O IPEN-CNEN/SP desenvolveu e disponibilizou para produção rotineira a tecnologia de fabricação de elementos combustíveis tipo dispersão, para uso em reatores nucleares de pesquisas. O combustível fabricado no IPEN-CNEN/SP está limitado à concentração de urânio de 3,0gU/cm3, para dispersões a base de U3Si2-Al, e de 2,3gU/cm3, para dispersões a base de U3O8-Al. O aumento da concentração de urânio nas placas combustíveis possibilita aumentar a reatividade do núcleo do reator e a vida útil do combustível. É possível aumentar-se a concentração de urânio no combustível até o limite tecnológico de 4,8gU/cm3 para a dispersão U3Si2-Al, e de 3,2gU/cm3 para a dispersão U3O8-Al, as quais estão bem qualificadas ao redor do mundo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver o processo de fabricação de ambos os combustíveis com alta concentração de urânio, redefinindo-se os procedimentos de fabricação atualmente adotados no Centro do Combustível Nuclear do IPEN-CNEN/SP. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que para atingir a concentração desejada devem ser feitas algumas alterações nos procedimentos já estabelecidos, tais como mudança no tamanho de partícula dos pós e mudança no processo de alimentação da matriz de compactação. Os estudos realizados mostraram que as placas combustíveis com alta concentração de urânio a base da dispersão U3Si2-Al com 4,8 gU/cm3 fabricadas atenderam às especificações vigentes. Contudo, apesar da subjetividade da análise, a aparência da microestrutura obtida no núcleo das placas combustíveis a base da dispersão U3O8-Al com 3,2 gU/cm3 não foi considerada satisfatória devido à aparência da distribuição de vazios. O novo procedimento de fabricação foi aplicado na produção de placas combustíveis de dispersão U3Si2-Al com 4,8 gU/cm3 com urânio enriquecido, as quais foram utilizadas na montagem do elemento combustível parcial IEA-228 para ser testado quanto ao desempenho sob irradiação no reator IEA-R1 do IPEN-CNEN/SP. Esses novos combustíveis têm potencial para serem utilizados no novo Reator Multipropósito Brasileiro RMB. / IPEN-CNEN/SP developed the technology to produce the dispersion type fuel elements for research reactors and made it available for routine production. Today, the fuel produced in IPEN-CNEN/SP is limited to the uranium concentration of 3.0 gU/cm3 for U3Si2-Al dispersion-based and 2.3 gU/cm3 for U3O8-Al dispersion. The increase of uranium concentration in fuel plates enables the reactivity of the reactor core reactivity to be higher and extends the fuel life. Concerning technology, it is possible to increase the uranium concentration in the fuel meat up to the limit of 4.8 gU/cm3 in U3Si2-Al dispersion and 3.2 gU/cm3 U3O8-Al dispersion. These dispersions are well qualified worldwide. This work aims to develop the manufacturing process of both fuel meats with high uranium concentrations, by redefining the manufacturing procedures currently adopted in the Nuclear Fuel Center of IPEN-CNEN/SP. Based on the results, it was concluded that to achieve the desired concentration, it is necessary to make some changes in the established procedures, such as in the particle size of the fuel powder and in the feeding process inside the matrix, before briquette pressing. These studies have also shown that the fuel plates, with a high concentration of U3Si2-Al, met the used specifications. On the other hand, the appearance of the microstructure obtained from U3O8-Al dispersion fuel plates with 3.2 gU/cm3 showed to be unsatisfactory, due to the considerably significant porosity observed. The developed fabrication procedure was applied to U3Si2 production at 4.8 gU/cm3, with enriched uranium. The produced plates were used to assemble the fuel element IEA-228, which was irradiated in order to check its performance in the IEA-R1 reactor at IPEN-CNEN/SP. These new fuels have potential to be used in the new Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor - RMB.

