A Anfotericina B (AB) é um antibiótico antifúngico natural, do grupo dos polienos, produzido por cultura de bactérias Streptomyces nodosus. A AB foi isolada pela primeira vez em 1953, e desde então tem sido utilizada extensivamente no tratamento clínico de infecções sistêmicas. Como a AB é altamente insolúvel em meio aquoso, a formulação de escolha tem sido dispersões aquosas de micelas mistas de AB e desoxicolato de sódio (Fungizon). Entretanto, a alta toxicidade deste fármaco tem estimulado a proposição de várias outras formulações. O presente trabalho estuda uma dessas formulações alternativas propostas: agregados de AB e Brometo de dioctadecildimetilamônio (DODAB). O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi tentar avaliar, numa visão estrutural, as propriedades e peculiaridades envolvidas na interação da AB com as dispersões de DODAB. Neste trabalho, centrou-se no estudo de dispersões de DODAB, sonicadas (DODABS) e não sonicadas (DODABNS), onde o antibiótico estivesse, principalmente, na forma monomérica, tendo em vista a proposta baixa toxicidade da AB enquanto monômero. Para avaliar estes sistemas utilizaram-se as técnicas de absorção óptica, calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC) e a Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica (RPE) de marcadores de spin incorporados nos agregados lipídicos. Mostrou-se que a AB monomérica incorpora-se tanto em vesículas de DODABNS, como nos pequenos agregados de DODABS, sendo maior sua incorporação nestes últimos. Foi possível mostrar que até a fração molar (AB/DODAB) de 1,2 mol% a AB está totalmente monomérica, incorporada em agregados de DODABS, mas somente parcialmente em vesículas de DODABNS. Nas bicamadas de DODABNS, a preferência da AB monomérica é pela fase gel, 40 % incorporada, comparada com 23 % na fase fluida. As várias técnicas indicam que a AB encontra-se na superfície da bicamada, com seu cromóforo hidrofóbico enxergando um meio de polarizabilidade maior do que a da água, tanto em DODABS como em DODABNS. Marcadores de spin mostram a coexistência de domínios lipídicos em fases diferentes, gel e fluida, a baixas temperaturas, em DODABS. Curiosamente, indicam que a AB monomérica interage, preferencialmente, com os domínios mais fluidos, em desacordo com a observada maior afinidade da AB pela fase gel de bicamadas lipídicas de DODABNS. O estudo termo-estrutural de dispersões de DODABNS e DODABS aqui apresentado, na presença e ausência de AB, pode ser relevante na proposta de novas formulações farmacológicas. / Amphotericin B (AB) is a natural antibiotic, produced by Streptomyces nodosus, with a very potent antifungal activity. It is a polyene macrolide molecule, isolated in 1953. Since then, it has been extensively used in the treatment of systemic mycotic infections. Considering AB very low solubility in aqueous medium, it has been largely used as an aqueous dispersion of sodium deoxycholate-AB mixed micelles (Fungizon). However, the high toxicity of this preparation has led to the proposition of different other formulations. The present work focuses on one of the proposed preparations, namely aggregates formed by AB and the cationic lipid dioctadecyldimethylammonium (DODAB). Considering the proposed low toxicity of monomeric AB, the present work studies DODAB dispersions, sonicated (DODABS) and non-sonicated (DODABNS), where AB is mostly monomeric. To the structural analysis, optical absorption, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electron spin resonance of spin labels incorporated in the aggregates were used. It was found that AB as a monomer incorporates in aggregates present in both dispersions, DODABS and DODABNS, but the incorporation of monomeric AB in the small fragments present in DODABS is much larger. It was shown that AB incorporates in DODABS aggregates, as a monomer, up to AB/DODAB concentration of 1.2 mol%. At this concentration, only 40 % and 23 % of AB molecules are in the monomeric state in the gel and fluid phases of DODABNS bilayers, respectively. Hence, the gel phase of DODABNS bilayers favors the monomerization of AB, as compared to the bilayer fluid phase. All the applied techniques point to a superficial interaction of monomeric AB with DODAB aggregates, with the hydrophobic polyene chromophor positioned relatively inside the bilayer, in a region of polarizability higher than that of water, in both dispersions, DODABS and DODABNS. Spin labels indicate the coexistence of gel and fluid domains in DODABS aggregates, at low temperatures, supporting the proposed hypothesis of the presence of bilayer fragments in the dispersion. Contrarily to the higher detected affinity of monomeric AB for the gel phase, as compared to the fluid phase of DADABNS bilayers, spin labels indicate that monomeric AB is mostly adsorbed at the fluid domain of the fragments, possibly corresponding to the periphery of the fragments. The thermal-structural study presented here of DODABNS and DODABS, in the presence and absence of AB, can be relevant in the design of new pharmaceutical formulations.

