O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resistência de união, a penetração e a adaptação à dentina radicular de cimentos obturadores à base de resina epóxica e de silicato de cálcio com e sem ativação sônica e ultrassônica. Raízes de caninos superiores com 16 mm de comprimento foram submetidas a preparo biomecânico com instrumentos rotatórios de níquel titânio sob irrigação constante com NaOCl 2,5% e irrigação final com EDTA 17%. As raízes foram distribuídas em grupos de acordo com os cimentos obturadores: AH Plus e MTA Fillapex. Cada grupo foi subdividido em função da ativação do cimento obturador (n=13): sem ativação; ativação sônica por 30 segundos; ativação ultrassônica por 30 segundos. Em cada subgrupo, a manipulação dos cimentos obturadores foi realizada de acordo com as instruções dos fabricantes para 10 espécimes, para os 3 espécimes restantes, o cimento foi acrescido de Rodamina B 0,1% previamente à manipulação. A obturação foi realizada de acordo com o protocolo de cada subgrupo em relação ao cimento e ativação, utilizando-se a técnica de condensação lateral. Após três vezes os tempos de endurecimento dos cimentos, os espécimes foram seccionados obtendo-se 3 slices de 1,0 mm de espessura de cada terço radicular. Dois slices de cada terço foram submetidos ao teste de push-out e o padrão de falha foi determinado. O terceiro slice de cada terço radicular foi submetido à análise qualitativa da adaptação do cimento à dentina radicular e presença de vazios, por meio de microscopia confocal de varredura a laser. Nos espécimes em que o cimento foi acrescido de Rodamina B 0,1%, avaliou-se a penetração do cimento na dentina radicular por microscopia confocal de varredura a laser com fluorescência. Os dados foram analisados por testes estatísticos paramétricos e não-paramétricos. O cimento AH Plus (2,58±1,21) apresentou maior resistência de união comparado ao MTA Fillapex (1,45±0,71) (p<0,122). A ativação ultrassônica (2,64±1,44) propiciou maior resistência de união comparada aos grupos sem ativação (1,58±0,73) (p<0,0001) e com ativação sônica (1,83±0,85) (p<0,0001), não havendo diferença entre estes (p=0,3303). O terço cervical apresentou maior resistência de união (2,48±1,49) comparado ao médio (2,08±0,94) (p=0,0003) e apical (1,48±0,58) (p<0,001). Para o cimento MTA Fillapex houve predomínio de falhas adesivas mistas em todos os grupos, enquanto que para o cimento AH Plus houve predomínio de falhas adesivas mistas para os grupos sem ativação e ativação ultrassônica e falhas adesivas mistas e adesivas ao material obturador para o grupo de ativação sônica. A ativação ultrassônica promoveu, independente do cimento obturador, maior número, densidade e extensão de tags, com massa obturadora mais homogênea e adaptada às paredes do canal radicular. A ativação sônica, por sua vez, apresentou número, densidade e extensão de tags similares ao grupo sem ativação, no entanto a massa obturadora apresentou desadaptações e formação de bolhas. A ativação ultrassônica impactou na maior resistência de união, penetração, densidade e extensão de tags e melhor adaptação do cimento a dentina radicular, ao contrário da ativação sônica que não aumentou a resistência de união e penetração de tags e proporcionou maior desadaptação e inclusão de vazios na massa obturadora. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength, penetration and adaptation to the root dentin sealers based on epoxy resin and calcium silicate with and without sonic and ultrasonic activation. Maxillary canine roots with 16 mm length were submitted to biomechanical preparation with nickel titanium rotary files, under constant irrigation with 2.5% NaOCl and final irrigation with 17% EDTA. The roots were divided into groups according to the sealers: AH Plus and MTA Fillapex. Each group was subdivided based on sealer activation (n = 13): no activation; sonic activations (30 seconds); ultrasonic activation (30 seconds). In each subgroup, the sealer manipulation was performed according to the manufacturers instructions for 10 specimens, for the 3 remaining specimens, the Rhodamine B 0.1% was incorpored to the sealer prior to manipulation. The root canal filling was performed according to the protocol of each group relative to the sealer and activation, using the lateral condensation technique. After three times the sealer setting times, the specimens were sectioned and obtained 3 slices of 1.0 mm thickness of each root third. Two slices of each third were submitted to the push-out test and the failure pattern was determined. The third slice of each root third was submitted to qualitative analysis of sealer and root dentin adaptation and the presence of voids, by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy. In specimens in which Rhodamine B 0.1% was added in the sealer was evaluated the sealer penetration in root dentin by confocal laser scanning fluorescence. The data were analyzed using parametric and nonparametric statistical tests. The AH Plus (2.58 ± 1.21) showed higher bond strength compared to MTA Fillapex (1.45 ± 0.71) (p <0.122). The ultrasonic activation (2.64 ± 1.44) provided higher bond strength compared to no activation groups (1.58 ± 0.73) (p <0.0001) and sonic activation (1.83 ± 0.85) (p <0.0001), with no difference between them (p = 0.3303). The cervical third showed higher bond strength (2.48 ± 1.49) compared to the middle (2.08 ± 0.94) (p = 0.0003) and apical thirds (1.48 ± 0.58) (P < 0.001). For the MTA Fillapex there was a predominance of mixed adhesive failures in all groups, whereas for AH Plus there was a predominance of mixed adhesive failures for groups without activation and ultrasonic activation and mixed adhesive failures and adhesives to the filling material for the sonic activation group. Ultrasonic activation promoted, regardless of the sealer, the greater number, density and length tags with more homogenous and adapted root canal filling to the root canal walls. On the other hand, the sonic activation, presented number, density and length of tags similar to the group without activation, however the root canal filling showed mismatches and blistering. Ultrasonic activation impacted the highest bond strength, penetration, density and length tags and better adaptation of the sealer root dentin, unlike the sonic activation that not increased bond strength and penetration tags and provided greater mismatch and the inclusion of voids in the root canal filling.

