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This thesis presents a study of lasing properties and optical amplification in semiconducting conjugated polymers and dendrimers. Configured as surface-emitting distributed feedback lasers, the effect of incorporating wavelength-scale microstructure on the output of the devices is examined along with the ability to create such structures using simplified fabrication processes such as soft lithography. Conjugated materials have received a great deal of interest due to their broad spectral absorption, emission, ability to exhibit gain and ease of processing from solution. As a result, they show great potential for a variety of applications such as photovoltaics, displays, amplifiers and lasers. To date however, there has only been one demonstration of a polymer optical amplifier. A broadband, solution based polymer amplifier is presented where the gain overlaps with the transmission window of polymer optical fibres. The effect of transitions that reduce the availability of gain in conjugated polymers is also examined by studying saturation of absorption in thin films. Producing wavelength scale microstructure is traditionally a slow, expensive technique. Here, solvent assisted micromoulding is used to pattern polymer films in less than two minutes. The effect of the variations in the pattern transfer on the laser characteristics is examined. The micromoulding technique is then applied to fabricating novel device types such as circular gratings and flexible plastic lasers. Encapsulation of the micromoulded laser is then shown to improve the lifetime of the device by over three orders of magnitude. The degradation effects witnessed during this extended operation are characterised quantitatively, an area of study where little data exists in the literature. A novel class of branched dendrimer materials whose properties can be independently tuned due to their modular architecture are configured as blue-emitting distributed feedback lasers. The ability to tune the emission wavelength by varying the film thickness is demonstrated. By changing the chemical groups contained within the molecule, further tuning of the emission can be obtained along with the demonstration of a highly efficient blue-emitting dendrimer laser. Chemosensing using dendrimer lasers is presented by demonstrating the incredibly sensitive response of the laser device to trace vapours of nitro-benzene compounds. The future application of which could be highly beneficial in the detection of explosives.

Organic solar cells offer the possibility for lightweight, flexible, and inexpensive photovoltaic devices. This thesis studies the physics of a wide range of materials designed for use in organic solar cells. The materials investigated include conjugated polymers, conjugated dendrimers, and inorganic nanocrystals. The materials studied in this thesis fall into five categories: conjugated polymers blended with a buckminsterfullerene derivative PCBM, nanocrystals synthesised in a conjugated polymer matrix, conjugated polymers designed for intramolecular charge separation, conjugated dendrimers blended with PCBM, and nanocrystals synthesised in a matrix of conjugated small molecules or dendrimers. Conjugated polymers blended with PCBM have been extensively studied for photovoltaic applications, and hence form an ideal test bed for new experiments. In this thesis this blend was used to achieve the first pulsed electrically detected magnetic resonance experiments on organic solar cells. Nanocrystals are attractive for photovoltaics because it is possible to tune their band gap across the solar spectrum. In this thesis a one-pot synthesis is used to grow PbS and CdS nanocrystals in conjugated polymers, soluble small molecules, and dendrimers, and characterisation is performed on these composites. Previous work on dendrimer: nanocrystal composites has been limited to non-conjugated molecules, and the synthesis developed in this thesis extends this work to a conjugated oligomer and a conjugated dendrimer. This synthesis can potentially be extended to a variety of conjugated soluble small molecule: nanocrystal and dendrimer: nanocrystal systems. Conjugated dendrimers have been successfully employed in organic light emitting diodes, and in this thesis they are applied to organic solar cells. Materials based on fluorene and cyanine dye cores show excellent absorption tunability across the solar spectrum. A set of electronically asymetric polymers designed for intramolecular charge separation were investigated. Quenching of the luminescence was observed, and light induced electron paramagnetic resonance measurements revealed that photoexcitation led to approximately equal numbers of positive polarons and nitro centred radical anions. This indicates that charge separation is occurring in these molecules.