Este trabalho apresenta os detalhes da construção de um espectrômetro para a realização de experimentos de transferência de polarização elétron-núcleo (Efeito Overhauser). São também mostrados: as implementações e modificações feitas no espectrômetro de RPE existente no Laboratório de Ressonância Magnética do DFCM, os circuitos para a construção de um equipamento de RMN para operar de forma pulsado na freqüência fixa de 14 MHz, os desenhos da cavidade de RPE construída para a banda-X (~ 9,2 GHz), os \"softwares\" modificados e desenvolvidos para aquisição de dados, tratamento e reconstrução de imagens. São apresentados os resultados do aumento do sinal de RMN e as imagens obtidas através da Tomografia de Ressonância Magnética, usando amostras menores do que 1 mm de diâmetro (volume ~10 ul), a uma concentração de 2,2 mM de TEMPOL dissolvido em água destilada. / This work describes in details the arrangements that must be accomplished for development of a spectrometer for Dynamic Nuclear Polarization - DNP (Overhauser Effect). Also, the construction project of a 14 MHz pulsed NMR spectrometer and drawings of a homemade EPR cavity for X-band (~ 9,2 GHz) are shown. The DNP probe built for the experiments and modifications done on the EPR spectrometer existing at Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance are discussed in detail. Results on the enhancement of the NMR signal due electron-proton dynamic interactions are presented. NMR imaging of very small objects, 1 mm diameter glass tube filled with 5 ~10 ul of 2,2 mM of free radicals (TEMPOL) solution, obtained through back projection reconstruction NMR tomography method, are presented

Neste trabalho, usamos a técnica de Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica em seu modo convencional para o estudo da enzima clorocatecol 1,2-dioxigenase e em seu modo pulsado para o estudo da estrutura dinâmica de biomembranas. Clorocatecol 1,2-dioxigenase é uma enzima que catalisa a clivagem de estruturas aromáticas, como a do clorocatecol, via a a ativação e incorporação de uma molécula de oxigênio e que possui em seu sítio ativo um íon Fe(III). Nossos resultados de CD e atividade enzimática mostram o intervalo de temperaturas entre 20-25 ºC como aquele no qual a enzima apresenta atividade máxima. A maior contribuição para sua estrutura secundária vem de folhas β anti-paralela. A quantificação do número de spin feita por EPR indicou a presença de um íon Fe(III) por molécula de CCD, estando esse íon em estado de spin alto e simetria rômbica, como se depreende da linha estreita em g=4,3. Os parâmetros de desdobramentos de campo zero foram determinados pela medida em função da temperatura da linha em g=4,3, fornecendo λ=E/D=1/3 e D=(1,3±0,2) cm -1. O gráfico de Scatchard construído a partir dos espectros de EPR quando da titulação da enzima com o substrato catecol indicou a presença de um único sítio ligante de catecol, em acordo com a quantificação anterior do metal, e cuja constante de afinidade enzima-substrato é k=(2,7±0,1)x10-6 M. No que tange a EPR pulsado, foram utilizadas as chamadas técnicas modernas de EPR, com ênfase em 2D-ELDOR, para a investigação de diversos aspectos em membranas de interesse biológico. Primeiramente, investigamos a diferenciação entre a fase de líquido ordenado (Lo) e a de líquido cristalino (Lc) em membranas modelo de lipídio puro e lipídio/colesterol (1/1) contendo diferentes marcadores de spin (16-PC, CSL e DPPTC). Aí mostramos que é possível distinguir-se diferentes fases lipídicas apenas por simples inspeção visual dos espectros de 2D-ELDOR de um determinado marcador de spin incorporado à membrana. Além disso, realizamos simulações através do pacote de programas NLSPMC e determinamos as diferenças quantitativas entre as fases lipídicas: o estado de líquido ordenado apresenta maior fluidez e ordenamento na região das cadeias acílicas, ao passo que, na região da cabeça polar, mostra menor ordenamento. Em seguida, estudamos o efeito da presença de colesterol em alta concentração sobre o comportamento