Les oligophénylènes constituent une classe de molécules centrale dans la conception de semi-conducteurs organiques pour des applications optoélectroniques. Ces travaux portent sur la synthèse et l’étude approfondie de dérivés linéaires et cycliques du fluorène (un biphényle rigidifié par un pont méthylène), fragment constitutif essentiel dans l’électronique organique. Nous nous intéressons en particulier aux relations structure-propriétés de ces systèmes π-conjugués. Dans une première partie, avec comme cadre le développement de matériaux hôtes pour diodes électroluminescentes (PhOLEDs), nous présentons une étude de la régioisomérie de phényl-fluorènes et de phényl-spirobifluorènes. Ses résultats ont permis la préparation de quatre matériaux hôtes purs hydrocarbures, dimères de spirobifluorène, intégrés dans des PhOLEDs bleues à hautes performances. Dans une seconde partie, nous nous intéressons au domaine récent des nano-anneaux moléculaires, objets cycliques présentant une conjugaison π de nature singulière. Après une revue bibliographique portant sur les cycloparaphénylènes et leurs propriétés, nous présentons nos études concernant plusieurs exemples de leurs analogues pontés : les cycloparafluorènes. / Oligophenylenes constitute a major class of molecules in the design of organic semiconductors for optoelectronics applications. This work involves the synthesis and in-depth study of linear and cyclic derivatives of fluorene (a biphenyl rigidified by a methylene bridge), an essential building block in organic electronics. We focus our attention on the structure-property relationships of these π-conjugated systems. In a first part, within the framework of host materials for phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes (PhOLEDs), we present a regioisomerism study of phenyl-fluorenes and phenyl-spirobifluorenes. Its results enabled the preparation of four pure hydrocarbon host materials, spirobifluorene dimers, used in high-performance blue PhOLEDs. In a second part, we take interest in the emerging field of molecular nanorings, cyclic objects presenting a singular nature of π-conjugation. After a bibliographical review covering cycloparaphenylenes and their properties, we present our studies regarding several examples of their bridged analogues: cycloparafluorenes.

Es ADCs (Antibody-Drug Conjugates) correspondent à une nouvelle stratégie thérapeutique anti-tumorale particulièrement prometteuse. Néanmoins, les ADCs actuellement utilisés en clinique sont obtenus par conjugaisons chimiques, resultant en des mixtures hétérogènes impactant négativement leurs pharmacocinétiques et leurs performances in vivo.Récemment, différentes strategies de couplage site-spécifique ont été développées afin de réduire cette hétérogénéité. Dans cette thèse, nous rapportons le développement d’une nouvelle technologie CovIsoLink™ (Covalently Isopeptide Crosslinking) permettant la génération d’ADCs par utilisation de nouveaux peptides glutamine Q-Tag présentant des affinités optimisées par rapport à des peptides disponibles (ZQG, LLQG) pour une enzyme bactérienne la transglutaminase (mTG).La preuve de concept de cette technologie a été réalisée par insertion de ces peptides Q-Tag en C-ter de la région codant pour la chaine lourde des anticorps anti-HER2 (Trastuzumab). Nous avons ainsi pu démontrer la conjugaison homogène et reproductible de différentes drogues sans contamination par des chaines d’anticorps non conjuguées. Nous avons pu montrer que l’immunoréactivité et la capacité d’internalisation de ces ADCs n’étaient pas altérées par la conjugaison et qu’ils présentaient in vitro et in vivo, des propriétés de lyse de cellules tumorales similaires au Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla®), actuellement en clinique. Par ailleurs, afin de généraliser notre technologie à différents formats d’anticorps nous avons générés des fragments Fab et scFv et évalué leur fonctionnalité. Ainsi, nous avons pu prouver que l’utilisation de nouveaux peptides optimisés Q-Tag substrat de la transglutaminase permettait une stratégie de couplage alternative plus homogène par couplage de différentes molécules sans espèce contaminante non couplée / Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a powerful class of therapeutic agents, demonstrating success in the treatment of several malignancies. The currently approved ADCs are produced by chemical conjugations and exist as heterogeneous mixtures that negatively influence the pharmacokinetics and in vivo performance. Recently many of site-specific conjugation technologies have been developed to reduce heterogeneity and batch-to batch variability. Microbial transglutaminase (mTG) has been demonstrated as efficient tool for site-specific conjugation. In this thesis we report the development CovIsoLink™ (Covalently