Pyrroles are found in various natural products and in the chemical composition of certain drugs because of their interesting biological properties. Lipitor, Tolmetin and Amtolmetin are examples of drugs with 1,2,5-substituted pyrroles in their composition, in which biological activities have been certified. Moreover, pyrroles are used as precursors of semiconductor polymers, oligomers and dendrimers useful for the synthesis of electroluminescent materials used in devices, such as organic light-emitting diodes, field-effect transistors, solar and organic photovoltaic cells. We are interested in conjugated polymers based on pyrrole due to their optical properties, electrochemical and the conductivity produced by electron delocalization along their carbon chains. The overall objective of the work presented in this thesis is the synthesis of new molecules based on pyrrole for studying their electronic and electrochemical properties as well for the synthesis of conjugated polymers. Initially, we performed the synthesis of 1,3,5-tri-(1-alkyl-5-methylpyrrol-2-yl)benzenes, which may serve as precursors for the synthesis of conjugated dendrimers. Their synthesis was made in three steps starting from trimethyl 1,3,5-benzene-tricarboxylate which was converted to 1,3,5-tri-(pent-4-enoyl)benzene using vinylmagnesium bromide in a Grignard reaction catalyzed by copper cyanide. The olefins of 1,3,5-tri-(pent-4-enoyl)benzene were oxidized to produce 1,3,5-tri-(4-oxopentanoyl)benzene using a modified protocol of the Tsuji-Wacker reaction. Subsequent, Paal-Knorr condensation reactions on 1,3,5-tri-(4-oxopentanoyl)benzene with different amines were used to synthesize 1,3,5-tri-(1-alkyl-5-methylpyrrol-2-yl)benzenes with different N-substituents in yields between 44 and 60%. Incomplete reaction of vinylmagnesium bromide with trimethyl 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate gave the methyl-3,5-di(pent-4-enoyl)benzoate, which was converted to methyl-3,5-dipyrrolylbenzoate following the reaction of Tsuji- Wacker and Paal-Knorr with yields between 30 and 60%. The photochemical and electrochemical properties of the 1,3,5-tri-(1-alkyl-5-methylpyrrol-2-yl)benzenes and methyl-3,5-dipyrrolylbenzoates were studied in collaboration with the research group of professor William Skene. The results have shown that both types of pyrrole have potential for the synthesis of conjugated polymers and dendrimers used in the manufacture of electroluminescent materials. Following these encouraging results, we performed the synthesis of 6,12-dimethyl-1,5-dipyrrolediazocane. Methyl N-(Boc)-β-alaninate was converted to its corresponding homoallylic ketone, which was oxidized to N-(Boc)aminoheptan-3,6-dione. The Paal-Knorr condensation between N-(Boc)aminoheptan-3,6-dione and aminoheptan-3,6-dione hydrochloride gave 6,12-dimethyl-1,5-dipyrrolediazocane in 17% yield. In sum, we have synthesized and characterized seven new molecules, six of them having photochemical and electrochemical properties interesting for the synthesis of conjugated polymers and dendrimers. The latter offering potential as precursor for the conception of compounds of therapeutic interest. / Les pyrroles sont une classe de molécules que l'on trouve dans divers produits naturels ainsi que dans la composition chimique de certains médicaments en raison de leurs propriétés biologiques intéressantes. Le Lipitor, la Tolmetin et l'Amtolmetin sont des exemples de médicaments à base de pyrroles 1,2,5 substitués dont les activités biologiques ont été certifiées. Les pyrroles sont aussi utilisés comme précurseurs de polymères, oligomères et dendrimères semi-conducteurs nécessaires à la synthèse de certains matériaux électroluminescents, tels que les diodes organiques électroluminescentes, les transistors à effets de champ et les cellules organiques photovoltaïques. Nous nous sommes intéressés à ces polymères conjugués à base de pyrroles en raison de leurs qualités de bons conducteurs, de leurs propriétés optiques et électrochimiques que leur confère la délocalisation des électrons le long de leurs chaines carbonées. L'objectif général des travaux présentés dans ce mémoire est de synthétiser de nouvelles molécules à base de pyrroles pouvant éventuellement servir de précurseurs à la