O nimodipino é um bloqueador de canais de cálcio usado principalmente na terapia da hemorragia subaracnóidea e no tratamento de distúrbios cognitivos. É praticamente insolúvel em água e, pelo Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica (SCB), é qualificado como classe II e, portanto, sua dissolução é etapa limitante da absorção, podendo apresentar problemas de biodisponibilidade. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar dispersões sólidas de nimodipino, obtidas com os carreadores PEG 6000 ou Poloxamer 407 e compará-las quanto à melhoria na solubilidade e na dissolução do nimodipino. As dispersões sólidas foram obtidas pelos métodos de fusão e de evaporação do solvente e foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho (FT-IR) e difração de raios-X, cujos resultados comprovaram a obtenção das dispersões sólidas. As características de solubilidade e de dissolução do nimodipino nas dispersões sólidas e em misturas físicas foram comparadas. As dispersões sólidas contendo poloxamer 407 apresentaram maior eficiência em melhorar a solubilidade e a velocidade de dissolução do nimodipino, o que pode ser explicado pelo seu efeito tensoativo. O aumento da solubilidade das dispersões sólidas preparadas com PEG (DSPEG-10 = 13,2 g.mL-1) foi significativamente maior que aquele devido às misturas físicas de mesma composição (MFPEG-10 = 3,21 g.mL-1) que, por sua vez, apresentaram solubilidade maior que a do fármaco (2,19 g.mL-1). O mesmo ocorreu com a eficiência de dissolução dessas preparações (DSPEG-10 = 69,11% , MFPEG-10 = 15,61% e nimodipino = 11,68%). Maior incremento da solubilidade foi obtido com a dispersão sólida produzida pelo método de evaporação do solvente contendo poloxamer 407 como carreador (SOLVP407-10 = 75,61 g.mL-1). / Nimodipine is a calcium blocker, used in prevention and treatment of ischaemic neurological deficits after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage and cognitive deficit. It exhibits a low solubility in water and it is classified as class two in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), thereby dissolution is the ratelimiting step in absorption, which impact on bioavailability. Consequently, the objective of this study was to develop and characterize solid dispersions of nimodipine, prepared with PEG 6000 or Poloxamer 407 and to compare them in terms of nimodipine solubility and dissolution. Solid dispersions were obtained by fusion and solvent methods and they were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction, where results confirmed the formation of solid dispersions. Solubility and dissolution characteristics of nimodipine in solid dispersions and physical mixtures were compared. Solid dispersions containing poloxamer 407 showed better efficiency than PEG in increasing solubility and dissolution rate of nimodipine, and it can be explained due to its surfactant activity. The solubility results obtained with solid dispersions prepared with PEG 6000 (DSPEG-10 = 13,2 g.mL-1) were better than physical mixtures with the same composition (MFPEG-10 = 3,21 g.mL-1) which, in turn, showed increased solubility compared with nimodipine (2,19 g.mL-1). Similar results were observed for dissolution efficiency (DSPEG-10 = 69,11% , MFPEG-10 = 15,61% and nimodipine = 11,68%). The best solubility result was obtained by the formulation prepared by the solvent method with poloxamer 407 as carrier (SOLVP407-10 = 75,61 g.mL-1).

