This thesis examines the growth ring structure of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnhardt and investigates links between ring features and the climatic conditions under which growth took place. Samples of E. camaldulensis from the Barmah Forest (near the River Murray in northern Victoria) were used in the study. E. camaldulensis growth is linked to periodic flooding, and the Barmah Forest contains sites that are frequently flooded. Wood samples were obtained from sites subject to different average flooding frequencies. Trees used in the study grew out of natural regeneration in the 1920’s and 1930’s and from regeneration trials in the early 1960’s. Initial investigation of E. camaldulensis samples revealed ring-like features that were able to be traced on samples by eye. Microscopic investigation showed that there existed considerable variations in the properties of individual rings at different positions on the samples, and that the boundaries between rings were often indistinct.

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / The proliferation of box mistletoe Amyema miquelii in eucalypt woodlands of south-eastern Australia may have resulted from the suppression of canopy fires, a reduction in herbivory by possums, and through environmental change, an improvement in conditions for mistletoe dispersal and establishment. In the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), South Australia, box mistletoe is often seen in high numbers in pink gum Eucalyptus fasciculosa woodlands. The following dissertation investigated box mistletoe dispersal and establishment by Mistletoebirds Dicaeum hirundinaceum in a pink gum woodland. The broad aims of the study were to advance our theoretical knowledge of mistletoe dispersal ecology, to understand why pink gum woodlands are more susceptible to mistletoe infection, and to increase the amount of ecological information available to land managers. A survey of box mistletoe and its Eucalyptus hosts in reserves of the MLR region revealed that almost a third of all pink gums were infected with box mistletoe. Individual pink gums with less foliage cover surrounding their canopy were more likely to host box mistletoe, suggesting canopy access for Mistletoebirds may influence the susceptibility of pink gums to mistletoe infection. Woodland type was more influential than fragmentation and edge effects in determining mistletoe presence, indicating a variation in host specificity across Eucalyptus species. The results of this survey indicated that further examination was required on Mistletoebird behaviour and mistletoe establishment success. Two aspects of Mistletoe bird ecology were examined: the influence of their movement patterns on the spatial dynamics of mistletoe dispersal, and their foraging behaviour. Mistletoebirds had home ranges of around 20 ha, and used small core areas (1 ha) of high mistletoe infestation more frequently than areas with lower mistletoe abundance. Modelling of mistletoe seed shadows indicated that the majority of mistletoe seeds (approx. 70%) would be deposited within 100 m of a parent plant. Consistent with this, seed rain modelling showed that mistletoe seed rain was aggregated, with birds dispersing large amounts of seed (> 66 000/ ha) in areas with higher mistletoe infestation levels. This indicated that the movements of mistletoe dispersers promote mistletoe aggregation not only at the scale of an individual tree, but also at a landscape scale. From a management perspective, the results indicated that the removal of mistletoes from single trees may have only short-term results, as reinfection from neighbouring host trees is likely. The attractiveness of pink gums to Mistletoebirds was a function of tree size, mistletoe crop size and tree access. Mistletoebirds preferred to forage in taller trees with a larger mistletoe crop size and which had greater canopy access, and Mistletoebirds most often alighted on dead pink gum when visiting a tree. The results support the notion that woodland dieback may improve conditions for mistletoe dispersal by allowing favourable habitat for Mistletoebirds, by increasing canopy access and by providing more perch sites. Dieback will also reduce mistletoe establishment, however, through a loss of suitable live host branches. The high frequency of box mistletoe infection in pink gum woodlands could also be explained by differences in establishment of box mistletoe between eucalypt species. A mistletoe establishment experiment demonstrated that establishment was significantly higher on pink gums than on E. porosa and E. camaldulensis, and that mistletoes established on pink gums were larger and had a greater number of leaves. The differences probably lay in underlying differences in host physical and chemical defences, and subsequent relative success of mistletoes to establish a functional haustorium. The dispersal syndrome of box mistletoe as described in this study is suitable and perhaps facilitated in the contemporary fragmented environment in a number of ways. These include an ability to concentrate their feeding and breeding activities in small areas of remnant vegetation, greater manoeuvrability between trees isolated by clearing, and easier access to the canopies and perch sites of individual trees in deteriorated woodlands. Priority research stemming from this study should include studies into the underlying causes of pink gum dieback, an experiment to test whether canopy die back directly results in more frequent visitation by Mistletoebirds, an examination of Mistletoebird movements in areas with low mistletoe abundance, and continued monitoring of mistletoe abundance and tree condition as established in this dissertation. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1285516 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Title page, table of contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / The proliferation of box mistletoe Amyema miquelii in eucalypt woodlands of south-eastern Australia may have resulted from the suppression of canopy fires, a reduction in herbivory by possums, and through environmental change, an improvement in conditions for mistletoe dispersal and establishment. In the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR), South Australia, box mistletoe is often seen in high numbers in pink gum Eucalyptus fasciculosa woodlands. The following dissertation investigated box mistletoe dispersal and establishment by Mistletoebirds Dicaeum hirundinaceum in a pink gum woodland. The broad aims of the study were to advance our theoretical knowledge of mistletoe dispersal ecology, to understand why pink gum woodlands are more susceptible to mistletoe infection, and to increase the amount of ecological information available to land managers. A survey of box mistletoe and its Eucalyptus hosts in reserves of the MLR region revealed that almost a third of all pink gums were infected with box mistletoe. Individual pink gums with less foliage cover surrounding their canopy were more likely to host box mistletoe, suggesting canopy access for Mistletoebirds may influence the susceptibility of pink gums to mistletoe infection. Woodland type was more influential than fragmentation and edge effects in determining mistletoe presence, indicating a variation in host specificity across Eucalyptus species. The results of this survey indicated that further examination was required on Mistletoebird behaviour and mistletoe establishment success. Two aspects of Mistletoe bird ecology were examined: the influence of their movement patterns on the spatial dynamics of mistletoe dispersal, and their foraging behaviour. Mistletoebirds had home ranges of around 20 ha, and used small core areas (1 ha) of high mistletoe infestation more frequently than areas with lower mistletoe abundance. Modelling of mistletoe seed shadows indicated that the majority of mistletoe seeds (approx. 