Isopeptide Crosslinking) technology for the generation of homogenous immunoconjugates using a novel glutamine donor peptides (Q-tag) with improved affinity compared to the known peptides (ZQG, LLQG). As a proof of concept, the peptides sequences were engineered into the heavy chain C-terminal of Trastuzumab antibody. We demonstrated the reproducible and homogeneous conjugation of Q-tagged Trastuzumab with different payloads, without any unconjugated species. The ADCs were evaluated in series of in vitro and in vivo assays. We confirmed that the immunoreactivity and internalisation are not altered by the conjugation. Furthermore similar in vitro and in vivo tumor cell killing potency was demonstrated than Trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla®), which is already used in the clinic. Morover we extend our site-specific conjugation technology to antibody fragments (Fab and scFv), evaluating their functionality by conjugation with AlexaFluor488-cadaverine and in antigen binding assays. Thus, using novel glutamine donor peptides, our technology provides an alternative enzymatic conjugation strategy for the engrafment of different payloads resulting in homogeneous batches, without unconjugated species

Cet ouvrage présente de nouveaux aspects de l’analogie entre temps et espace pour les ondes, à travers des concepts de contrôle temporel de la propagation des ondes, qui peuvent être interprétés comme la transposition au domaine temporel d’opérations standard du domaine spatial. Toute l’étendue de cette analogie est étudiée dans le cadre deux phénomènes ondulatoires bien connus (dans leurs versions spatiales), et dont nous montrons qu’ils sont étroitement liés : la réflexion des ondes et leur transformation par un cristal. En particulier, il est démontré expérimentalement que l’analogue temporel de la réflexion par un miroir génère une onde retournée temporellement, c’est-à-dire dont l’évolution temporelle est inversée. Une variante monofréquentielle de ce miroir temporel instantané, qui possède des liens étroits avec le concept de conjugaison de phase utilisé pour le retournement temporel d'ondes monochromatiques en optique, est également étudiée. Nous montrons que la modulation temporelle périodique du milieu mise en jeu dans ces expériences constitue l'équivalent temporel d'un cristal pour les ondes et étudions les propriétés générales des ondes dans ces milieux. Nous cherchons naturellement à sonder les limites de ces analogies spatiotemporelles, dont, de toute évidence, le principe de causalité est un élément majeur. Les phénomènes étudiés sont généraux et communs à toutes les ondes classiques, gouvernées en général par l’équation de d’Alembert ou par d’autres équations similaires. Les ondes à la surface d’un liquide sont utilisées comme système ondulatoire modèle dans nos expériences / This work presents new aspects of the analogy between time and space in wave phenomena, through new concepts of time control of wave propagation which can be interpreted as the transposition onto the time domain of standard spatial operations. The depth of this analogy is thoroughly studied in the framework of two well-known wave phenomena: reflection of waves on a mirror and their transformation by a crystal. More precisely, we experimentally demonstrate that the time analog of reflection by a mirror generates a time reverse wave that is whose time evolution is inverted. A monofrequency variant of this instantaneous time mirror, which has strong connections to the concept of wave phase conjugation used for time reversing monochromatic waves in optics, is also studied. We show that the periodic time modulation of the medium involved in the latter experiments constitutes the time equivalent of a crystal for waves and we study the general properties of waves in such media. We address of course the issue of the limits of theses space time analogies, of which, the principle of causality is evidently a major constituent. The phenomena studied here are general and apply to all classical waves (usually governed by d’Alembert’s equation or by similar ones). Waves at the surface of a liquid are used as a model wave system in our experiments / Die Universalitat der klassischen Wellenphanomenen lasst sich weitgehend durch die d’Alembertsche Struktur der Wellengleichungen beschreiben. In letzterer spielen die Zeit- und Raumvariabeln eine ahnliche Rolle. Wir betrachten in diesem Werk diese bekannte Analogie unter einem neuen Licht, indem wir neue Konzepte der Zeitkontrolle von der Wellenpropagation introduzieren, die als Transposition zum Bereich der Zeit von standarden Wellenphanomen des Raumes interpretiert werden konnen, wobei die raumliche Variation der Eigenschaften des Mediums, die sie bestimmen, durch eine zeitliche ersetzt wird. Wir bringen den experimentellen