O câncer de mucosa oral é um problema de saúde pública, com maior incidência em homens acima de 50 anos. Uma das manifestações clínicas mais precoces do câncer da mucosa oral são as lesões leucoqueratósica. O aspecto clínico não homogêneo e o tamanho maior de 200mm2, em mucosa não queratinizada como a do assoalho da boca e ventre da língua, são aspectos que implicam na possibilidade de evolução da lesão. A dificuldade do diagnóstico das lesões precoces está na seleção do local a ser biopsiado principalmente frente a lesões extensas e heterogêneas. O objetivo desta pesquisa é avaliar se a utilização do exame clínico juntamente com os métodos auxiliares de diagnóstico das lesões leucoqueratósica da mucosa oral (VELscope®, Azul de toluidina e Solução de lugol) contribui para uma maior precisão do diagnóstico de displasias nestas lesões quando comparado ao histopatológico. E, identificar os padrões morfológicos destas lesões quando avaliadas por meio da microscopia confocal reflectante. Foram selecionados 30 pacientes, maiores de 18 anos, portadores de lesão clínica compatível com leucoplasia oral triados no ambulatório da disciplina de Estomatologia Clínica da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade de São Paulo e que precisavam ser submetidos à biópsia para o estabelecimento do diagnóstico final. Foram realizados os testes de Azul de Toluidina, Solução de Lugol, VELscope®, microscopia confocal reflectante e posteriormente, a biópsia incisional para obtenção do diagnóstico final. Os pacientes incluídos possuíam média de idade 60,66 anos, sendo 70% (21/30) do gênero feminino e 30% (9/30) do gênero masculino. O tabagismo foi relatado por 16,7% (5/30) dos pacientes, sendo 60% (3/5) homens. A associação do tabagismo e etilismo foi relatada em 10% (3/30) dos pacientes, o tabagismo isoladamente por 6,6% (2/30) e o de etilismo por 3,3%(1/30). A associação dos hábitos e o etilismo isolado foram relatados somente por homens. Enquanto que o hábito de tabagismo isolado foi relatado somente por mulheres. Com o uso do VELscope® todas as lesões apresentaram perda da fluorescência tecidual sendo, portanto todas positivas para este método. Com a Solução de Lugol, 100% das lesões não coraram, sendo portanto positivas para este método. O exame histopatológico permitiu o diagnóstico de 30% (9/30) casos de carcinoma epidermoide, 10% (3/30) de neoplasia intraepitelial, 20% (6/30) de líquen plano oral e 40% (12/30) de líquen simple crônico oral. Para o uso do VELscope® e do Lugol foi observada uma sensibilidade de 100% e uma especificidade de 50%.Para o Azul de Toluidina foi observada uma sensibilidade de 63,15%- 66,66% e especificidade de 75,67%-82,35%.Na Microscopia Confocal Reflectante foram definidos padrões para os quatro diferentes diagnósticos observados. Os métodos auxiliares de diagnóstico por cromoscopia e fluorescência de mucosa se mostraram eficientes no auxílio da delimitação da extensão da lesão e a Microscopia Confocal Reflectante permitiu a visualização de padrões morfológicos das lesões brancas de forma não invasiva. A utilização da Microscopia Confocal Reflectante permitiu também a determinação de padrões morfológicos para o carcinoma epidermoide, a neoplasia intraepitelial, o líquen plano oral e o líquen simples crônico oral e se mostrou eficiente quando comparada ao exame histopatológico. / Cancer of the oral mucosa is a public health problem, with higher incidence in men above 50 years. One of the earliest manifestations of cancer of the oral mucosa lesions are leukokeratosis. The inhomogeneous clinical aspect and the larger size of 200mm2 in non-keratinized mucosa as the floor of the mouth and constipation of the tongue, are aspects that imply the possibility of evolution of the lesion. The difficulty of diagnosis of early lesions is in the selection of the site to be biopsied primarily against large and heterogeneous lesions. The objective of this research is to evaluate the use of clinical examination along with diagnostic aids leucoqueratósica of oral lesions (VELscope ®, Toluidine blue and Lugol solution) methods contributes to greater accuracy of diagnosis of dysplasia in these lesions when compared the histopathological. And identify the morphological patterns of these lesions when evaluated by reflectance confocal microscopy. 30 patients older than 18 years, with clinical lesion compatible with oral leukoplakia screened in the outpatient discipline of Clinical Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo and that needed to be biopsied to establish the final diagnosis were selected. Tests toluidine blue, Lugol\'s solution, VELscope ®, reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) and subsequently, incisional biopsy to obtain the final diagnosis were performed. Patients enrolled had a mean age 60.66 years, 70% (21/30) were female and 30% (9/30) were male. Smoking was reported by 16.7% (5/30) of patients, 60% (3/5) homens.A association of smoking and alcohol use was reported in 10% (3/30) of patients, smoking alone by 6.6% (2/30) and of alcoholism by 3.3% (1/30). The association of habits and alcoholism alone were reported by men only. While the habit of smoking alone was reported by women only. Using the VELscope ® all lesions showed loss of tissue fluorescence, so being all positive for this method. With Lugol\'s solution, 100% of the lesions did not stain, thus being positive for this method. Histopathological examination allowed the diagnosis of 