da membrana como função da temperatura. Nesse caso, o colesterol atua de maneira a manter a membrana em uma fase altamente ordenada e fluída dentro do intervalo de temperaturas medido, abolindo a transição gel-Lc do lipídio DPPC. Uma tentativa de aplicação de nossa metodologia ao estudo de membranas biológicas foi feita ao estudarmos membranas bleb que são ricas em colesterol. Estas mostram comportamento semelhante àquele observado para as membranas modelo com alta concentração de colesterol, um indicativo da existência de domínios Lo naquelas membranas biológicas. Por fim, estudamos o efeito da presença do peptídeo Gramicidina A\' (GA) sobre a estrutura da membrana de DPPC. Os resultados de 2DELDOR mostram claramente a presença de duas populações de lipídios (\"boundary\" e \"bulk\"). As simulações desses espectros foram as primeiras feitas com espectros contendo duas componentes e com os dados nas formas Sc- e Secsy. Essas mostram que os lipídios \"bulk\" são pouco afetados pela presença de moléculas de GA, ao passo que os lipídios \"boundary\" têm suas cadeias acílicas dobradas na porção terminal em torno das moléculas de GA, mecanismo que suporta a formação de domínios em fase HII na membrana. / In this work, EPR-CW and 2D-FT-EPR are used to study the enzyme chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase and the dynamic structure of biological relevant membranes, respectively. Chlorocatechol 1,2-dioxygenase (CCD) is a non-heme Fe(lIl) enzyme that catalyses the ring cleavage of aromatic compounds like chlorocatechol. The structure stability as a function of the temperature was determined via circular dichroism and catalytic activity assays. The enzyme has its maximum activity at 20-25 ºC. The main contribution to its secondary structure comes from antiparallel Β sheets. The iron content was determined by EPR measurements, indicating the presence of one Fe(llI) per molecule. The Fe(III) ion shows a very narrow line at g=4.3 indicating a high spin state in a rhombic symmetry with λ=E/D=1/3 and D=(1,3±0,2) cm -1. The Scatchard plot based on EPR spectra suggests the existence of one site for substrate binding with a binding constant k=(2,7±0,1)x10-6 M. As for 2D-FT-EPR, the so-called modem EPR techniques, like 2D-ELDOR, were used to investigate several aspects of biologically relevant membranes. Firstly, we determined the differences between the liquid-ordered (Lo) and the liquid-crystalline (Lc) phases in model membranes of pure lipid and of lipid/cholesterol (1/1) mixtures containing different spin labels (16-PC, CSL, and DPPTC). In this case, we show how 2D-ELDOR makes possible the differentiation between Lo and Lc phases just by a pattern recognition scheme. We also performed simulations of those spectra and the results are: the Lo phase shows higher fluidity and ordering in the acyl chain region, whereas it shows lower ordering in the headgroup polar region. After that the membrane behaviour as s function of temperature was studied. We showed that cholesterol maintains the membrane in a highly ordered and fluid structure over the entire range of temperatures, abolishing the gel-Lc phase transition of the lipid DPPC. The biological membrane bleb was the first attempt to apply our methodology to real membranes. The 2D-ELDOR results for bleb membranes indicate the existence of Lo domains in the structure of those membranes. Finally, we studied the effects of the peptide Gramicidin A\' (GA) on the lipid organization of DPPC membranes. The 2D-ELDOR results show very clear two-component spectra (assigned to bulk and ,boundary lipids), which were simulated by the NLSPMC programs. This is the first time that 2D-FT-EPR multi-component spectra are simulated using both the Sc- and Secsy formal. The simulations indicate that the GA molecules do not significantly affect the bulk lipid, whereas the boundary lipids present the end portion of their acyl chain bent towards the GA molecule. This mechanism is probably responsible for the local formation of the HII phase in the membranes.