Beweis der Relevanz dieses Ansatzes, wobei wir die Wellen an der Oberflache einer Flussigkeit als Modelwellensystem verwenden und zeigen durch theoretische Erkenntnisse, dass er auf alle Wellensysteme generalisiert werden kann, die durch eine Wellengleichung beschrieben wird, deren 10 Struktur die der d’Alembertschen Gleichung ahnelt. Die ganze Reichweite dieser Analogie wird im Rahmen zweier langst bekannten Wellenphanomenen (in deren raumlichen Version), von denen wir zeigen, dass sie eng verbunden sind : die Spiegelung einer Welle und deren Umwandlung durch einen Kristal. Das Equivalent eines Spiegels fuhrt zur augenblicklichen Erscheinung aus dem gesammten Raum einer zeitumgekehrten Welle, das heist einer Wellenform, derer zeitliche Entwicklung im Vergleich zu der originellen Welle umgekehrt ist. Eine Einzelfrequenzvariante dieses augenblicklichen Zeitspiegels wird auch vorgestellt, die enge Verbindungen mit dem fur die Zeitumkehr monochromatischer Wellen angewendeten Konzept der optischen "Phase Conjugation" (Phasenkonjugierung) besitzt. Wir zeigen, dass die dazugehorige periodische Zeitmodulation des Mediums das zeitliche Equivalent eines Kristals fur die Welle bildet, und wir studieren die generellen Eigenschaften der Wellen in solchen Medien. Wir versuchen, die Grenzen dieser raumzeitlichen Analogien zu erkundigen, in derer Bestimmung selbstverstandlich das Kausalitatsprinzip eine masgebliche Rolle spielt, und die interessanten Unterschiede zwischen den vorgestellten Konzepten und deren raumlichen Pendants offenbaren / La universalidad de los fenomenos ondulatorios clasicos es ampliamente descrita por la estructura de la ecuacion de d’Alembert. En esta ecuacion, las variables espaciales y temporales desempenan un papel similar. En esa obra, revisitamos esta analogia bien conocida a traves de nuevos conceptos de control temporal de la propagacion de las ondas, quienes pueden ser interpretados como transposiciones de fenomenos espaciales estandartes al ambito temporal, en los cuales las variaciones espaciales de las propiedades del medio son reemplazadas por las correspondientes variaciones temporales. Hacemos la prueba, usando ondas a la superficie de un liquido, de la relevancia de este enfoque y mostramos teoreticamente su generalizacion a todo tipo de onda clasica, es decir gobernada por una ecuacion cuya estructura es similar a la de d’Alembert. Toda la extension de esta analogia queda estudiada en el cuadro de los dos fenomenos clasicos (en sus versiones espaciales) que son la reflexion de una onda sobre un espejo y su trasformacion en un cristal. Ademas, mostramos que los dos son intimamente relacionados. El equivalente temporal de un espejo produje instantaneamente desde el medio entero una onda retornada en el tiempo, es decir cuya evolucion temporal es invertida comparado a la onda inicial. Una variante monofrecuencial de este espejo queda estudiada tambien. Posee estrechos vinculos con el concepto de Phase Conjugation (conjugacion de fase), usado en Optica para hacer retornamiento temporal de ondas monocromaticas. Mostramos que la modulacion temporal implicada constituye el equivalente de un cristal para las ondas et estudiamos las caracteristicas generales de ondas en estos medios. Sondeamos los limites de esas analogias espaciotemporales de cuyos obviamente el principio de causalidad es un elemento mayor y que revelan diferencias interesantes entre los conceptos presentados y sus equivalentes espaciales / L’universalita dei fenomeni ondulatori classici e in larga misura descritta dalla struttura dell’equazione di d’Alembert. In quest’equazione, le variabili spaziali e temporali svolgono ruoli analoghi. Nell’opera seguente rivisitiamo questa ben nota analogia introducendo nuovi concetti sul controllo temporale della propagazione delle onde. Questi concetti possono essere interpretati come trasposizione di fenomeni ondulatori spaziali standard nell’ambito temporale, sostituendo le variazioni spaziali delle proprieta del mezzo con le variazioni temporali corrispondenti. Usando delle onde sulla superficie di un liquido come modello fisico, facciamo fede della rilevanza di quell’approccio e mostriamo teoricamente la generalizzazione a tutti i tipi di onde classiche, governate da equazioni simili a quella di d’Alembert. Questa analogia viene studiata nell’ambito di due fenomeni ondulatori ben noti (nella loro versione spaziale) : la riflessione delle onde generata da un specchio e la loro trasformazione generata da un cristallo. Mostriamo inoltre che i due concetti sono intimamente vincolati. L’equivalente temporale di un specchio porta alla generazione in tutto lo spazio di un’onda restituita nel tempo, vale a dire un’onda di cui l’evoluzione temporale e invertita in relazione all’onda originale. In questa tesi viene presentata anche una variante monofrequenziale di questo specchio temporale istantaneo che possiede legami stretti con il concetto di coniugazione di fase usato in ottica per invertire nel tempo onde monocromatiche. Mostriamo in questo lavoro che la modulazione temporale periodica del mezzo in questione costituisce, per le onde, l’equivalente temporale di un cristallo e ne studiamo le proprieta generali. In questa tesi, cerchiamo di sondare i limiti dell’analogia spaziotemporale, di cui il principio di causalita ne e l’essenziale e che rivelano differenze interessanti tra i concetti presentati e i loro equivalenti spaziali