O nimodipino é um bloqueador de canais de cálcio usado principalmente na terapia da hemorragia subaracnóidea e no tratamento de distúrbios cognitivos. É praticamente insolúvel em água e, pelo Sistema de Classificação Biofarmacêutica (SCB), é qualificado como classe II e, portanto, sua dissolução é etapa limitante da absorção, podendo apresentar problemas de biodisponibilidade. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi desenvolver e caracterizar dispersões sólidas de nimodipino, obtidas com os carreadores PEG 6000 ou Poloxamer 407 e compará-las quanto à melhoria na solubilidade e na dissolução do nimodipino. As dispersões sólidas foram obtidas pelos métodos de fusão e de evaporação do solvente e foram caracterizadas pelas técnicas de calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), espectroscopia de absorção na região do infravermelho (FT-IR) e difração de raios-X, cujos resultados comprovaram a obtenção das dispersões sólidas. As características de solubilidade e de dissolução do nimodipino nas dispersões sólidas e em misturas físicas foram comparadas. As dispersões sólidas contendo poloxamer 407 apresentaram maior eficiência em melhorar a solubilidade e a velocidade de dissolução do nimodipino, o que pode ser explicado pelo seu efeito tensoativo. O aumento da solubilidade das dispersões sólidas preparadas com PEG (DSPEG-10 = 13,2 g.mL-1) foi significativamente maior que aquele devido às misturas físicas de mesma composição (MFPEG-10 = 3,21 g.mL-1) que, por sua vez, apresentaram solubilidade maior que a do fármaco (2,19 g.mL-1). O mesmo ocorreu com a eficiência de dissolução dessas preparações (DSPEG-10 = 69,11% , MFPEG-10 = 15,61% e nimodipino = 11,68%). Maior incremento da solubilidade foi obtido com a dispersão sólida produzida pelo método de evaporação do solvente contendo poloxamer 407 como carreador (SOLVP407-10 = 75,61 g.mL-1). / Nimodipine is a calcium blocker, used in prevention and treatment of ischaemic neurological deficits after aneurismal subarachnoid hemorrhage and cognitive deficit. It exhibits a low solubility in water and it is classified as class two in the Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS), thereby dissolution is the ratelimiting step in absorption, which impact on bioavailability. Consequently, the objective of this study was to develop and characterize solid dispersions of nimodipine, prepared with PEG 6000 or Poloxamer 407 and to compare them in terms of nimodipine solubility and dissolution. Solid dispersions were obtained by fusion and solvent methods and they were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction, where results confirmed the formation of solid dispersions. Solubility and dissolution characteristics of nimodipine in solid dispersions and physical mixtures were compared. Solid dispersions containing poloxamer 407 showed better efficiency than PEG in increasing solubility and dissolution rate of nimodipine, and it can be explained due to its surfactant activity. The solubility results obtained with solid dispersions prepared with PEG 6000 (DSPEG-10 = 13,2 g.mL-1) were better than physical mixtures with the same composition (MFPEG-10 = 3,21 g.mL-1) which, in turn, showed increased solubility compared with nimodipine (2,19 g.mL-1). Similar results were observed for dissolution efficiency (DSPEG-10 = 69,11% , MFPEG-10 = 15,61% and nimodipine = 11,68%). The best solubility result was obtained by the formulation prepared by the solvent method with poloxamer 407 as carrier (SOLVP407-10 = 75,61 g.mL-1).

Ces travaux sont consacrés à la synthèse d'un nouveau type de métamatériaux acoustiques dans le domaine ultrasonore. L'étude porte sur les résonances de cavité, elles peuvent influer sur les différentes grandeurs physiques impliquées dans la propagation des ondes acoustiques. Pour amplifier les résonances, la stratégie a été de mettre en place un contraste de vitesse de phase entre la matrice et les inclusions résonantes. Pour travailler dans le domaine ultrasonore, les techniques de mise en oeuvre sont issues de la microfluidique. Les premiers échantillons sont élaborés par émulsification micrométrique assistée par robotique. Cela permet d'obtenir des polydispersités de l'ordre de 1%. Différents modes de résonances acoustiques ont ainsi été observés. Les recherches ont été poussées jusqu'à l'étude de la polydispersité (1 à 12 %) et l'analyse de systèmes comprenant deux populations de gouttes. Le reste du travail s'est fait en millifluidique avec la mise en forme de dispersions de billes de xérogel de silice avec de plus importants contrastes de vitesse. La synthèse utilisée est une réaction de type sol-gel en milieu basique salin. Le montage millifluidique a été mis en place et calibré pour cette synthèse. La réaction chimique et les particules obtenues ont été caractérisées de nombreuses manières (Raman, rhéologie, mesure de compression, de densité, BET, MEB...). Les mesures acoustiques sur de tels systèmes ont permis de mettre en évidence des gammes de fréquence pour lesquelles l'indice de réfraction acoustique était négatif les plus fortes fractions volumiques (≈ 20%). / This work is dedicated to the synthesis of a new kind of acoustic metamaterials working in the ultrasonic range. The study is based on cavity resonance which can influence physical quantities involved in acoustic wave propagation. For amplifying these resonances, a large phase velocity contrast is required between the matrix and the inclusions.For the ultrasonic range and because of size requirements, the implementation is achieved using microfluidics. First, samples are generated using robotic-assisted emulsification which leads to a very small size polydispersity, around 1%. For these calibrated emulsions, different modes of acoustic resonance are clearly identified. We then generated polydisperse samples on purpose (up to 12%) and correlated the quality factor of the resonances to the size dispersity. Then, in order to enhance the resonance magnitude, silica-based xerogels are synthesized and templated using digital millifluidics. The chemical reaction along with the final xerogel micro-beads (≈ 100 μm radius) are characterized with a large variety of techniques (Raman, rheology, compression and density measurement, BET, SEM...). Acoustic measurements on these systems show that there is a frequency range with a negative acoustic refractive index for a at high enough volume fraction of xerogel particles (20%).