The products of the decomposition of selected types of peroxo compounds in the presence of redox agents (Pb and Co compounds) were investigated by EPR method. Besides some commercial peroxides the study was performed with peroxo compounds of Luperoxide group (Luperox 101, Luperox 256, Luperox 531). For the detection of the decomposition products the technique of spin-trapping using nitrosobenzene was applied. EPR spectra of radical adducts formed by the reaction of the reactive oxygenous radicals with nitrosobenzen having the character of stable nitroxyl radicals were analyzed. Their EPR parameters were obtained by simulation method. Besides the addition to nitrosobenzene the generated oxygen centered radicals were proved also on the basis of their reaction with model compounds (Santonox R; 2,6–ditercbutyl–4–methylphenol; diphenylamine).

Tetrathiafulvalene derivatives are remarkable molecules, with various application, reported relatively recently. The radical cation of these compounds has very inter- esting optical, electronic, electrocatalytic superconducting and magnetic properties that have been intensively studied recently. Quantitative in-situ EPR voltammetric spectroelectrochemistry studies of 2-(2-hydroxyethylsulfanyl)-3-(benzylsulfanyl)-6,7- bis(octadecylsulphanyl)tetrathiafulvalene (TTF-Der3) have been carried out with the aim to confirm the oxidation sites, follow-up reactions (after the first electron transfer), and electrochemical behaviour. The diffusion process was confirmed by the depen- dence of current on the square root of the scan rate. It was claimed that the ratio of the number of generated radicals to transferred charge (electrons) for two representative TTF derivatives was determined to 5.5:500 for and 7:500 for TTF, indicating the follow- up reactions. Experiments were performed using the commercially available EPR standards, calibrated for this method (experimental setup). The latter was validated by quantitative EPR with standard 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl radical concentration (1·10−4 mol dm−3). For the ratios the confidence interval was reported for the first time for TTF-Der3 it was...

Cílem diplomové práce je navrhnout konstrukční řešení držáků vzorků pro vysokofrekvenční elektron paramagnetickou resonanci. Předmětem návrhu je vytvořit jednoduchý zamykací systém pro spojování mikrovlnného vlnovodu a držáku vzorku. Dále navrhnout systém s řešením držáku pro více vzorků. Toto unikátní provedení držáku povede k několikanásobné úspoře celkového času měření vzorků. Poslední návrh spočívá v optimalizaci držáku vzorku s možností naklápění osy, kterou lze díky přímému napojení na piezoelektrický rotátor pootáčet s přesností na miliradiány. Oba typy držáku vzorku jsou navrženy s ohledem na automatizaci měření.

This diploma thesis brings new data about design, synthesis, physico-chemical characterisation and biological efficacy of the novel star-like HPMA-based conjugates intended for treatment of solid tumors. Recently, many different water-soluble drug delivery systems based on N-(2- hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers have been described. Here, we report synthesis and physico-chemical characterisation of high molecular weight star-like HPMA- based polymer carriers with low polydispersity prepared by controlled grafting of HPMA copolymers onto PAMAM dendrimer core. With the aim to keep the polydispersity of drug delivery system as low as possible, reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer (RAFT) polymerisation was used for HPMA-based polymer precursor preparation. The end groups of the polymer presursors was afterwards used for grafting using carbodidimide condensation reaction or copper free click chemistry on polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers resulting in a formation of star-like high-molecular-weight (HMW) drug carriers. Described synthetic procedure provided preparation of star-like HMW drug carriers with Mw between 1.105 - 3.105 g/mol and narrow distribution of Mw. The model drug, doxorubicin (Dox), was attached to the hydrazide group containing polymer cariers by pH- sensitive...