30% (9/30) cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 10% (3/30) of intraepithelial neoplasia, 20% (6/30) of oral lichen planus and 40% (12/30) chronic oral lichen simple. For the use of Lugol VELscope ® and a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 50% was observed for the toluidine blue a sensitivity of 63.15%- 66.66% was observed and a specificity of 75.67% - 82.35%. Confocal Microscopy In reflective patterns observed for the four different diagnoses were defined. Auxiliary diagnostic methods chromoscopy and fluorescence mucosa were effective in aiding the delimitation of the extent of injury and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy allowed the visualization of morphological patterns of white lesions noninvasively. Use the Reflectance Confocal Microscopy also allowed the determination of morphological patterns to epidermoid carcinoma, intraepithelial neoplasia, oral lichen planus and lichen simplex chronic oral and proved efficient when compared to histopathology.

A celulose é o principal polímero derivado de fonte renovável de uso industrial tanto em termos de volume como em número de aplicações. A celulose é comercializada na forma de polpa, que se trata de uma commodity cuja principal aplicação é a indústria de papel e de derivados de celulose, tais como os seus éteres e ésteres. Com o advento das nanoceluloses, que podem ser obtidas diretamente da polpa química, se observa um expressivo aumento no interesse por esses materiais. A modificação superficial tanto das fibras (polpa) como das microfibrilas é de grande interesse, pois podem permitir a ampliação do uso desses materiais uma vez que suas propriedades poderiam ser modificadas. O desenvolvimento de métodos de modificação em meio aquoso da celulose em suspensão é de grande interesse em especial se realizado com o uso de agentes sustentáveis em contexto de química verde. Este trabalho visou a modificação da polpa de celulose por duas vias: química e física, realizadas inteiramente em meio aquoso e utilizando materiais de caráter renováveis. A modificação física da fibra de celulose \"never-dried\" foi feita pelo método de auto-montagem (Layer-by-Layer) com o par de polieletrólito quitosana / carboximetilcelulose (CH / CMC) em meio aquoso. Fibras modificadas foram submetidas à analise morfológica (MEV e microscopia confocal no método de absorção de dois fótons e EDS), propriedade mecânica (módulo elástico e limite de resistência à tração) e potencial zeta. O complexo CH / CMC depositado sobre as fibras apresentou uma espessura de aproximadamente 50 nm por camada e um aumento de aproximadamente 170% no limite de resistência a tração das folhas produzidos a partir das fibras, demonstrando uma forte interação fibra/polieletrólitos. Através da técnica de absorção de dois fótons foi possível identificar a deposição das camadas fora e dentro das fibras sem o uso de cromóforo. A modificação química da nanofibra de celulose foi feita pela enxertia de grupamentos furânicos na superfície da fibra, oxidada. Em seguida de uma reação com uma bismaleimida através da reação de \"click\" de Diels-Alder em meio aquoso. Os géis foram caracterizados por meio da técnica de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e viscosimetria, com os quais pode-se verificar o efeito da termorreversibilidade uma vez que a 65°C ocorre gelificação do sistema e 95°C ocorre reversão do gel como resultado das reações DA e retro Diels-Alder. As modificações das fibras e nanofibras de celulose em meio aquoso foram bem-sucedidas, o que pode impulsionar o uso da polpa de celulose em novas aplicações originais como artefatos de papel fortes e géis biocompatíveis, visando a estratégia green chemistry. / Cellulose is the main polymer derived from renewable sources of industrial use, in terms of volume and number of applications. Cellulose is marketed in the pulp form, which is a commodity whose main application is the paper industry and derived from pulp, such as its ethers and esters. The advent of nanocelluloses, which can be obtained directly from the chemical pulp, there is an expressive increase in these materials. The superficial modification in fibers (pulp) and microfibrils is great interest, since they can allow the amplification of the use of these materials since their properties could be modified. The development of methods for modification of cellulose in aqueous suspension is of particular interest especially if carried out with sustainable agents in the context of green chemistry. This work aimed at the modification of the cellulose pulp by two routes: chemistry and physics, performed entirely in aqueous medium and using renewable character materials. The physical modification of the \"never-dried\" cellulose fiber was done by the self-assembly method (Layer-by-Layer) with the polyelectrolyte pair chitosan / carboxymethylcellulose (CH / CMC) in aqueous medium. Modified fibers were subjected to morphological analysis (SEM and confocal microscopy in two-photon absorption technique and EDS), mechanical properties (elastic modulus and tensile strength) and zeta potential. The CH / CMC complex deposited under the fibers had a thickness of approximately 50 nm per layer and an increase of approximately 170% in the tensile strength of the sheets in compare of unmodified fibers sheets, showing a strong interaction between fiber and polyelectrolyte. Through the technique of two-photon adsorption, it was possible to identify the layers