No description available.

The objectives of work presented in this thesis are to understand droplet and particle formulation processes in order to make useful polymer-polymer hybrids in aqueous dispersions and use our fundamental understanding of these processes to: 1. Improve monomer conversion as much as possible. 2. Understand impact of these processes on hybrid film properties. Specific case studies of interest under commercially feasible conditions (i.e. solids content of 50wt %) were done based on two systems namely alkyd-acrylic and polyurethane-acrylic. Miniemulsification, miniemulsion polymerisation and characterisation of hybrid latex, chemical incorporation of alkyd and polyurethane to acrylic monomers were studied in detail. We have been able to successfully synthesise and characterise hybrid latex of about 100nm in particle diameter and high solids content (50wt %) to be used in coating and adhesive applications

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:25:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MaraRWV_TESE.pdf: 3541177 bytes, checksum: 2415c9163a59f9b397912f22608eefbc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-05-29 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / This thesis aimed to assess the increase in solubility of simvastatin (SINV) with solid dispersions using techniques such as kneading (MA), co-solvent evaporation (ES), melting carrier (FC) and spray dryer (SD). Soluplus (SOL), PEG 6000 (PEG), PVP K-30 (PVP) e sodium lauryl sulphate (LSS) were used as carriers. The solid dispersions containing PEG [PEG-2(SD)], Soluplus [SOL-2(MA)] and sodium lauryl sulphate [LSS-2(ES)] were presented with a greater increase in solubility (5.02, 5.60 and 5.43 times respectively); analyses by ANOVA between the three groups did not present significant difference (p<0.05). In the phase solubility study, the calculation of the Gibbs free energy (&#916;G) revealed that the spontaneity of solubilisation of SINV occurred in the order SOL>PEG >PVP 75%>LSS, always 80%. The phase diagrams of PEG and LSS presented solubilization stoichiometry of type 1:1 (type AL). The diagrams with PVP and SOL tend to 1:2 stoichiometry (type AL + AP). The stability coefficients (Ks) of the phase diagrams revealed that the most stable reactions occurred with LSS and PVP. The solid dispersions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), particle size distribution (PSD), near-infrared spectroscopy imaging (NIR-CI) and X-ray diffraction of the powder using the Topas software (PDRX-TOPAS). The solid dispersion PEG-2(SD) presented the greatest homogeneity and the lowest degree of crystallinity (18.2%). The accelerated stability study revealed that the solid dispersions are less stable than SINV, with PEG-2(SD) being the least stable, confirmed by FTIR and DSC. The analyses by PDRX-TOPAS revealed the amorphous character of the dispersions and the mechanism of increasing solubility / Esta tese teve como objetivo avaliar o aumento de solubilidade da sinvastatina (SINV) atrav?s de dispers?es s?lidas utilizando as t?cnicas de malaxagem (MA), evapora??o com co- solvente (ES), fus?o com carreador (FC) e secagem por spray dryer (SD). Foram utilizados os carreadores Soluplus (SOL), PEG 6000 (PEG), PVP K-30 (PVP) e lauril sulfato de s?dio (LSS). As dispers?es s?lidas contendo PEG [PEG-2(SD)], Soluplus [SOL-2(MA)] e lauril sulfato de s?dio [LSS-2(ES)] apresentaram maior aumento de solubilidade (5,02; 5,60 e 5,43 vezes, respectivamente); a an?lise por ANOVA entre os tr?s grupos n?o demonstrou diferen?a significativa (p<0,05). No estudo de solubilidade de fases, o c?lculo da energia livre de Gibbs (&#916;G) revelou que a espontaneidade de solubiliza??o da SINV ocorreu na ordem SOL>PEG >PVP 75%>LSS, sempre a 80%. Os diagramas de fases de PEG e LSS apresentaram estequiometria de solubiliza??o 1:1 (tipo AL). Os diagramas de PVP e SOL possuem uma tend?ncia a estequiometria 1:2 (tipo AL + AP). Os valores de coeficiente de estabilidade (Ks) dos diagramas de fases revelaram que as rea??es mais est?veis ocorreram com LSS e PVP. As dispers?es s?lidas foram caracterizadas atrav?s de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), calorimetria explorat?ria diferencial (DSC), microscopia eletr?nica de varredura (MEV), distribui??o de tamanho de part?cula (DTP), espectroscopia de imagem no infravermelho pr?ximo (NIR-CI) e difratometria de raios X do P? utilizando o software Topas (PDRX-TOPAS). A dispers?o s?lida PEG-2(SD) apresentou a maior homogeneidade e o menor grau de cristalinidade (18,2%). O estudo de estabilidade revelou que as dispers?es s?lidas s?o menos est?veis que SINV, sendo PEG-2(SD) a de menor estabilidade, confirmada por FTIR e DSC. As an?lises por PDRX-TOPAS revelaram a cristalinidade das dispers?es e o mecanismo de aumento de solubilidade