Les ARNs sont impliqués dans de nombreux processus biologiques et peuvent adopter des structures secondaires différentes. Par leurs propriétés, ils constituent des outils biologiques puissants pour des applications diverses, tels les ARNs interférents (siARN) qui permettent l’extinction de l’expression des gènes par exemple. L’introduction de modifications sur des ARNs s’est avérée essentielle pour améliorer leurs propriétés et faciliter l’étude de leurs rôles biologiques et leurs applications thérapeutiques.Ce manuscrit rapporte la synthèse et les propriétés d’ARNs modifiés en position 2’ du ribose par des groupements contenant des ponts disulfures, sensibles à un environnement réducteur.Dans la première partie, la synthèse de prodrogues de siARNs partiellement modifiés par des groupements benzyldithiométhyles est décrite. Leurs stabilités thermiques et enzymatiques, ainsi que leur démasquage en milieu réducteur, sont montrés. Les résultats prometteurs d’activité inhibitrice et de pénétration cellulaire, sur une lignée cellulaire du sarcome d’Ewing, permettent d'envisager une application potentielle de ces siARNs modifiés comme outils thérapeutiques.La deuxième partie décrit une approche de co-délivrance par des siARNs couplés avec une drogue anticancéreuse, la doxorubicine, via un lien auto-immolable contenant des ponts disulfures. Les propriétés physico-chimiques des conjugués sont déterminées, et la libération du siARN et de la drogue en milieu réducteur est mise en évidence.La troisième partie présente une autre méthode de conjugaison en solution entre la position 2’ d’un ARN et des petites molécules (sucres, coumarine, biotine, acide désoxycholique, glutathion) via un pont disulfure. La synthèse des ARNs conjugués et leur devenir en milieu réducteur sont décrits.Dans la dernière partie, l’impact d’un lien avec un pont disulfure intrabrin entre les positions 2’ de deux nucléotides adjacents est étudié dans un duplex ou la partie boucle d’hairpins. L’influence du pont disulfure sur l’équilibre des conformations duplex et hairpin d’un ARN d’intérêt biologique est évaluée, en absence et en présence d’agents réducteurs. Une application en fluorescence d’une hairpin contrainte en tant que « molecular beacon » montre des utilisations potentielles de ce lien dans des outils pour étudier la conformation de structures secondaires d’ARNs ou dans des sondes pour détecter les agents réducteurs. / RNAs are involved in numerous biological processes and can adopt different secondary structures. Thanks to their properties, they are powerful biological tools for diverse applications, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) for gene silencing. Modified RNAs have proven to be essential to improve their properties, and to facilitate the study of their biological and therapeutic functions.This manuscript reports the synthesis and properties of 2’-O-modified RNAs bearing disulfide-containing groups, sensitive to reductive environment.The first part describes the synthesis of siRNAs prodrugs bearing lipophilic benzyldithiomethyl groups. The thermal stability, the serum stability and the response to glutathione treatment of modified siRNAs are thoroughly investigated. The gene silencing and the gymnotic delivery of several siRNAs are assessed, and demonstrates promising results on Ewing’s sarcoma cell line.A second part concerns the co-delivery of siRNAs and a hydrophobic anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin) using a self-immolative spacer bearing disulfide bonds. The chemico-physical properties of these conjugates are determined and the recovery of native siRNA and doxorubicin in response to reductive treatment is highlighted.A third part presents the conjugation of RNAs to small molecules (sugars, coumarin, biotin, deoxycholic acid, glutathione) using disulfide linkages. The synthesis of the RNA conjugates and their release in reducing conditions are also demonstrated.The last part reports the synthesis and the impact of an intrastrand dimethylene disulfide bridge between 2’-O-positions of two adjacent nucleotides in an RNA duplex and in the loop of RNA hairpins. Then, the influence of this linkage on the folding of a biologically relevant RNA structure is reported. Finally, an application of a constrained hairpin as a fluorescent molecular beacon highlights its potential use in tools for understanding RNA folding and in probes for the detection of reducing reagents