deposition outside and inside the fibers without the use of chromophore. The chemical modification of the cellulose nanofiber was made by the grafting of furanic groups on the surface of the oxidized fiber. Following by reaction with a bismaleimide through the \"click\" reaction of Diels-Alder in aqueous medium. The thermoreversible hydrogels were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and viscosimetry, which the effect of thermoreversibility can be verified at 65 °C when the gelation of the system occurs and 95 °C gel reversion occurs because of DA and retro Diels-Alder reactions. Modifications of cellulose fibers and nanofibers in aqueous media have been successful, which may increase the use of cellulose pulp in novel applications such as strong paper artifacts and biocompatible gels, targeting the green chemistry strategy.

Pour mettre en relation les propriétés rhéologiques et la structure méso/microscopique d'un système modèle ou complexe, l'utilisation de la rhéo-optique est indispensable. Nous avons donc développé une cellule d'observation sous cisaillement adaptée à la microscopie confocale. Ce dispositif, breveté et nommé RheOptiCAD®, permet le cisaillement contrôlé d'un échantillon quelconque placé entre 2 plans parallèles en translation. Grâce à un système à dépression, la mise en place de l'échantillon est simple et rapide tout en assurant des propriétés optiques répétables et reproductibles (planéité, parallélisme). Par ailleurs, la température au sein de l'échantillon peut être régulée de façon à imposer une contrainte thermique, cause de nombreuses modifications de la mésostructure d'un système alimentaire. La cellule d'observation sous cisaillement permet donc de suivre l'évolution et la dynamique des changements de structures conséquences d'un traitement thermo-mécanique imposé. Un logiciel de pilotage et d'acquisition des données a été développé pour rendre son utilisation plus conviviale. La validation du fonctionnement de l'outil et de ses fonctionnalités a tout d'abord été réalisée sans échantillon puis à l'aide d'un système modèle contenant des particules fluorescentes dont le mouvement était suivi. Par la suite, dans le but de tester les potentialités de ce nouvel outil tout en développant la méthodologie de son utilisation, et en particulier l'équilibre entre propriétés optiques et mécaniques des échantillons, nous avons travaillé avec de la pâte de farine. Ce système alimentaire bien connu et maîtrisé d'un point de vue rhéologique au laboratoire présente des caractéristiques intéressantes dans ce cadre. L'évolution du réseau de gluten au cours d'un cisaillement oscillatoire en fonction de la formulation de la pâte a été étudiée. Grâce à une analyse d'image basée sur la morphologie mathématique, nous avons pu mettre en évidence des changements de structures au cours du temps. De même, à l'aide des capacités thermiques de la cellule de cisaillement, nous avons étudié le positionnement et le mouvement des lipides endogènes à l'interface air-protéine lors de la fermentation. Notre cellule d'observation sous cisaillement constitue donc un nouvel outil de caractérisation dynamique de systèmes complexes couplant rhéologie et microscopie. Son optimisation principale réside dans la mise en place d'un capteur de force, mesurant les contraintes mises en jeu lors des déformations imposées. / Rheo-optic is a recent technique which can be used to create links between rheological properties and meso/microsctructures of model or complex (food) systems. A novel rheo-optical shearing device was designed for studying this relationships within complex food systems. The device has been build to be adapted on an inverted confocal microscope. Specifications of the shear cell are: a) a controlled translational shear between 2 parallel plates with three different motion modes (continuous, oscillatory, strain jump); b) a thermal control; and c) an observation on an inverted confocal microscope. Due to a vacuum system, the set up of an experiment is easy and fast ensuring reproducible optical properties (planarity, parallelism). Temperature, responsible of numerous modifications of structures in a food matrix, is also controlled. A piloting software allows an easy use of the shear cell. Validation of the motion modes has been carried out using a microgel, containing fluorescent probes (spheres) and tracking some of the particles. Next, in order to test and develop methods of observation under shear, taking into account the optical-mechanical balance, bread dough observation has been performed. Well known and described in the lab, bread dough is a dispersion of air bubbles and starch granules in a gluten network. Evolution on this gluten network depending on the formulation of the bread dough has been studied under oscillatory shearing. The composition effect on the microstructure and its evolution were observed and will be commented. Image analysis based on grayscale mathematical morphology has been carried out in order to try to quantify the rheological properties and microstructures. Finally, by a controlled increase of temperature, the growth of an air bubble in bread dough containing yeast was followed during proofing. The influence and the disposition of fat globules at the bubble air-protein interface along this growing process were followed. Thanks to the rheo-optical device, images of microstructures obtained under controlled shear are compared to their rheological behaviour.