O IPEN-CNEN/SP desenvolveu e disponibilizou para produção rotineira a tecnologia de fabricação de elementos combustíveis tipo dispersão, para uso em reatores nucleares de pesquisas. O combustível fabricado no IPEN-CNEN/SP está limitado à concentração de urânio de 3,0gU/cm3, para dispersões a base de U3Si2-Al, e de 2,3gU/cm3, para dispersões a base de U3O8-Al. O aumento da concentração de urânio nas placas combustíveis possibilita aumentar a reatividade do núcleo do reator e a vida útil do combustível. É possível aumentar-se a concentração de urânio no combustível até o limite tecnológico de 4,8gU/cm3 para a dispersão U3Si2-Al, e de 3,2gU/cm3 para a dispersão U3O8-Al, as quais estão bem qualificadas ao redor do mundo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo desenvolver o processo de fabricação de ambos os combustíveis com alta concentração de urânio, redefinindo-se os procedimentos de fabricação atualmente adotados no Centro do Combustível Nuclear do IPEN-CNEN/SP. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que para atingir a concentração desejada devem ser feitas algumas alterações nos procedimentos já estabelecidos, tais como mudança no tamanho de partícula dos pós e mudança no processo de alimentação da matriz de compactação. Os estudos realizados mostraram que as placas combustíveis com alta concentração de urânio a base da dispersão U3Si2-Al com 4,8 gU/cm3 fabricadas atenderam às especificações vigentes. Contudo, apesar da subjetividade da análise, a aparência da microestrutura obtida no núcleo das placas combustíveis a base da dispersão U3O8-Al com 3,2 gU/cm3 não foi considerada satisfatória devido à aparência da distribuição de vazios. O novo procedimento de fabricação foi aplicado na produção de placas combustíveis de dispersão U3Si2-Al com 4,8 gU/cm3 com urânio enriquecido, as quais foram utilizadas na montagem do elemento combustível parcial IEA-228 para ser testado quanto ao desempenho sob irradiação no reator IEA-R1 do IPEN-CNEN/SP. Esses novos combustíveis têm potencial para serem utilizados no novo Reator Multipropósito Brasileiro RMB. / IPEN-CNEN/SP developed the technology to produce the dispersion type fuel elements for research reactors and made it available for routine production. Today, the fuel produced in IPEN-CNEN/SP is limited to the uranium concentration of 3.0 gU/cm3 for U3Si2-Al dispersion-based and 2.3 gU/cm3 for U3O8-Al dispersion. The increase of uranium concentration in fuel plates enables the reactivity of the reactor core reactivity to be higher and extends the fuel life. Concerning technology, it is possible to increase the uranium concentration in the fuel meat up to the limit of 4.8 gU/cm3 in U3Si2-Al dispersion and 3.2 gU/cm3 U3O8-Al dispersion. These dispersions are well qualified worldwide. This work aims to develop the manufacturing process of both fuel meats with high uranium concentrations, by redefining the manufacturing procedures currently adopted in the Nuclear Fuel Center of IPEN-CNEN/SP. Based on the results, it was concluded that to achieve the desired concentration, it is necessary to make some changes in the established procedures, such as in the particle size of the fuel powder and in the feeding process inside the matrix, before briquette pressing. These studies have also shown that the fuel plates, with a high concentration of U3Si2-Al, met the used specifications. On the other hand, the appearance of the microstructure obtained from U3O8-Al dispersion fuel plates with 3.2 gU/cm3 showed to be unsatisfactory, due to the considerably significant porosity observed. The developed fabrication procedure was applied to U3Si2 production at 4.8 gU/cm3, with enriched uranium. The produced plates were used to assemble the fuel element IEA-228, which was irradiated in order to check its performance in the IEA-R1 reactor at IPEN-CNEN/SP. These new fuels have potential to be used in the new Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor - RMB.