synthèse de dendrimères conjugués ainsi qu'à la synthèse de molécules thérapeutiques. Une étude de leurs propriétés électroniques et électrochimiques sera effectuée afin de déterminer leur potentiel pour la fabrication de matériaux électroluminescents. Dans un premier temps, la synthèse des analogues du 1,3,5-benzènetripyrrole a été faite en trois étapes à partir du 1,3,5-benzènetricarboxylate de triméthyle. Celui-ci a été converti en premier lieu en 1,3,5-benzènetricétone-γ,δ-insaturée lors d'une réaction de Grignard catalysée par le cyanure de cuivre. Ce dernier composé fut oxydé lors de la seconde étape en 1,3,5-tri-(4-oxopentanoyl)benzène selon un protocole modifié de la réaction de Tsuji-Wacker. Enfin, la réaction de condensation de Paal-Knorr du 1,3,5-tri-(4-oxopentanoyl)benzène de l'étape précédente mène au 1,3,5-benzènetripyrrole N-substitué selon l'amine utilisée pour la condensation, avec des rendements entre 44 et 60%. La réaction incomplète du bromure de vinylmagnésium avec le 1,3,5-benzènetricarboxylate de triméthyle mène au méthyl-3,5-di-(pent-4-énoyl)benzoate, qui a été converti en méthyl-3,5-dipyrrolylbenzoate suite à la réaction de Tsuji-Wacker et de Paal-Knorr avec des rendements entre 30 et 60%. L'étude des propriétés photochimiques et électrochimiques des tripyrroles et des bipyrroles a été faite en collaboration avec le groupe de recherche du professeur William Skene. Les résultats obtenus démontrèrent que ces pyrroles auraient un potentiel pour la synthèse de dendrimères conjugués servant à la fabrication de matériaux électroluminescents. Suite à ces résultats encourageants, la synthèse du 6,12-diméthyle-1,5-dipyrrolediazocane a aussi été réalisée. Celui-ci a été synthétisé à partir de l’ester méthylique de l’acide 3-tert-butoxycarbonylaminopropionique qui a été converti en sa cétone homoallylique correspondante, puis oxydée en N-Boc-3,6-dioxoheptylcarbamate. La condensation de Paal-Knorr de ce dernier composé avec le sel d'hydrochlorure 7-aminoheptane-2,5-dione mène au 6,12-diméthyle-1,5-dipyrrolediazocane avec un rendement de 17%. En somme, la recherche effectuée a permis la synthèse et la caractérisation de six nouvelles molécules ayant des propriétés photochimiques et électrochimiques intéressantes pour la synthèse de polymères et dendrimères conjugués. Ainsi que la synthèse d'un diazacycle, qui de part sa structure pourrait servir de précurseur à la synthèse de molécules thérapeutiques.

This thesis describes strategies for and examples ofcellulose fiber modification.The ability of an engineered biocatalyst, acellulose-binding module fused to theCandida antarcticalipase B, to catalyze ring-openingpolymerization of e-caprolactone in close proximity tocellulose fiber surfaces was explored. The water content in thesystem was found to regulate the polymer molecular weight,whereas the temperature primarily influenced the reaction rate.The hydrophobicity of the cellulose sample increased as aresult of the presence of surface-deposited polyester. A two-step enzymatic method was also investigated. Here,Candida antarctica lipase B catalyzed the acylation ofxyloglucan oligosaccharides.The modified carbohydrates werethen incorporated into longer xyloglucan molecules through theaction of a xyloglucan endotransglycosylase. The modifiedxyloglucan chains were finally deposited on a cellulosesubstrate. The action ofCandida antarcticalipase B was further investigated inthe copolymerization of e-caprolactone and D,L-lactide.Copolymerizations with different e-caprolactone-to-D,L-lactideratios were carried out. Initially, the polymerization wasslowed by the presence of D,L-lactide. During this stage,D,L-lactide was consumed more rapidly than ε-caprolactoneand the incorporation occurred dimer-wise with regard to thelactic acid units. Morphological studies on wood fibers were conducted using asol-gel mineralization method. The replicas produced werestudied, without additional sample preparation, by electronmicroscopy and nitrogen adsorption. Information concerning thestructure and accessibility of the porous fiber wall wasobtained. Studies of never-dried kraft pulp casts revealedmicro-cavities and cellulose fibrils with mean widths of 4.7(±2) and 3.6 (±1) nm, respectively. Finally, cationic catalysis by simple