[Truncated abstract] Articular cartilage (AC) covers the surface of synovial joints providing a nearly frictionless bearing surface and distributing mechanical load. Joint trauma can damage the articular surface causing pain, loss of mobility and deformation. Currently there is no uniform treatment protocol for managing focal cartilage defects, with most treatment options targeted towards symptomatic relief but not limiting the progression into osteoarthritis (OA). Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) and more recently matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI), have emerged as promising methods for producing hyaline or hyaline-like repair tissue, however there remains some controversy regarding the exact histological nature of the tissue formed. Histological characterisation of AC repairs requires destructive tissue biopsy potentially inducing further joint pathology thereby negating the treatment effect. OA is recognised as a major cause of pain, loss of function and disability in Western populations, however the exact aetiology is yet to be elucidated. The assessment of both OA and cartilage repair has been limited to macroscopic observation, radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or destructive biopsy. The development of non-destructive AC assessment modalities will facilitate further development of AC repair techniques and enable early monitoring of OA changes in both experimental animal models and clinical subjects. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) is a type of fluorescence microscopy that generates high-resolution three-dimensional images from relatively thick sections of tissue. ... Biomechanical analysis suggested that the mechanical properties of MACI tissue remain inferior for at least three months. This study showed the potential of a multi-site sheep model of articular cartilage defect repair and validated its assessment via LSCA. Finally, the LSCA was used to arthroscopically image the cartilage of an intact fresh frozen cadaveric knee from a patient with clinically diagnosed OA. Images were correlated to ICRS (Outerbridge) Grades I-IV and histology. The LSCA gave excellent visualization of cell morphology and cell density to a depth of up to 200'm. Classical OA changes including clustering chondrocytes, surface fibrillation and fissure formation were imaged. Fair to moderate agreement was demonstrated with statistically significant correlations between all modalities. This study confirmed the viability of the LSCA for non-destructive imaging of the microstructure of the OA cartilage. In conclusion, the LSCA identified histological features of orthopaedic tissues, accurately quantified chondrocyte morphology and demonstrated classical OA changes. While the development and investigation of an ovine model of cartilage repair showed the treatment benefit of MACI, some biomechanical issues remain. Ultimately, the LSCA has been demonstrated as a reliable nondestructive imaging modality capable of providing optical histology without the need for mechanical biopsy. Medical Subject Headings (MESH): articular cartilage; autologous chondrocyte implantation; matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation; biomechanics; cartilage; confocal microscopy; diagnosis; histology; image analysis; immunohistochemistry; magnetic resonance imaging; microscopy; osteoarthritis

In this study, the origin and development of the intrinsic innervation in the foetal mouse lung is described and experimental evidence is provided to support the involvement of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the guidance of nerves and neuronal precursors in the developing lung. Antibodies were used to stain for neuronal precursors, neurones, nerve fibres, primordial epithelium and smooth muscle. These structures were revealed in whole mounts of foetal mouse lungs by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, and their spatial and temporal distribution was mapped from the onset of lung development and through the pseudoglandular period. The results showed that neuronal precursors, positive for neural crest cell markers, were present in the vagal tract of the foregut at embryonic day 10 (E10), the time of the evagination of the lung buds. These neural crest-derived cells (NCC) migrated into the lung at E11, along nerve processes directed from the vagus to the smooth musclecovered trachea and emerging lobar bronchi. During E11-E14, a network of nerves and ganglia became established along the dorsal trachea, and large ganglia formed a plexus at the ventral hilum. Nerve trunks issued from these ganglia, travelled along the smooth muscle-covered bronchi, providing a pathway for migrating NCC. To investigate the role of GDNF in the innervation of the lung, an in vitro model of left lung lobes was established. Lung growth and tubule branching was comparable to that in vivo, and neural tissue and smooth muscle continued to grow and thrive. A significant increase in nerve growth occurred when explants were cultured with GDNF compared to controls. Nerves extended, and NCC migrated towards GDNF-impregnated beads suggesting that GDNF may be the molecule guiding nerve fibres and NCC in the lung. The migrating NCC were negative for GDNF-family receptor α1 (GFRα1) during their migration into the lung while the nerves were positive. Since GDNF needs to be associated with its binding receptor, GFRα1, for cellular signalling, GDNF may induce the migration of the NCC if they migrate along the GFRα1-positive nerve fibres. It is concluded that neural tissue and smooth muscle become integral components of the lung shortly after the onset of lung development. The results show that the migration of neural crest-derived cells into the lung and the establishment of the innervation requires coordinated cross-talk between NCC, nerves and smooth muscle throughout development.

