = 11,1 emu.g-1 e comportamento superparamagnético, além de duas bandas de emissão (com excitação de 400 nm) centradas em 452 nm e 472 nm, respectivamente. Já para o segundo tipo de nanomaterial obtido neste trabalho, foram primeiramente obtidas NPM de FePt/Fe3O4 pelo método do poliol modificado acoplado à metodologia do crescimento, e pontos quânticos luminescentes de CdSe/ZnS pelo método de decomposição térmica de precursores organometálicos, sendo que ambas nanoestruturas apresentaram superfície hidrofóbica. Para a troca de ligantes para transferência das nanoestruturas para a fase aquosa e para providenciar biocompatibilidade visando aplicações biológicas, foram previamente preparados ligantes poliméricos de Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 para recobrimento das NPM e de LA-PEG-COOH para recobrimento dos pontos quânticos. A conjugação química entre as nanoestruturas de FePt/Fe3O4-Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 e CdSe/ZnS-LA-PEG-COOH foi realizada pelo método da carbodiimida em solução aquosa para a formação de uma ligação covalente amida entre os grupos amina e carboxilato em cada uma das nanoestruturas. Os nanomateriais luminomagnéticos obtidos apresentaram estabilidade coloidal em meio aquoso, com estreita distribuição de tamanho, apresentando RH de 79,96 nm, Ms de, aproximadamente, 10 emu.g-1 com coercividade e remanência quase nulos e intensa banda de emissão centrada em 580 nm. Espera-se que os nanomateriais obtidos neste trabalho possam ser promissores nanomateriais com propriedades multifuncionais para potenciais aplicações biológicas. / Here, luminomagnetic nanomaterials were obtained for potential biological applications. We have studied two different types of luminomagnetic nanomaterials, which are: formation of silica-coated FePt/Fe3O4-CdSe heteronanostructures; and formation of luminomagnetic nanomaterials from covalent bond between FePt/Fe3O4-Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 magnetic nanoparticles and CdSe/ZnS-LA-PEG-COOH luminescent quantum dots. For the first type of luminomagnetic nanomaterials obtained, two methodologies were studied for formation of heteronanostructures, which are: modification of colloidal stability by addition of small amounts of NaCl into a solution with hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles and luminescent quantum dots; and hot injection method of selenium precursor into a solution with magnetic nanoparticles seeds, cadmium precursors and surface agents. The hot injection method obtained better results than the other method studied for formation of heteronanostructures. To provide colloidal stability in aqueous solution and biocompatibility, the heteronanostructures were coated using silica shell. After silica coating, the heteronanostructures showed average diameter of 25 nm and polidispersivity of 8.4%, with Ms = 11.1 emu.g-1 and superparamagnetic behavior. Moreover, these nanomaterials showed two emission peaks centered at 452 and 472 nm. For the second type of nanomaterials obtained, FePt/Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by modified polyol method coupled to seeded-mediated growth, and CdSe/ZnS luminescent quantum dots were obtained by thermal decomposition of organometallic precursors. For the ligand exchange to transfer the nanostructures from organic media to aqueous solution, were used Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 and LA-PEG-COOH polymers to provide colloidal stability and biocompatibility on magnetic nanoparticle surface and quantum dot surface, respectively. The chemical conjugation between FePt/Fe3O4-Dopa-PIMA-PEG-NH2 and CdSe/ZnS-LA-PEG-COOH nanostructures was obtained by EDC coupling in aqueous solution, which linked amine and carboxylate groups in each nanostructure to provide the formation of amide bond. The luminomagnetic nanomaterials obtained showed colloidal stability in aqueous solution, narrow size distribution, with RH equal to 79.96 nm, MS around 10 emu.g-1 with low coercivity and remanent magnetization, and intense emission peak centered at 580 nm. We expect these luminomagnetic nanomaterials be promisor nanomaterials with multifunctional properties for potential biological applications.