carboxylic acids wasstudied. L-Lactic acid was shown to catalyze the ring-openingpolymerization of ε-caprolactone in bulk at 120 °C.The reaction was initiated with methylß-D-glucopyranoside, sucrose or raffinose, which resultedin carbohydrate-functionalized polyesters. The regioselectivityof the acylation was well in agreement with the correspondinglipase-catalyzed reaction. The polymerization was alsoinitiated with a hexahydroxy-functional compound, whichresulted in a dendrimer-like star polymer. The L-lactic acidwas readily recycled, which made consecutive reactions usingthe same catalyst possible. Keywords:Candida antarcticalipase B, cationic catalysis,cellulose-binding module, dendrimer, enzymatic polymerization,fiber modification, silica-cast replica, sol-gelmineralization, organocatalysis, xyloglucanendotransglycosylase

Lectin-saccharide interactions are involved in many biological processes essential for the survival and proper function of multicellular organisms. C-type lectin-like receptors, predominantly expressed by cells of the innate immune system, recognize saccharide structures on microbes and also aberrant glycosylation pattern of cancer cells. The NKR-P1 receptor family was among the first natural killer (NK) receptor families that were identified, however ligands for some of members remain still elusive. Recently, publications describing N-acetylglucosamine-terminated oligosaccharide structures as possible ligands for NKR-P1 receptor have been subjects for correction/retractions after investigation of the Ethical Committee of the Institute of Microbiology, ASCR, v. v. i. and Charles University in Prague. Re-evaluation of glycodendrimer effect, particularly effect of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine octabranched dendrimer on polyamidoamine scaffold (GN8P), revealed mostly indirect role of NK cells on modulation of immune responses. Properly folded soluble recombinant rat NKR-P1A and mouse NKR-P1C lack binding activity to neoglycoproteins modified with GlcNAc-terminated structures. Moreover, new possible target cell populations (NKT cells and macrophages) for saccharide binding were identified.

Materiais altamente especializados (polifuncionais) continuam a ser candidatos chave para avanços na área tecnológica e biológica. Buscando aplicação em campos diversos, foram sintetizadas estruturas dendríticas (dendrímeros e polímeros hiperramificados) do tipo poliéster. Esses materiais foram utilizados para dois fins distintos, a aplicação em sistemas de Drug Delivery e em sistemas catalíticos. Em relação aos sistemas de Drug Delivery, foram estudados dois aspectos principais: (i) Impregnação de fármacos na matriz dendrimérica utilizando scCO2 como solvente - foi estudado o comportamento dos materiais frente ao solvente neotério em termos de estrutura (arquitetura da macromolécula), grupos modificadores (acetonida, hidroxila, acetila e cadeia lineares de polilactato) e densidade do solvente. Os materiais que apresentaram características adequadas foram utilizados no estudo da impregnação de fármacos modelo (Ibuprofeno e Fluconazol) na matriz dendrimérica, utilizando-se scCO2 como solvente. Ambos os fármacos foram eficientemente aprisionados no interior da matriz e apresentaram interações com sua estrutra (analisadas por espectroscopia Raman e 1H RMN). (ii) Estudo do potencial para uso como nanocarreadores em Drug Delivery destinados as vias aéreas - Estudou-se o emprego dos dendrímeros do tipo poliéster de diferentes gerações (G3 e G4) modificados com um marcador fluorescente (FITC), conjugados ou não a poli(etilenoglicol) (PEG), como potenciais nanocarreadores para sistemas de Drug Delivery destinados as vias aéreas. Foram realizados testes in vitro para avaliar o transporte e a internalização desses materiais em um modelo de epitélio pulmonar (monocamada de células Calu-3). O transporte e internalização se mostraram dependentes do tamanho da espécie, sendo que dendrímeros conjugados com PEG apresentaram baixa internalização e mais eficiente transporte através da monocamada, situação oposta à ocorrida com os dendrímeros não conjugados. Estudou-se a degradabilidade desses materiais em condições de pH de relevância biológica, assim como a citotoxicidade dos dendrímeros íntegros e