<p>The basic building blocks in molecular electronics often correspond to conjugated molecules. A compound class consisting of rigid rod-like staffane molecules with the heavier Group 14 elements Si, Ge, Sn and Pb at their bridgehead positions has now been investigated. Herein these oligomers are called heavy-core or Si-, Ge-, Sn- or Pb-core staffanes. These compounds benefit from interaction through their bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane monomer units. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to probe their geometries, stabilities and electronic properties associated with conjugation.</p><p>The stabilities of the bicyclo[<i>n.n.n</i>]alkane and [<i>n.n.n</i>]propellanes (1 ≤ <i>n</i> ≤ 3) with C, Si, Ge and Sn at the bridgehead positions were studied by calculation of homodesmotic ring strain energies. The bicyclic compounds with <i>n</i> = 1 and Si, Ge or Sn at bridgehead positions have lower strain than the all-carbon compound.</p><p>A gradually higher polarizability exaltation is found as the bridgehead element is changed from C to Si, Ge, Sn or Pb. The ratio between longitudinal and average polarizability also increases gradually as Group 14 is descended, consistent with enhanced conjugation in the heavier oligomers.</p><p>The localization of polarons in C-, Si- and Sn-core staffane radical cations was calculated along with internal reorganization energies. The polaron is less localized in Si- and Sn-core than in C-core staffane radical cation. The reorganization energies are also lower for the heavier staffanes, facilitating hole mobility when compared to the C-core staffanes.</p><p>The effect of the bicyclic structure on the low valence excitations in the UV-spectra of compounds with two connected disilyl segments was also investigated. MS-CASPT2 calculations of 1,4-disilyl- and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and 1,4-disilyl- and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes revealed that although the bicyclic cage separates the two disilyl chromophores, there is a strong red-shift of the lowest valence excitations when compared to an isolated disilane.</p>

The research described herein includes synthesis, spectroscopy, and quantum chemical calculations with focus on the characteristic properties of compounds with bonds between carbon and the heavier Group 14 elements. The chapters based on the first four papers concern σ- and σ/π-conjugated compounds, although the focus of the first paper is on ring strain of bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes with C, Si, Ge or Sn at the bridgeheads. The relationship between calculated homodesmotic ring strain energies and through-space distances between the bridgehead atoms was evaluated, and it was found that replacing one of the methylene bridges with phospha-methyl gave both low strain and short through-space distance. Two kinds of σ/π-interacting systems were analysed with the difference that the σ- and π-bonded segments were either allowed to rotate freely relative each other or frozen into a conformer with maximal σ/π-interaction. The freely rotating systems are star-shaped oligothiophenes linked by heavy alkane segments. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of hole reorganization energies support the measured hole mobilites. In summary, longer central oligosilane linkages, when compared to shorter, facilitate intermolecular hole-transfer between oligothiophene units. In 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-dienes, the strength of the π- and pseudo-π interaction depends on the substituents at Si. Vapour phase UV absorption spectroscopy of 2,3,5,6-tetraethyl-1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene reveals a strong absorption at 273 nm (4.50 eV). Time-dependent DFT calculations further indicate that octastannylated 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene has is lowest excited state at 384 nm (3.23 eV). The electronic, geometric and optical properties of substituted 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-dienes were compared with those of the correspondingly substituted siloles. It was found that the lowest excitations of siloles are less tunable than those of 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-dienes. The final section concerns strongly reverse-polarised 2-amino-2-siloxysilenes formed thermally from carbamylpolysilanes, and their lack of reaction with alcohols. Instead, the carbamylsilane reacts with alcohols giving silyl ethers, leading to a new benign route for alcohol protection.