Nanoparticulas magnéticas (NPMs) de óxido de ferro tem sido amplamente utilizadas em diversas áreas da biotecnologia e biomedicina, tais como no tratamento de câncer, na entrega controlada de fármacos e como agentes de contraste em imagem por ressonância magnética. O intuito deste trabalho foi sintetizar nanopartículas magnéticas com magnetização de saturação intensificadas via processo do poliol modificado e modificar sua superfície afim de promover a biocompatibilização dos sistemas. Além da funcionalização de nanopartículas previamente biocompatibilizadas utilizando dois métodos: via ligação amida com moléculas de ácido fólico (AF) e com a encapsulação das nanopartículas com quitosana. A modificação de superfície deu-se via procedimentos de lavagem de superfícies, adição e/ou troca de ligantes utilizando moléculas de ácido ?- aminocapróico (EACA), aminopropiltrimetoxisilano (APTMS) e ácido dimercaptosuccínico (DMSA). Através da microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (TEM), foi obtido que as nanopartículas magnéticas de magnetita obtiveram um diâmetro médio de 8 nm, em uma estreita distribuição de tamanho. A difração de raios-X (DRX) indicou a formação de magnetita em todos os sistemas em que o método do poliol modificado foi utilizado. As medidas de espectroscopia vibracional na região do infravermelho (FTIR) evidenciaram a presença de modos de vibração relacionados às macromoléculas e compostos inorgânicos utilizados na modificação de superfície das nanopartículas magnéticas e/ou funcionalização. A TEM das diferentes modificações de superfície mostram a formação de aglomerados dependendo da molécula utilizada. Os estudos de estabilidade coloidal foram necessários para que o meio biológico fosse simulado para uma possível aplicação destes sistemas como carreadores para tratamento via magnetohipertermia ou entrega controlada de NPMs para tratamento de câncer. A nanopartícula recoberta com DMSA apresentou melhores resultados de estabilidade coloidal. Com os sistemas funcionalizados com ácido fólico, o procedimento via ligação com carbodiimida na presença de NHS demonstrou ser eficaz na formação de ligação amida, confirmada por FTIR e quantificação de ligantes. A funcionalização com quitosana necessita de alguns ajustes, visto ser um novo procedimento, porém alguns sistemas em que foi utilizado o método da gelificação iônica possuíram bons resultados de nanocápsulas de quitosana formadas com nanopartículas biocompatibilizadas em seu interior. / Magnetite, iron oxide, is a type of magnetic nanoparticles (NPMs) that is a widely adopted in several areas of biotechnology and biomedicine, such as in the treatment of cancer, controlled delivery of drugs and as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging. The purpose of this work is to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles with enhanced saturation magnetization via modified polyol process and modify its surface to promote a biocompatibilization in these systems. In addition, there was the aim to functionalize nanoparticles with modificate surfaces, using two methods: via amide bonding with folic acid molecules (AF) and encapsulation of nanoparticles with chitosan. Surface modification was done via surface washing, addition and / or exchange ligands using ?-aminocaproic acid (EACA), aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) molecules. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was obtained that the magnetite nanoparticles had an average diameter of 8 nm, in a narrow size distribution. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated formation of magnetite in all systems where modified polyol method was used. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed the presence of vibration modes related to macromolecules and inorganic compounds used in the surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles and / or functionalization. The TEM of different surface modifications showed the formation of agglomerates, depending on the molecule used. Colloidal stability studies were necessary to simulate a biological medium for a possible application of these systems as carriers for treatment via magnetohyperthermia or controlled delivery of NPMs for cancer treatment. Nanoparticles coated with DMSA showed better colloidal stability results. With folic acid functionalized systems, the procedure via carbodiimide linkage in the presence of NHS had been shown to be effective in FTIR-confirmed amide bond formation and ligand quantification. The functionalization with chitosan requires some adjustments, since it was a new procedure, however some systems using the ionic gelation method had good results of chitosan nanocapsules formed with biocompatibilized nanoparticles in structure.