de seus fragmentos frente às células Calu-3, sendo que todas as espécies demonstraram baixa toxicicidade na faixa de concentração estudada. O dendrímero modificado com PEG foi utilizado em uma formulação do tipo \"pressurized metered-dose inhaler\" (pMDI). A performance do aerossol obtido com o pMDI foi avaliada, in vitro, através de um impactador de cascata de Andersen (Andersen Cascade Impactor, ACI), mostrando excelentes resultados, com ao redor de 90% da formulação atingindo regiões profundas do pulmão (eg. alvéolos). Em relação à aplicação em sistemas catalíticos, poliésteres hiperramificados, similares aos dendrímeros empregados nos demais estudos, foram modificados de modo a se obter grupos -NH2 terminais e utilizados para magnificação de performance de catalisadores baseados em ródio. Os poliésteres hiperramificados modificados foram imobilizados em nanopartículas ferromagnéticas, do tipo Fe3O4@SiO2, a fim de se obter uma elevada densidade de grupos aminos terminais, os quais foram posteriormente modificados e serviram de ancoragem para um catalisador de Rh. Foi avaliado o incremento do conteúdo de metal na nanopartícula (de 0,2% para 1,0% m/m), assim como seu efeito catalítico em reações de hidroformilação. / Highly specific materials (polyfunctional) continue to be key candidates to address the challenges of technological and biological fields. Aiming to reach different applications, polyester dendritic structures (dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers) were synthesized. These materials were used in two different ways, application in Drug Delivery systems and in catalytic systems. Regarding the usage in the Drug Delivery systems, two major aspects were studied: (i) Impregnation of drugs in the dendrimeric matrix using scCO2 as solvent - It was studied the behavior of these materials in the neoteric solvent in terms of structure (architecture of the macromolecule), modifying groups (acetonide, hydroxyl, acetyl and linear polylactide chains) and density of the solvent. The materials that showed appropriate characteristics were used for the impregnation of model drugs (Ibuprofen and Fluconazole) in the dendrimeric matrix, using scCO2 as solvent. The two drugs were efficiently trapped in the matrix, and showed interactions with its structure (analyzed by Raman Spectroscopy and 1H NMR) (ii) Study of potential usage as nanocarriers in Drug Delivery systems for the airways - It was studied the application of polyester dendrimers of different generations (G3 and G4), labeled with FITC and conjugated or not with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as potentials nanocarriers for Drug Delivery systems for the airways. In vitro tests were performed to analyze the transport and internalization of these materials in a model of lung epithelia (Calu-3 monolayer). Transport and internalization showed to be size dependent, where the PEGylated dendrimers showed low internalization and more efficient transport through the monolayer, with the opposite situation for the non-conjugated dendrimers. The degradation of the materials was studied in biological relevant values of pH, as well the cytotoxicity on Calu-3 of the dendrimers and their building-blocks. All materials showed very low cytotoxicity in the range of concentrations used. The G4 PEGylated dendrimer was used to prepare a pMDI (pressurized metered-dose inhaler) formulation. The performance of the resulting aerosol was evaluated, in vitro, using an eight stage Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The results showed excellent deep lung deposition, where almost 90% of the formulation reached deep compartments, as alveoli. In the catalytic system application, hyperbranched polyesters, similar to the employed dendrimers, were modified to incorporate peripheral -NH2 groups and used to magnify the catalytic effect of Rhodium-based catalysts. The modified hyperbranched polyesters were immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2), resulting in a high density of terminal amine groups. These groups were modified and used for the anchorage of a Rhodium catalyst. It was evaluated the increase in the metal load of the nanoparticles (from 0.2% to 1.0% w/w), as well the catalytic effect in hydroformylation reactions.