The basic building blocks in molecular electronics often correspond to conjugated molecules. A compound class consisting of rigid rod-like staffane molecules with the heavier Group 14 elements Si, Ge, Sn and Pb at their bridgehead positions has now been investigated. Herein these oligomers are called heavy-core or Si-, Ge-, Sn- or Pb-core staffanes. These compounds benefit from interaction through their bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane monomer units. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to probe their geometries, stabilities and electronic properties associated with conjugation. The stabilities of the bicyclo[n.n.n]alkane and [n.n.n]propellanes (1 ≤ n ≤ 3) with C, Si, Ge and Sn at the bridgehead positions were studied by calculation of homodesmotic ring strain energies. The bicyclic compounds with n = 1 and Si, Ge or Sn at bridgehead positions have lower strain than the all-carbon compound. A gradually higher polarizability exaltation is found as the bridgehead element is changed from C to Si, Ge, Sn or Pb. The ratio between longitudinal and average polarizability also increases gradually as Group 14 is descended, consistent with enhanced conjugation in the heavier oligomers. The localization of polarons in C-, Si- and Sn-core staffane radical cations was calculated along with internal reorganization energies. The polaron is less localized in Si- and Sn-core than in C-core staffane radical cation. The reorganization energies are also lower for the heavier staffanes, facilitating hole mobility when compared to the C-core staffanes. The effect of the bicyclic structure on the low valence excitations in the UV-spectra of compounds with two connected disilyl segments was also investigated. MS-CASPT2 calculations of 1,4-disilyl- and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.2.1]heptanes and 1,4-disilyl- and 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-disilabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes revealed that although the bicyclic cage separates the two disilyl chromophores, there is a strong red-shift of the lowest valence excitations when compared to an isolated disilane.

Standard chemical DNA synthesis with isotope labels requires expensive reagents; moreover, a large excess of phosphoramadites (typically 50-100 fold) must be used. We developed a process where enzymatic cyclic solid phase synthesis of DNA allows for more economic reagent use. A DNA template was immobilized on an epoxy-activated solid support. This chemistry was chosen because the formed linkage is inert to high pH conditions. High efficiency of the covalent attachment was observed when the reaction was carried out in MgCl2/CAPS buffer. It was found that Mg2+ enables the reaction to be completed over a period of 14 h, compared to 72 h under standard conditions. DNA synthesis was carried in a cyclic fashion on a support bound DNA using Klenow fragment.

This thesis is a theoretical and experimental study of the dynamics of an edge-emitting laser diode (850 nm) with phase-conjugate feedback. The experimental device is designed to see the dynamical range of the laser through the temporal and spectral properties while the feedback rate varies. Phase-conjugate feedback is performed through four-wave mixing in a photorefractive crystal. The propagation time of the laser beam in the external cavity is termed external time delay. Under the effect of the feedback, the system shows a wide dynamical range including chaos and self-pulsing states which characteristic properties are determined by the length of the external cavity. For the first time self-pulsing states at frequencies multiples of the fundamental frequency of the external cavity are evidenced. Simulations carried out based on the commonly-used Lang-Kobayashi laser rate equations provide theoretical confirmations to the experimental observations. The main topics tackled here are chaos crisis and bistability of pulsing solutions, self-pulsing regimes (through their stabilization and destabilization) and the transitions between them, characterization of extreme events of two kinds along with their statistical distribution and delay-induced deterministic coherence resonance of low frequency fluctuations. Beyond the fundamental interest of these results and the many comparisons that can be made with other laser systems, applications in the field of all-optical signal generation and control of chaos are direct consequences of this study.