A produção de radicais de carbono \"in vivo\" durante a biotransformação da hidrazina foi demonstrada por ressonância para magnética eletrônica, utilizando o método do captador de spin. Eritrócitos de rato também oxidaram a hidrazina, formando radicais de carbono e nitrogênio, além de espécies reativas de oxigênio. Todas estas espécies, possivelmente formadas \"in vivo\", são potencialmente causadoras de dano a macromoléculas. Podem, por exemplo, iniciar reações secundárias formando radicais de componentes celulares, como ocorreu com a hemoglobina que foi oxidada a radicais tiil-hemoglobina em eritrócitos tratados com hídrazina. Radicais de carbono formados durante a biotransformação da hidrazina em animais expostos provêm necessariamente de substâncias endógenas e podem ser direta ou indiretamente responsáveis pela modificação ( alquilação ) de bases no DNA \"in vivo\". A hidrazona do formaldeído é descrita na literatura como um intermediário da alquilação induzida por hidrazina \"in vivo\". Células L 1210, catalase ou oxihemoglobina de rato foram capazes de formar radicais de carbono durante a oxidação da hidrazona do formaldeído. A oxidação da hidrazona do formaldeído pela catalase foi estudada \"in vítro\" e os radicais de carbono formados, identificados como radicais metila. A base modificada C8 -metil-guanina foi formada em animais expostos, como demonstrado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência associada à detecção eletroquímica, sugerindo que ocorreu alquilação do DNA por radicais metila durante a biotransformação da hidrazina \"in vivo\". / The production of carbon-centered radicais during hydrazine biotransformation \"in vivo\" was demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance ( EPR ) spin trapping technique. Rat red blood cells also oxidized hydrazine, forming carbon and nitrogen centered radicais, besides oxygen reactive speties. Ali these species, possibly formed \"in vivo\", are potentially harmful to macromolecules. For example, they can initiate secondary reactions in which the radicais from cell components are formed, as it occurred with hemoglobin, forming thiyl-hemoglobin radicais in the red blood cells treated with hydrazine. Carbon-centered radicais produced during the biotransformation of hydrazine in exposed animais must be derived from endogenous sources and may be directly or indirectly responsible for the modificaton ( alkylation ) of DNA bases \"in vivo\". The formaldehyde hydrazone is reported in the literature as an intermediate of hydrazine-induced alkylation \"in vivo\". L1210 cells, catalase and rat hemoglobin were able to produce carbon-centered radicais during the oxidation of the formaldehyde hydrazone. The oxidation of formaldehyde hydrazone by catalase was studied \"in vitro\" and the generated carbon-centered radicais were identified as methyl radicais. The modified base C8 -methylguanine was formed in exposed animais, as demonstrated by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, suggesting that DNA alkylation by methyl radicais occurred during hydrazine biotransformation \"in vivo.\"

Metal-organic framework (MOF) compounds as a new class of porous coordination polymers consists of metal ions or clusters linked by organic molecules. They have gained recent interest because of their large surface areas and huge variety of the porous network structures. They exhibit interesting adsorption properties and therefore are potential candidates for various technical applications. In this work, continuous wave (cw) and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) methods such as pulsed electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and hyperfine sublevel correlation (HYSCORE) spectroscopy are applied to study metal-organic frameworks with respect to different aspects of their properties: The host-guest interactions between Cu2+ ions in [Cu3(btc)2]n (HKUST-1; btc: 1,3,5-benzenetricaboxylate) with adsorbed methanol (CH3OH), 13C enriched carbon monoxide and dioxide (13CO, 13CO2), hydrogen (H2), deuterium (D2) and mixed isotopic HD. In [Cu3(btc)2]n, the Cu2+ ions are connected to binuclear Cu/Cu paddle wheel units. Since the Cu2+ ions in the [Cu3(btc)2]n are antiferromagnetically coupled, the new compound [Cu2.97Zn0.03(btc)2]n is synthesized by isomorphous substitution containing about 1 % paramagnetic Cu/Zn paddle wheel units. The modified Cu/Zn paddle wheel units prove to be a very sensitive probe for the interactions with the adsorbed molecules. Secondly, the exchange interactions of antiferromagnetically coupled Cu/Cu paddle wheel units as well as additional inter-paddle wheel exchange interactions between the Cu/Cu pairs are studied in [Cu2(bdc)2(dabco)]n, a layered MOF with 1,4-benzenedicaboxylate (bdc) as linker and 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (dabco) acting as pillars between the layers. In comparison to [Cu3(btc)2]n, the additional inter-paddle wheel exchange interactions are much easier disturbed by incorporation of Zn2+ ions into the framework structure. Third, the structural dynamics of the framework is investigated in the compound [Al(OH)(bdc)]n (MIL-53) which was isomorphously substituted by V(III)/V(IV) species. The 51V hyperfine structure revealed to be sensitive to the so-called breathing effect, a flexible structural behaviour upon guest adsorption/desorption or upon thermal treatment. It is shown that the aluminum ions can be substituted by vanadium but the octahedral coordination environment changes slightly to a pseudo-octahedral or a square-pyramidal coordination. Based on the hyperfine interactions between the electron spin and the nuclear spins of the surrounding atoms, structural models can be derived from orientation-selective measurements. In such a way, structural information of materials like powder samples and adsorbate complexes can be obtained which are hardly or even not accessible by other methods.