La thérapie photodynamique (PDT) est une modalité de traitement des cancers prometteuse, mettant en jeu une action combinée de l’oxygène moléculaire, de la lumière et d’un photosensibilisateur (PS). Néanmoins, les PSs utilisés souffrent d’une faible solubilité dans les milieux aqueux ainsi que d’un tumorotropisme limité qui sont des barrières à la réussite du traitement. Ainsi, actuellement, une attention particulière est portée au développement de nanoparticules (NPs) capables de pallier les défauts des PSs. Notre travail a consisté à étudier des dendrimères poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM), macromolécules polymériques tridimensionnelles, conjugués via une liaison covalente au PS, la Chlorine e6 (Ce6). Cette construction nous a permis de vectoriser 32 molécules de Ce6 par dendrimère. La production d’oxygène singulet et l’émission de fluorescence ont été modérément affectées par le greffage covalent de la Ce6 aux NPs. In vitro, les dendrimères PAMAM ont permis d’accroitre l’efficacité PDT de la Ce6 en potentialisant son internalisation cellulaire via un mécanisme actif d’endocytose. Néanmoins, l’efficacité PDT des NPs est limitée par la concentration locale élevée en Ce6 en périphérie des dendrimères qui réduit son rendement quantique en oxygène singulet moléculaire, espèce cytotoxique. Une libération de la Ce6 permettrait ainsi de potentialiser l’efficacité PDT des NPs en restaurant notamment les propriétés photophysiques de la Ce6. La suite de ce travail a été de concevoir une NP capable de libérer la Ce6 sous l’action d’estérases retrouvées dans les cellules. Leur caractérisation a permis de démontrer en solution que les propriétés photophysiques de la Ce6 étaient rétablies à la suite de son relargage des NPs. Cette dernière construction clivable est prometteuse pour de futures applications en PDT / Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modality of cancer treatment, involving a combined action of molecular oxygen, light and photosensitizers (PS). However, the PSs suffer from a low solubility in aqueous media and limited tumor accumulation, diminishing the treatment success. Presently, particular attention is paied to the development of dendrimer-based nanoparticles (NP) that are able to overcome the shortcomings of the PSs. The present study investigates the poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM), a tridimensional polymeric macromolecule, covalently functionalized with the PS Chlorin e6 (Ce6). The singlet oxygen generation efficiency and fluorescence emission were moderately affected by the covalent binding of the Ce6 to the dendrimer. This construction allows the vectorization of 32 Ce6 molecules per dendrimer. In vitro, PAMAM dendrimers improve the PDT efficiency of Ce6 by promoting their cellular internalization via an active endocytosis mechanism. However, the PDT efficiency of NPs is limited by the high local concentration of Ce6 at the periphery of dendrimers decreasing production of singlet oxygen. Ce6 release could restore Ce6 photophysical properties and as such improve the PDT efficiency of NP. Thus, the next step of this work was to design a cleavable NP able to release the Ce6 under esterase activity. In solution the NP characterization demonstrated that the photophysical properties of Ce6 were recovered after their release from the NP. This cleavable construction displays promising perspectives for future PDT applications

Materiais altamente especializados (polifuncionais) continuam a ser candidatos chave para avanços na área tecnológica e biológica. Buscando aplicação em campos diversos, foram sintetizadas estruturas dendríticas (dendrímeros e polímeros hiperramificados) do tipo poliéster. Esses materiais foram utilizados para dois fins distintos, a aplicação em sistemas de Drug Delivery e em sistemas catalíticos. Em relação aos sistemas de Drug Delivery, foram estudados dois aspectos principais: (i) Impregnação de fármacos na matriz dendrimérica utilizando scCO2 como solvente - foi estudado o comportamento dos materiais frente ao solvente neotério em termos de estrutura (arquitetura da macromolécula), grupos modificadores (acetonida, hidroxila, acetila e cadeia lineares de polilactato) e densidade do solvente. Os materiais que apresentaram características adequadas foram utilizados no estudo da impregnação de fármacos modelo (Ibuprofeno e Fluconazol) na matriz dendrimérica, utilizando-se scCO2 como solvente. Ambos os fármacos foram eficientemente aprisionados no interior da matriz e apresentaram interações com sua estrutra (analisadas por espectroscopia Raman e 1H RMN). (ii) Estudo do potencial para uso como nanocarreadores em Drug Delivery destinados as vias aéreas - Estudou-se o emprego dos dendrímeros do tipo poliéster de diferentes gerações (G3 e G4) modificados com um marcador fluorescente (FITC), conjugados ou não a poli(etilenoglicol) (PEG), como