The capability to resolve the contributions from spectroscopically overlapping fluorophores has enabled significant breakthroughs in cellular imaging. However, commercial microscopes for this purpose use analog light detection with least squares curve-fitting analysis and improvements in sensitivity are needed. To this end, a microscope has been constructed with high throughput and single-photon detection capability. The fluorescence is separated through use of a prism spectrometer or a series of dichroic mirrors into four spectral bands and detected using four single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, which provide high-quantum efficiency in the red spectral region. The detectors are connected to a time-correlated single photon counting module to provide sub-nanosecond temporal resolution for distinguishing fluorophores with different fluorescence lifetimes. Maximum-likelihood (ML) methods have been developed for analyzing the temporally and spectrally resolved photon count data from the SPADs to find the contributions from different fluorescent species and from background. Commercially available SPADs exhibit a count-rate dependent time shift in the impulse response function, and hence the instrument incorporates custom modified SPADs with improved timing stability. Nevertheless, there is still some time shift, and hence the ML-analysis has been extended to include this as an adjustable parameter for each individual SPAD. Monte Carlo simulations have also been developed to enable studies of the number of photons needed to resolve specific fluorophores.

Vesicular delivery systems, like liposomes, represent an attractive approach to improving skin delivery of drugs. Liposomes are composed of one or several lipid bilayers surrounding an aqueous compartment. They are able to encapsulate hydrophilic compounds into their inner compartment and lipophilic compounds into their lipid bilayers. In the first part of this thesis, we developed a new dermal delivery system combining the advantages of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes and those of deformable liposomes. This system was called drugs-in-cyclodextrin-in-deformable liposome. Betamethasone was chosen as the model drug. These systems were successfully developed and characterised. In vitro diffusion studies using Franz diffusion cells and polycarbonate membranes gave promising results. In order to better mimic the in vivo conditions, ex vivo penetration studies using pig ear skin and Franz diffusion cells were developed. The tape stripping method was used to determine the amount of drug in the stratum corneum. The amount of drug in the epidermis, dermis and receptor medium was also assayed. These methods were successfully validated. Unfortunately, ex vivo penetration studies of the developed skin delivery system could not confirm the promising in vitro results. Our research was then directed towards studies allowing a better understanding of liposome skin penetration mechanisms. In the second part of this thesis, the influence of several parameters on the skin penetration behaviour of liposomes was investigated. The formulation importance on skin penetration efficiency was highlighted by the comparison of two liposomal systems. In the first system, betamethasone is encapsulated by the help of cyclodextrin inclusion complexes in the aqueous compartment. In the second system, betamethasone is encapsulated alone in the lipid bilayer. The second system shows high membrane permeability of the encapsulated betamethasone. Despite this decreased drug retention, the second system enhances the skin penetration of betamethasone. This high membrane permeability and the better penetration of the second formulation support the mechanism of penetration as a free drug substance. In addition, no difference in penetration is observed between liposomes containing betamethasone alone and a non liposomal dispersion. Several surfactants or edge activators were incorporated in the lipid bilayer of liposomes in order to obtain deformable liposomes. Unfortunately, these deformable liposomes are unable to enhance skin penetration compared to classical non deformable liposomes. The addition of charged lipids in the lipid bilayer of liposomes encapsulating either betamethasone or betamethasone dipropionate was investigated. The addition of negatively charged lipids enhances the penetration of the encapsulated drug. The use of negatively charged liposomes enhanced the epidermis accumulation of betamethasone 9.3 times compared with the ethanolic solution. This improvement is not observed with the corresponding non liposomal dispersion, indicating that the vesicle form is of high importance. In the case of the ester, the use of negatively charged liposomes enhances the epidermis accumulation 5.5 times compared with the Diprosone® lotion and only 1.6 times compared with the ethanolic solution. The penetration of a more lipophilic drug, with a high intrinsic penetration, is less enhanceable when incorporated in liposomes. Confocal microscopy was performed to visualise skin penetration of fluorescently labelled liposomes. The lipophilic dye rhodamine B encapsulated in the lipid bilayer as betamethasone penetrates the epidermis at the same level as NBD-phosphatidylcholine. On the other hand, the hydrophilic dye calcein encapsulated in the aqueous compartment as betamethasone-cyclodextrin complexes does not penetrate the epidermis. These observations seem to confirm the ex vivo results. In addition, the skin penetration of rhodamine B seems to be improved by the incorporation in negatively charged liposomes compared with classical ones. Finally, the efficiency of the negatively charged vesicles was evaluated in vivo on volunteers by the skin blanching assay. Carbomer gel containing the negatively charged vesicles seems to enhance the blanching response of encapsulated betamethasone in comparison with the ethanolic hydroxypropylcellulose gel. However, results are not significantly different. This could be explained by the small number of volunteers. On the other hand, in the case of formulations containing betamethasone dipropionate, no tendency could be highlighted. These results seem to confirm that the