Graphene sheets, one atom thick, two dimensional layers of carbon atoms, have gained enormous importance over the past few years due to their unique attributes - high electronic, thermal conductivities and exceptional mechanical strength. Chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) has been considered as a viable route for large scale production of graphene sheets. The reduced graphene oxide (r -GO) sheets although their conductivities are comparatively lower than that of graphene are nevertheless versatile material for applications in thin films and composites. An important consideration in the design of solution processing techniques for the preparation of processable graphene sheets is the dispersibility of GO and r -GO in different solvents, especially aqueous dispersibility. While GO is dispersible in water over a wide range of pH values, r -GO shows poor dispersibility and over a limited range of pH values. Graphene oxide, the oxidized form of graphene, are single atomic layers with lateral dimension that can extend to hundreds of nanometers. The sheets contain a sizable fraction of carbons that are sp3 hybridized and covalently bonded to oxygen in the form of epoxy, carbonyls as well as ionizable hydroxyl and carboxylic functional groups located on the rim of the sheets. The remaining carbons form isolated sp2 graphene like networks. On reduction the oxygen functionalities are removed and the sp2 network partially restored. This thesis focuses on the aqueous dispersibility of GO and r -GO, and describes a strategy to enhance the dispersibility of r -GO by cyclodextrin functionalization. Chapter 1 of the thesis provides a brief review of the synthetic procedures and structure of GO and r -GO while Chapter 2 describes the experimental methods and characterization techniques used in the thesis. The chemistry underlying the aqueous dispersibility of GO and r -GO at different values of pH have been investigated by zeta potential measurements, pH titrations and infrared spectroscopy (Chapter 3). These measurements show that r -GO sheets have ionizable groups with a single pKa value (8.0) while GO sheets have groups that are more acidic (pKa = 4.3), in addition to groups with pKa values of 6.6 and 9.0. Infrared spectroscopy has been used to follow the sequence of ionization events. In both GO and r -GO sheets, it is ionization of the carboxylic groups that is primarily responsible for the build up of charge, but on GO sheets, the presence of phenolic and hydroxyl groups in close proximity to the carboxylic groups lowers the pKa value by stabilizing the carboxylate anion, resulting in superior water dispersibility. Till recently GO was primarily considered only as an easily available precursor for chemical routes to r -GO but it has now been recognized as an interesting material in its own right. Two such attributes that have attracted wide spread attention are the in- trinsic and tunable fluorescence of GO as well as formation of liquid crystalline phases. Aqueous dispersions of GO exhibit strong pH dependent fluorescence in the visible region that originates, in part, from the oxygenated functionalities present. In Chapter 4, the spectral migration on nanosecond timescales of the pH dependent features in the fluores- cence spectra of GO is described. The changes in the steady state fluorescence spectra with pH have been correlated with the sequence of dissociation events that occur in GO dispersions at different values of pH described in Chapter 3, from time resolved emission spectra (TRES) constructed from the wavelength dependent fluorescence decay curves, it is shown that the migration is associated with excited state proton transfer. Both ‘intramolecular’ and ‘intermolecular’ transfers involving the quasimolecular oxygenated aromatic fragments are observed. Aqueous dispersions of GO constitute a distinctive class of 2D-anisotropic colloids with competing interactions - long range electrostatic repulsion, originating from ionized carboxylic groups located on the rim of the sheets and weak dispersive attractive interactions originating from the un-oxidized sp2 graphitic domains. In Chapter 5, it is shown that, colloidal dispersions of GO are intrinsically frustrated, exhibiting a range of arrested or metastable states, encompassing fluid, glass and gels that coexist with