potenciais nanocarreadores para sistemas de Drug Delivery destinados as vias aéreas. Foram realizados testes in vitro para avaliar o transporte e a internalização desses materiais em um modelo de epitélio pulmonar (monocamada de células Calu-3). O transporte e internalização se mostraram dependentes do tamanho da espécie, sendo que dendrímeros conjugados com PEG apresentaram baixa internalização e mais eficiente transporte através da monocamada, situação oposta à ocorrida com os dendrímeros não conjugados. Estudou-se a degradabilidade desses materiais em condições de pH de relevância biológica, assim como a citotoxicidade dos dendrímeros íntegros e de seus fragmentos frente às células Calu-3, sendo que todas as espécies demonstraram baixa toxicicidade na faixa de concentração estudada. O dendrímero modificado com PEG foi utilizado em uma formulação do tipo \"pressurized metered-dose inhaler\" (pMDI). A performance do aerossol obtido com o pMDI foi avaliada, in vitro, através de um impactador de cascata de Andersen (Andersen Cascade Impactor, ACI), mostrando excelentes resultados, com ao redor de 90% da formulação atingindo regiões profundas do pulmão (eg. alvéolos). Em relação à aplicação em sistemas catalíticos, poliésteres hiperramificados, similares aos dendrímeros empregados nos demais estudos, foram modificados de modo a se obter grupos -NH2 terminais e utilizados para magnificação de performance de catalisadores baseados em ródio. Os poliésteres hiperramificados modificados foram imobilizados em nanopartículas ferromagnéticas, do tipo Fe3O4@SiO2, a fim de se obter uma elevada densidade de grupos aminos terminais, os quais foram posteriormente modificados e serviram de ancoragem para um catalisador de Rh. Foi avaliado o incremento do conteúdo de metal na nanopartícula (de 0,2% para 1,0% m/m), assim como seu efeito catalítico em reações de hidroformilação. / Highly specific materials (polyfunctional) continue to be key candidates to address the challenges of technological and biological fields. Aiming to reach different applications, polyester dendritic structures (dendrimers and hyperbranched polymers) were synthesized. These materials were used in two different ways, application in Drug Delivery systems and in catalytic systems. Regarding the usage in the Drug Delivery systems, two major aspects were studied: (i) Impregnation of drugs in the dendrimeric matrix using scCO2 as solvent - It was studied the behavior of these materials in the neoteric solvent in terms of structure (architecture of the macromolecule), modifying groups (acetonide, hydroxyl, acetyl and linear polylactide chains) and density of the solvent. The materials that showed appropriate characteristics were used for the impregnation of model drugs (Ibuprofen and Fluconazole) in the dendrimeric matrix, using scCO2 as solvent. The two drugs were efficiently trapped in the matrix, and showed interactions with its structure (analyzed by Raman Spectroscopy and 1H NMR) (ii) Study of potential usage as nanocarriers in Drug Delivery systems for the airways - It was studied the application of polyester dendrimers of different generations (G3 and G4), labeled with FITC and conjugated or not with polyethylene glycol (PEG) as potentials nanocarriers for Drug Delivery systems for the airways. In vitro tests were performed to analyze the transport and internalization of these materials in a model of lung epithelia (Calu-3 monolayer). Transport and internalization showed to be size dependent, where the PEGylated dendrimers showed low internalization and more efficient transport through the monolayer, with the opposite situation for the non-conjugated dendrimers. The degradation of the materials was studied in biological relevant values of pH, as well the cytotoxicity on Calu-3 of the dendrimers and their building-blocks. All materials showed very low cytotoxicity in the range of concentrations used. The G4 PEGylated dendrimer was used to prepare a pMDI (pressurized metered-dose inhaler) formulation. The performance of the resulting aerosol was evaluated, in vitro, using an eight stage Andersen Cascade Impactor (ACI). The results showed excellent deep lung deposition, where almost 90% of the formulation reached deep compartments, as alveoli. In the catalytic system application, hyperbranched polyesters, similar to the employed dendrimers, were modified to incorporate peripheral -NH2 groups and used to magnify the catalytic effect of Rhodium-based catalysts. The modified hyperbranched polyesters were immobilized on magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2), resulting in a high density of terminal amine groups. These groups were modified and used for the anchorage of a Rhodium catalyst. It was evaluated the increase in the metal load of the nanoparticles (from 0.2% to 1.0% w/w), as well the catalytic effect in hydroformylation reactions.