"Hydrophobic hydration of non polar molecules is the principal driving force that dictates several interfacial phenomena in nature such as self assembly of surfactant molecules, fate of environmental pollutants, wetting of surfaces, solution behavior of polymers and folding of biological molecules such as proteins. However, the physics associated with hydrophobic interactions on a molecular length scale, which is central to self assembly and protein folding, is different from the macroscopic phenomena of de-mixing of oil and water or wetting of surfaces. This dissertation seeks to understand the implication of hydrophobic interactions to energy and environmental applications using different approaches. The first approach is to examine the behavior of water molecules with hydrophobic moieties at a molecular level using molecular dynamics simulations and evaluate macroscopic thermodynamic properties. The first problem addressed in this dissertation is the enclathration of gas molecules by water molecules in the presence of quaternary ammonium ions. Small polar organic molecules such as quaternary ammonium salts form crystalline inclusion compounds called semi-clathrate hydrates, where these polar molecules occupy a lattice position of the hydrogen bond network of water molecules. These crystalline structures of water are formed at ambient temperature and pressure conditions and can store as much 3%(w/w) of methane, making them potential materials for gas storage. The stability and structure of semi-clathrate hydrates of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBAB) and methane were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. MD simulations were done at varying conditions of temperature and pressure for methane-TBAB ratios of 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2. Thermo-mechanical properties evaluated using MD simulations were in agreement with experimental data available. Our investigation of this system shows that enclathration of methane in these semi-clathrate hydrates is thermodynamically favorable even at higher temperatures and shows signatures of hydrophobic hydration. Our estimation of free energies associated with successive inclusion of methane molecules in these cavities suggests a Langmuir-type adsorption of methane in these cages. Another problem investigated in this dissertation is the effect of chemical heterogeneity of crystalline cellulose (110) and (100) surfaces on their respective wetting behavior. Understanding the interaction of water with cellulose is important in the view of its role in consumer textiles made from cotton cellulose and potential applications of cellulose as biomaterials and as an energy source. The difference in the wetting behavior of (110) and (100) crystal surfaces is due to the asymmetry in the exposure of the hydroxyl groups by these surfaces. MD simulations were used to evaluate the contact angles of hemi-cylindrical water nanodroplets on crystalline (110) and (100) surfaces of the cellulose I&#946; allomorph. While the native crystalline surfaces were completely wetted by water nanodroplets, substituting the primary hydroxyl groups with methyl and methoxy groups results in dewetting. The contact angle of a hemicylidrical water nanodroplet on the hydrophobically-modified (110) surface is greater than on the (100) surface suggesting that the (110) surface has a greater exposure of the primary hydroxyl groups. The solubility of cellulose in aliphatic N-oxides has been of particular interest because of its application in industrial processes such as Lyocell process. However, the mechanisms that dictate the dissolution of cellulose in these selective solvents are not clearly understood. Attempt is made to understand the solvation of cellulose in N-Methylmorpholine oxide (NMMO) and water from a molecular perspective. MD simulations of a model cellohexaose crystallite solvated respectively in pure water, NMMO and in an equimolar mixture suggest that while NMMO molecules preferentially cluster around the primary hydroxyl groups in cellohexaose chains, the role of water is critical in its ability to access the glycosidic oxygen. The second approach is to study the implication of introducing hydrophobicity at molecular level and experimental determination of its implication to addressing interfacial aspects of environmental remediation. Sub-micron size carbon particles derived from hydrothermal decomposition of sucrose are effective in stabilizing water-in-trichloroethylene (TCE) emulsions. Irreversible adsorption of carbon particles at the TCE-water interface resulting in the formation of a monolayer around the water droplet in the emulsion phase is identified as the key reason for emulsion stability. Cryogenic Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to clearly image the assembly of carbon particles at the TCE-water interface and the formation of bilayers at regions of droplet-droplet contact. The results from this study have broad implications to the subsurface injection of carbon submicron particles containing zerovalent iron nanoparticles to treat pools of chlorinated hydrocarbons that are sequestered in fractured bedrock. Interfacial aspects of hydrophobically modified biopolymer and its ability to enhance the stability of crude-oil droplets formed were investigated. Turbidimetric analyses show that emulsions of crude oil in saline water prepared using a combination of the biopolymer and the well-studied chemical dispersant (Corexit 9500A) remain stable for extended periods in comparison to emulsions stabilized by the dispersant alone. The hydrophobic residues attached to the polymer preferentially anchor at the oil-water interface and form a protective layer of the polymer around the droplets. The enhanced stability of the droplets is due to the polymer layer providing an