use of negatively charged liposomes is more attractive for improving the efficiency of a lesser lipophilic drug, betamethasone, in comparison with the more lipophilic ester, betamethasone dipropionate. These results need to be confirmed using a higher number of volunteers./ Les systèmes vésiculaires, comme les liposomes, représentent une approche intéressante pour améliorer ladministration cutanée de médicaments. Les liposomes sont des vésicules sphériques composées dune ou plusieurs bicouches lipidiques entourant une cavité aqueuse. Ils sont capables dencapsuler des molécules hydrophiles dans leur cavité aqueuse, ainsi que de retenir des molécules hydrophobes dans leur bicouche lipidique. Dans la première partie de la thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés au développement dun nouveau système dadministration cutanée combinant les avantages des complexes dinclusion dans les cyclodextrines et ceux des liposomes déformables, aboutissant à un nouveau concept appelé : « drugs-in-cyclodextrin-in-deformable liposome». La bétaméthasone a été utilisée comme molécule modèle. Ces nouveaux systèmes ont été mis au point et caractérisés avec succès. Les premières études de diffusion réalisées in vitro, à travers des membranes synthétiques et au moyen des cellules de diffusion de Franz, étaient prometteuses. Afin de se rapprocher des conditions in vivo, des études de pénétration des liposomes ont alors été mises au point, ex-vivo, au moyen de cellules de diffusion et à travers des peaux doreilles de cochons. La méthode du « tape stripping » a permis de déterminer la quantité de bétaméthasone dans le stratum corneum. La quantité de substance active dans lépiderme, le derme et le mileu récepteur des cellules de Franz a également été déterminée. Ces méthodes ont été validées avec succés. Malheureusement, les études sur peaux doreilles de cochons nont pas permis de confirmer nos premières conclusions. Les recherches ont alors été orientées vers des études permettant de mieux comprendre les mécanismes de pénétration cutanée des liposomes. Dans la seconde partie de la thèse, linfluence de différents paramètres sur la pénétration cutanée a été étudiée. La comparaison de la pénétration cutanée de deux systèmes liposomiaux différents a mis en évidence limportance de la formulation des liposomes sur leur efficacité. Dans le premier, la bétaméthasone est encapsulée comme précédemment à laide de cyclodextrines dans la cavité aqueuse des liposomes déformables. Dans le second système, la bétaméthasone est encapsulée seule au niveau de la bicouche lipidique des liposomes. Ce second système a montré une plus grande perméabilité de la molécule modèle encapsulée. Malgré cette plus faible rétention, le deuxième système a permis daugmenter la pénétration de la molécule modèle. La plus grande perméabilité et la meilleure pénétration du deuxième système permettent de conclure que la bétaméthasone pénétrerait sous une forme non encapsulée dans les liposomes. De plus, aucune différence na été observée entre la pénétration cutanée des liposomes encapsulant la bétaméthasone dans leur bicouche et une dispersion non liposomale. Plusieurs tensio-actifs ont également été incorporés au niveau de la bicouche des liposomes afin dobtenir des liposomes déformables. Malheureusement, la faible augmentation de pénétration observée par rapport aux liposomes classiques non déformables nest pas significative. Lajout de lipides chargés au niveau de la bicouche lipidique de liposomes encapsulant soit la bétaméthasone soit le dipropionate de bétaméthasone a été investigué. Laddition de lipides chargés négativement a permis daugmenter la pénétration de la molécule encapsulée. Lutilisation de liposomes chargés négativement a permis daugmenter la quantité de bétaméthasone au niveau de lépiderme dun facteur 9,3 par rapport à une solution éthanolique de bétaméthasone. Cette augmentation na pas été observée avec la dispersion non liposomale correspondante, indiquant que la formulation sous forme de vésicules est très importante. En ce qui concerne le dipropionate de bétaméthasone, lencapsulation dans les liposomes chargés négativement a augmenté la quantité dester dans lépiderme dun facteur 5,5 par rapport à la spécialité Diprosone® lotion et seulement dun facteur 1,6 par rapport à la solution éthanolique. Lencapsulation dans les liposomes chargés négativement semble donc moins avantageuse dans le cas dune molécule plus lipophile, comme le dipropionate de bétaméthasone et qui possède déjà une bonne pénétration cutanée intrinsèque par rapport à une molécule plus hydrophile comme la bétamethasone. La pénétration de liposomes rendus fluorescents a été visualisée grâce à la microscopie confocale. Un marqueur lipophile, la rhodamine B, encapsulé dans la bicouche comme la bétaméthasone, pénètre bien dans la peau de la même façon que la phosphatidylcholine fluorescente. Par contre, un marqueur hydrophile, la calcéine, encapsulé dans la cavité des liposomes comme les complexes bétaméthasone-cyclodextrines, ne pénètre pas dans lépiderme. Ces observations confirment les résultats de dosage ex vivo au moyen des cellules de Franz. De plus, la pénétration dans la peau de la rhodamine B semble être plus importante lorsquelle est encapsulée dans les liposomes chargés négativement par rapport aux liposomes non chargés. Enfin, lefficacité des liposomes négatifs a été évaluée in vivo sur des volontaires grâce à lévaluation du pouvoir de blanchiement des corticostéroïdes. Le gel de carbomère contenant les liposomes chargés négativement semble augmenter la réponse de la bétaméthasone par rapport au gel éthanolique dhydroxypropylcellulose. Cependant, les résultats ne sont pas significatifs. Une explication pourrait être le faible nombre de volontaires. Par contre, dans le cas des liposomes contenant le dipropionate de bétaméthasone, il a été plus difficile de dégager une tendance. Ces résultats semblent confirmer que lutilisation des liposomes chargés négativement est plus intéressante dans le cas dune molécule moins lipophile comme la bétamethasone par rapport à une molécule plus lipophile comme le dipropionate de bétaméthasone. Ces résultats nécessitent cependant dêtre confirmés sur un plus grand nombre de volontaires.