A doença de Chagas representa um problema de saúde pública em muitos países e regiões. O tratamento consiste em fármacos tóxicos, com eficácia discutível, principalmente, na fase crônica da doença. Assim, faz-se necessário o planejamento de novos quimioterápicos, mais seguros e eficazes. Os dendrímeros são novas arquiteturas moleculares formadas por um foco central e ramificações partindo desse foco. Apresentam diversas aplicações biológicas como, por exemplo, atuar como transportadores de fármacos. Face ao exposto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o estudo de condições para ligar o ácido anacárdico (AA) em derivado dendrimérico com potencial ação na doença de Chagas, o qual tem como foco central o ácido succínico (AS) e ramificações compostas por arginina (Arg) e lisina (Lys). Sabe-se que a cruzaína, uma cisteíno-protease do T. cruzi, catalisa a hidrólise de ligação peptídica entre lisina e arginina. A síntese dos compostos em fase sólida forneceu os derivados brutos: (1) pró-fármaco AA-K-R-NH2 e (2) G.05 AA-K(AS)-R-NH2, que foram purificados e caracterizados por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência e espectrometria de massas. Os compostos purificados AA-K-R-NH2 e AA-K(AS)-R-NH2 apresentaram rendimentos de 34% e 47%, com pureza de 88% e 98%, respectivamente. Os resultados dos experimentos enzimáticos utilizando o AA-K-R-NH2 não foram conclusivos. Acredita-se que a baixa solubilidade e/ou baixa concentração podem ter contribuído para tal. Já na estabilidade química em pH 7,4 (que simula pH sanguíneo), pH 1,2 (que simula pH estomacal) e pH 8,5 (que simula pH intestinal), observou-se que o AA-K(AS)-R-NH2 foi estável durante as 24 h de ensaio. Estes últimos resultados são interessantes, pois espera-se que o pró-fármaco dendrimérico alcance o T. cruzi estruturalmente integro, sofrendo hidrólise e liberação do composto ativo no interior do parasita. / Chagas disease is a public health problem in many countries and regions. The treatment consists of toxic drugs, with debatable efficacy, mainly, in the chronic phase of the disease. Thus, it is necessary to plan new chemotherapeutics, safer and more effective than those drugs. Dendrimers are new molecular architectures composed by a central focus and branching from that focus. They present several biological applications, such as acting as drug carriers. Thereby, the goal of this work was the study of conditions to bind anacardic acid (AA) in a dendrimeric derivative with potential action in Chagas disease, which was composed by a central focus of succinic acid (AS) and branches of arginine (Arg) and lysine (Lys). Cruzain, a T. cruzi cysteine protease, is known to catalyze the peptide-binding hydrolysis between lysine and arginine. Synthesis of the solid phase compounds provided the crude derivatives: (1) prodrug AA-KR-NH2 and (2) G.05 AA-K(AS)-R-NH2, which were purified and characterized by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. The purified AA-K-R-NH2 and AA-K(AS)-R-NH2 compounds showed yields of 34% and 47%, with purity of 88% and 98% respectively. The results of the enzymatic experiments using AA-K-R-NH2 were not conclusive. It is believed that the low solubility and/or low concentration may have contributed for this. On the chemical stability at pH 7.4 (which simulates blood pH), pH 1.2 (which simulates stomach pH) and pH 8.5 (which simulates intestinal pH), it was observed that AA-K(AS)R-NH2 was stable for 24 hours. These latter results are interesting because the dendrimeric prodrug is expected to reach structurally integral T. cruzi, undergoing hydrolysis and release of the active compound within the parasite.