A contaminação da água para consumo humano por toxinas produzidas por cianobactérias é um problema de saúde pública e das autoridades em todo o mundo. Microcistina-LR (MCLR) é uma cianotoxina heptapeptídica cíclica que inibe as proteínas fosfatases PP1 E PP2A nos hepatócitos. Microcistinas são produzidas por diversos gêneros de cianobactérias e mais de 70 variações estruturais têm sido caracterizadas em florações naturais. Por serem haptenos, as microcistinas são incapazes de induzir uma resposta imune em animais. Conseqüentemente, foi necessário aplicar métodos de conjugação envolvendo a adição de uma proteína carreadora, mcKLH (cationized Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin). Portanto, o objetivo inicial desta tese foi o de obter anticorpos monoclonal (em camundongos) e policlonal (em coelho) anti- MCLR. Com relação ao anticorpo monoclonal foram obtidos 9 hibridomas (k29, k210, k317, k248, k284, k290, k2161, k2226, k2232), sendo que apenas 5 se mostraram estáveis (k29, k317, k248, k284, k2232). Estes foram selecionados para serem isotipados, expandidos em líquido ascítico, purificados em coluna cromatográfica de proteína-A e titulados. Dentre estes cinco hibridomas secretores de anticorpos, o clone k317 foi o que melhor reconheceu (mais específico) a toxina MCLR. Os anticorpos do sobrenadante de meio de cultura do hibridoma e o fluido ascítico purificado foram identificados pelo ensaio ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) previamente padronizado. Mesmo sensibilizando a placa de ELISA com diferentes antígenos, tais como MCLR-cBSA, MCLR, MCLR, MCRR, MCYR e MCLA, o clone 17 foi o que apresentou melhor linearidade frente às variantes de microcistina. Portanto, o clone 17 (isótipo IgG1) obtido é muito promissor e será usado para detecção de MCLR na água para consumo humano através do desenvolvimento de um kit de ELISA competição. Com relação ao anticorpo policlonal, o antígeno de imunização foi MCLR-mcKLH, enquanto que o antígeno de sensibilização foi MCLR-cBSA para o ensaio de titulação de anticorpos de classe IgG por ELISA indireto. Na seqüencia, foi padronizado um ensaio ELISA competição utilizando somente a toxina MCLR como antígeno de sensibilização. Este método Caseína foi padronizado, validado e comparado com o kit comercial Abraxis®. O kit ELISA competição que utiliza anticorpo policlonal, nomeado como método Caseína, foi avaliado quanto Limite Inferior de Quantificação, Especificidade, Seletividade, influência do metanol no ensaio, Recuperação, Linearidade, Precisão, Exatidão e Robustez. Este método de triagem apresentou excelente resultado quando comparado ao kit comercial Abraxis®, pois foi capaz de detectar tanto variantes de microcistinas como nodularinas no ambiente aquático. O ensaio ELISA competição utilizando anticorpo policlonal anti-MCLR foi submetido à patente pela Agência USP de Inovação (I.N.P.I. 018090046230). / The contamination of drinking water by cyanobacterial toxins is a public health issue and a concern for water authorities throughout the world. Microcystin-LR (MCLR) is a hazardous cyclic heptapeptide cyanotoxin, which inhibits protein phosphatase PP1 and PP2A in hepatocytes. Microcystins are produced by several genera of cyanobacteria and presents more than 70 structural variations characterized in natural blooms. As haptens, microcystins are unable to invoke an immune response in animals. Consequently, the application of conjugation methods with an additional carrier protein, the KLH (Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin) was necessary. The main objective of this study was to obtain monoclonal (in mice) and polyclonal (in rabbits) antibodies for reacting against MCLR. In what refers to monoclonal antibodies, 9 hybridomas (k29, k210, k317, k248, k284, k290, k2161, k2226, k2232) were obtained; however only 5 were stables (k29, k317, k248, k284, k2232). These were selected to be isotyped, expanded in ascitic fluid, purified by protein-A column chromatography and then, they were titrated. Out of these five antibody-secretor hybridomas, clone k317 was the best to recognize (more specific) the MCLR toxins. Antibodies in hybridoma cell culture supernatant and purified ascites fluid were identified by ELISA assay (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) as prior standardized. Even when sensitizing ELISA plate with different antigens, as MCLR-cBSA, MCLR, MCLR, MCRR, MCYR and MCLA, clone 17 presented the best linearity against microcystin variants. Therefore, the obtained clone 17 (isotype IgG1) is a promising clone and shall be used for detecting MCLR in drinking water through the development of a competitive ELISA immunoassay kit. In what refers to the polyclonal antibody, MCLR-mcKLH was used as immunization antigen, while MCLR-cBSA was used as sensitizing antigen for the IgG titration assay by indirect ELISA. In the sequence, a competition ELISA assay was standardized using the MCLR toxin as sensitizing antigen. This Casein method was standardized, validated and compared to the commercial kit Abraxis®. The competition ELISA kit using polyclonal antibody, known as Casein method, was analyzed concerning its Quantification Inferior Limit, Specificity, Selectivity, methanol influence of the assay, Recuperation, Linearity, Precision, Accuracy and Robustness. This screening method reached excellent results if compared to the commercial kit Abraxis®, for being able to detect both the microcystins variants and the nodularins in aquatic environmental. The competition ELISA assay using anti-MCLR polyclonal antibody was submitted to the grant of a patent by USP Innovation Agency (INPI 018090046230).