A produção de radicais de carbono \"in vivo\" durante a biotransformação da hidrazina foi demonstrada por ressonância para magnética eletrônica, utilizando o método do captador de spin. Eritrócitos de rato também oxidaram a hidrazina, formando radicais de carbono e nitrogênio, além de espécies reativas de oxigênio. Todas estas espécies, possivelmente formadas \"in vivo\", são potencialmente causadoras de dano a macromoléculas. Podem, por exemplo, iniciar reações secundárias formando radicais de componentes celulares, como ocorreu com a hemoglobina que foi oxidada a radicais tiil-hemoglobina em eritrócitos tratados com hídrazina. Radicais de carbono formados durante a biotransformação da hidrazina em animais expostos provêm necessariamente de substâncias endógenas e podem ser direta ou indiretamente responsáveis pela modificação ( alquilação ) de bases no DNA \"in vivo\". A hidrazona do formaldeído é descrita na literatura como um intermediário da alquilação induzida por hidrazina \"in vivo\". Células L 1210, catalase ou oxihemoglobina de rato foram capazes de formar radicais de carbono durante a oxidação da hidrazona do formaldeído. A oxidação da hidrazona do formaldeído pela catalase foi estudada \"in vítro\" e os radicais de carbono formados, identificados como radicais metila. A base modificada C8 -metil-guanina foi formada em animais expostos, como demonstrado por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência associada à detecção eletroquímica, sugerindo que ocorreu alquilação do DNA por radicais metila durante a biotransformação da hidrazina \"in vivo\". / The production of carbon-centered radicais during hydrazine biotransformation \"in vivo\" was demonstrated by electron paramagnetic resonance ( EPR ) spin trapping technique. Rat red blood cells also oxidized hydrazine, forming carbon and nitrogen centered radicais, besides oxygen reactive speties. Ali these species, possibly formed \"in vivo\", are potentially harmful to macromolecules. For example, they can initiate secondary reactions in which the radicais from cell components are formed, as it occurred with hemoglobin, forming thiyl-hemoglobin radicais in the red blood cells treated with hydrazine. Carbon-centered radicais produced during the biotransformation of hydrazine in exposed animais must be derived from endogenous sources and may be directly or indirectly responsible for the modificaton ( alkylation ) of DNA bases \"in vivo\". The formaldehyde hydrazone is reported in the literature as an intermediate of hydrazine-induced alkylation \"in vivo\". L1210 cells, catalase and rat hemoglobin were able to produce carbon-centered radicais during the oxidation of the formaldehyde hydrazone. The oxidation of formaldehyde hydrazone by catalase was studied \"in vitro\" and the generated carbon-centered radicais were identified as methyl radicais. The modified base C8 -methylguanine was formed in exposed animais, as demonstrated by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, suggesting that DNA alkylation by methyl radicais occurred during hydrazine biotransformation \"in vivo.\"