The aims of this study were to investigate the mechanisms underlying (1) the ageing-related motor handicap at the whole muscle, cellular, contractile protein and myonuclear levels; and (2) ageing-related differences in muscle adaptability. In vivo muscles function was studied in the knee extensors. Decreases were observed in isokinetic and isometric torque outputs in old age in the sedentary men and women and elite master sprinters. A 20-week long specific sprint and resistance training successfully improved the maximal isometric force and rate of force development in a subgroup of master sprinters. In vitro measurements were performed in muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle. Immunocytochemical and contractile measurements in single membrane permeabilized muscle fibres demonstrated ageing- and gender-related changes at the myofibrillar level. In sedentary subjects, data showed a preferential decrease in the size of muscle fibres expressing type IIa MyHC in men, lower force generating capacity in muscle fibres expressing the type I MyHC isoform in both men and women and lower maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V0) in fibres expressing types I and IIa MyHC isoforms in both men and women. The master sprinters also experienced the typical ageing-related reduction in the size of fast-twitch fibres, a shift toward a slower MyHC isoform profile and a lower V0 of type I MyHC fibres, which played a role in the decline in explosive force production capacity. The fast-twitch fibre area increased after the resistance training period. A model combining single muscle fibre confocal microscopy with a novel algorithm for 3D imaging of myonuclei in single muscle fibre segments was introduced to study the spatial organisation of myonuclei and the size of individual myonuclear domains (MNDs). Significant changes in the MND size variability and myonuclear organization were observed in old age, irrespective gender and fibre type. Those changes may influence the local quantity of specific proteins per muscle fibre volume by decreased and/or local cooperativity of myonuclei in a gender and muscle fibre specific manner. In conclusion, the ageing-related impairments in in vivo muscle function were related to significant changes in morphology, contractile protein expression and regulation at the muscle fibre level. It is suggested that the altered myonuclear organisation observed in old age impacts on muscle fibre protein synthesis and degradation with consequences for the ageing-related changes in skeletal muscle structure and function. However, the improved muscle function in response to a 20-week intense physical training regime in highly motivated physically active old subjects demonstrates that all ageing-related in muscle function are not immutable.

Since the publication of the complete sequence of the human genome in 2003 there has been great interest in exploring the functions of the proteins encoded by the genes. To reveal the function of each and every protein, investigation of protein localization at the subcellular level has become a central focus in this research area, since the localization and function of a protein is closely related. The objective of the studies presented in this doctoral thesis was to systematically explore the human proteome at the subcellular level using bioimaging and to develop techniques for validation of the results obtained. A common imaging technique for protein detection is immunofluorescence (IF), where antibodies are used to target proteins in fixated cells. A fixation protocol suitable for large-scale IF studies was developed and optimized to work for a broad set of proteins. As the technique relies on antibodies, validation of their specificity to the target protein is crucial. A platform based on siRNA gene silencing in combination with IF was set-up to evaluate antibody specificity by quantitative image analysis before and after suppression of its target protein. As a proof of concept, the platform was then used for validation of 75 antibodies, proving it to be applicable for validation of antibodies in a systematic manner. Because of the fixation, there is a common concern about how well IF data reflects the in vivo subcellular distribution of proteins. To address this, 500 proteins were tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and used to compare protein localization results between IF to those achieved using GFP tagged proteins in live cells. It was concluded that protein localization data from fixated cells satisfactory represented the situation in vivo and together exhibit a powerful approach for confirming localizations of yet uncharacterized proteins. Finally, a global analysis based on IF data of approximately 20 % of the human proteome was performed, providing a first overview of the subcellular landscape in three different cell lines. It was found that the intracellular distribution of proteins is complex, with many proteins occurring in several organelles. The results also confirmed the close relationship between protein function and localization, which in a way further strengthens the accuracy of the IF approach for detection of proteins at the subcellular level. / <p>QC 20121017</p> / The Human Protein Atlas