increase in electrostatic and steric repulsions and thereby a large barrier to droplet coalescence. The implication of this study to current remediation methods is significant since the addition of hydrophobically modified chitosan following the application of chemical dispersant to an oil spill can potentially reduce the use of chemical dispersants. Increasing the molecular weight of the biopolymer changes the rheological properties of the oil-in-water emulsion. Emulsions stabilized by using a combination of Corexit 9500A and high molecular weight hydrophobically modified chitosan show characteristics of a weak gel. The ability of the biopolymer to tether the oil droplets in a gel-like matrix has potential applications in the immobilization of surface oil spills for enhanced removal. Carbon microspheres containing magnetite nanoparticles, synthesized using inexpensive precursors such as sucrose and iron chloride, are ferromagnetic and have affinity to the oil phase. We demonstrate that a thin layer of crude oil can be corralled and thickened by the application of nonionic surfactant. Following the application of magnetite-carbon particles, hydrophobically modified chitosan was applied to form a gel-like phase. This gel-like phase of crude oil containing magnetic carbon spheres can be removed as an aggregate using a magnet resulting in enhanced recovery of crude oil. The results from the current study point to developing potential applications for confinement, magnetic tracking and removal of surface oil. " / acase@tulane.edu

<p>Various aspects of and approaches towards the steric stabilisation of liposomes have been investigated, mainly by use of fluorescence techniques and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). It is shown that PEG(2000)-lipids can be incorporated in the liposome membrane up to a critical concentration of 8-10 mol% without any observable structural perturbations. Above 10 mol%, a breakdown of the liposome structure into flat lamellar discs was observed. The sterically stabilised liposomes displayed similar, or even reduced, membrane permeability as compared with conventional liposomes. The presence of PEG-lipids in the EPC membrane was shown to affect the liposome-to-micelle transition in mixtures containing OG. Little or no effects of the PEG-lipids were found on the transition in mixtures containing C₁₂E₈.</p><p>The interactions between a number of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers and PC or PC/Chol liposomes have been investigated. It is shown that these polymers adsorb rapidly onto the liposome surface and induce a substantial increase in membrane permeability as well as structural perturbations. No evidence of an effective steric stabilisation due to the presence of the polymers at the membrane surface was found. This was shown, by the use of a QCM-technique, to be a consequence of the weak interaction between the polymers and the lipid membrane. </p><p>Dispersions of reversed lipid phases in mixtures of DOPE and PEG-lipids were characterised using cryo-TEM. Dispersions displaying reasonable colloidal stability were obtained and particles exhibiting a periodic dense inner structure were observed.</p><p>PEG-lipid micelles were characterised mainly using light scattering techniques. Micelle aggregation numbers and hydrodynamic radii were determined as a function of temperature. It is shown that the inter-micellar interactions are dominated by the steric repulsion.</p><p>PEG-lipid stabilised liposomes loaded with boronated drugs intended for BNCT have been characterised. The drugs were efficiently encapsulated into the liposomes, resulting in a drug precipitation in the water core of the liposomes.</p>

Various aspects of and approaches towards the steric stabilisation of liposomes have been investigated, mainly by use of fluorescence techniques and cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM). It is shown that PEG(2000)-lipids can be incorporated in the liposome membrane up to a critical concentration of 8-10 mol% without any observable structural perturbations. Above 10 mol%, a breakdown of the liposome structure into flat lamellar discs was observed. The sterically stabilised liposomes displayed similar, or even reduced, membrane permeability as compared with conventional liposomes. The presence of PEG-lipids in the EPC membrane was shown to affect the liposome-to-micelle transition in mixtures containing OG. Little or no effects of the PEG-lipids were found on the transition in mixtures containing C12E8. The interactions between a number of PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers and PC or PC/Chol liposomes have been investigated. It is shown that these polymers adsorb rapidly onto the liposome surface and induce a substantial increase in membrane permeability as well as structural perturbations. No evidence of an effective steric stabilisation due to the presence of the polymers at the membrane surface was found. This was shown, by the use of a QCM-technique, to be a consequence of the weak interaction between the polymers and the lipid membrane. Dispersions of reversed lipid phases in mixtures of DOPE and PEG-lipids were characterised using cryo-TEM. Dispersions displaying reasonable colloidal stability were obtained and particles exhibiting a periodic dense inner structure were observed. PEG-lipid micelles were characterised mainly using light scattering techniques. Micelle aggregation numbers and hydrodynamic radii were determined as a function of temperature. It is shown that the inter-micellar interactions are dominated by the steric repulsion. PEG-lipid stabilised liposomes loaded with boronated drugs intended for BNCT have been characterised. The drugs were efficiently encapsulated into the liposomes, resulting in a drug precipitation in the water core of the liposomes.