liquid crystalline order. These states can be accessed by varying the relative magnitudes of the repulsive and attractive forces by changing the ionic strength of the medium, by addition of salt and/or the concentration of the dispersion. At low salt concentrations, where long range electrostatic repulsions dominates, the formation of a repulsive Wigner glass is observed while at high salt concentrations, when attractive forces dominate, the formation of gels that exhibits a nematic to columnar liquid crystalline transition. These studies highlights how the chemical structure of GO - hydrophilic ionizable groups and hydrophobic graphitic domains coexisting on a single sheet - gives rise to a rich and complex phase diagram. The poor dispersibility of r -GO in aqueous media limits its use in practical applica- tions. To enhance the dispersibility, r -GO sheets have been functionalized by covalently linking -cyclodextrin ( -CD) cavities to the sheets via an amide linkage (Chapter 6). The functionalized -CD: rGO sheets, in contrast to r -GO, are dispersible over a wide range of pH values (2 - 13). Zeta potential measurements indicate that there is more than one factor responsible for the dispersibility. It is shown that planar aromatic molecules adsorbed on the r -GO sheet as well as nonplanar molecules included in the tethered -CD cavities have their fluorescence effectively quenched by the -CD: rGO sheets. The -CD: rGO sheets combine the hydrophobicity associated with r -GO along with the hydrophobicity of the cyclodextrin cavities in a single water dispersible material. Resonance Raman spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for detecting and identi- fying analytes, but the associated strong fluorescence background severely limits the use of the technique. In Chapter 7, it is shown that the cyclodextrin functionalized -CD: rGO sheets, described in Chapter 6, provides a versatile platform for resonance Raman detection. Planar aromatic and dye molecules that adsorb on the r -GO graphitic domains and non-planar molecules included within the tethered -CD cavities have their fluorescence effectively quenched. Using the water dispersible -CD: rGO sheets, it is possible to record the resonance Raman spectra of adsorbed and included organic chromophores directly in aqueous media without having to extract or deposit on a substrate. The Raman signal intensities show a linear dependence with the concentration of analyte present in water. This is significant, as it allows for the identification and estimation of organic analytes present in water by resonance Raman spectroscopy.

The main objective of this study was the formulation of food-grade water-in-oil (W/O) nano-dispersions based mainly on medium or long-chain triglycerides. Two types of dispersions were formulated and structurally compared, namely emulsions and microemulsions. The systems were used as matrices for encapsulating targeted bioactive molecules with specific characteristics such as antioxidants or peptides. The structural characterization of the formulated systems was investigated using techniques such as Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM) and Small Angle Xray Scattering (SAXS). The existence of swollen inverse micelles was revealed for the case of microemulsions whereas larger droplets still at the nano-scale were observed for the case of emulsions. Structural differences in the presence of the bioactive molecules or induced by the alteration of components were also observed. In order to study the efficacy of the formulations, the proposed loaded systems were assessed either using EPR spectroscopy or Well Diffusion Assay (WDA) depending on the bioactive molecule. It was found that the encapsulated molecules retained their claimed characteristics when encapsulated to the proposed matrices. Finally, some of the formulated dispersions were investigated for their behavior under gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. A two-step digestion model using recombinant Dog Gastric Lipase (rDGL) and Porcine Pancreatic Lipase (PPL) was proposed to simulate lipid hydrolysis in humans. The studies revealed significant decrease of the rDGL specific activity in the presence of the microemulsion while in the presence of lower percent of surfactants (case of emulsion) no alterations were observed.