70%) would be deposited within 100 m of a parent plant. Consistent with this, seed rain modelling showed that mistletoe seed rain was aggregated, with birds dispersing large amounts of seed (> 66 000/ ha) in areas with higher mistletoe infestation levels. This indicated that the movements of mistletoe dispersers promote mistletoe aggregation not only at the scale of an individual tree, but also at a landscape scale. From a management perspective, the results indicated that the removal of mistletoes from single trees may have only short-term results, as reinfection from neighbouring host trees is likely. The attractiveness of pink gums to Mistletoebirds was a function of tree size, mistletoe crop size and tree access. Mistletoebirds preferred to forage in taller trees with a larger mistletoe crop size and which had greater canopy access, and Mistletoebirds most often alighted on dead pink gum when visiting a tree. The results support the notion that woodland dieback may improve conditions for mistletoe dispersal by allowing favourable habitat for Mistletoebirds, by increasing canopy access and by providing more perch sites. Dieback will also reduce mistletoe establishment, however, through a loss of suitable live host branches. The high frequency of box mistletoe infection in pink gum woodlands could also be explained by differences in establishment of box mistletoe between eucalypt species. A mistletoe establishment experiment demonstrated that establishment was significantly higher on pink gums than on E. porosa and E. camaldulensis, and that mistletoes established on pink gums were larger and had a greater number of leaves. The differences probably lay in underlying differences in host physical and chemical defences, and subsequent relative success of mistletoes to establish a functional haustorium. The dispersal syndrome of box mistletoe as described in this study is suitable and perhaps facilitated in the contemporary fragmented environment in a number of ways. These include an ability to concentrate their feeding and breeding activities in small areas of remnant vegetation, greater manoeuvrability between trees isolated by clearing, and easier access to the canopies and perch sites of individual trees in deteriorated woodlands. Priority research stemming from this study should include studies into the underlying causes of pink gum dieback, an experiment to test whether canopy die back directly results in more frequent visitation by Mistletoebirds, an examination of Mistletoebird movements in areas with low mistletoe abundance, and continued monitoring of mistletoe abundance and tree condition as established in this dissertation. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1285516 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2007

Thesis (M.S.)--Springfield College, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:24:22Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 carignatto_crr_dr_rcla.pdf: 938838 bytes, checksum: a773effa3a570309d864843e6b084d92 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Xanthomonas são bactérias que produzem o biopolímero denominado xantana que apresenta grande aplicabilidade em vários setores industriais. Essas bactérias não apresentam grandes exigências nutricionais, mas os nutrientes disponíveis no meio interferem no processo de biossíntese da xantana. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou estudar a influência da composição do meio de produção sobre a composição química, massa molecular e qualidade da goma produzida por Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Também foram avaliados alguns parâmetros do processo de obtenção desse biopolímero como: modos de extração, temperatura e a comparação entre incubadora orbital e fermentador para produção da xantana. A fermentação foi conduzida em duas etapas, crescimento da biomassa inoculante e produção do biopolímero através de meios formulados por delineamento experimental e citados na literatura. Verificou-se que os nutrientes utilizados no meio de produção interferem na composição química e massa molecular da goma produzida. A ausência da fonte de nitrogênio e a presença de pouco citrato (0,1%) e de lecitina de soja (0,001%) favoreceram a formação da goma xantana mais viscosa que a produzida em meio descrito na literatura. Esta goma de qualidade superior apresentou massa molecular dez vezes maior (1,17 x 106 g/mol), e em sua estrutura havia mais acetil e menos piruvil que a goma produzida no meio já citado. O uso de sais (NaCl e KCl) e formaldeído na etapa de extração da goma permitiu a precipitação de uma maior quantidade de xantana. No entanto, ambos interferiram negativamente em sua viscosidade. A adição de sais durante a solubilização da goma não provocou alterações significativas na viscosidade da mesma. Em relação à temperatura, a produção realizada a 25ºC favoreceu o crescimento... / Xanthomonas are producer bacteria of biopolymer denominated xanthan gum that has great applicability in several industrial sections. Those bacteria do not present great nutritional demands, but the available nutrients in the medium interfere in the process of xanthan biosynthesis. The present work aimed to study the influence of the composition of production medium on the chemical structure, molecular mass and quality of the gum produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Other parameters that involve xanthan production also were studied as: extraction, temperature and the use of shaker incubator or reactor. The fermentation was carried out in two stages, biomass growthing and biopolymer production using media formulated by experimental design and media mentioned in the literature. It was verified that the nutrients used in the production medium interfere in the chemical composition and molecular mass of the produced gum. The absence of the nutrient nitrogen and the presence of little citrate (0.1%) and lecithin (0.001%) favored the formation of the xanthan more viscous than the gum produced in medium described by Garcia-Ochoa et al. (1992). This better gum presented molecular mass ten times larger (1.17 x 106 g/mol), and structure with more acetate and less piruvate than the gum produced in the last medium mentioned. The use of salts (NaCl and KCl) and formaldehyde in extraction of the gum allowed the precipitation of a larger amount of xanthan, however, both interfered negatively in her viscosity. The salts addition during the gum solubilization did not provide significant alterations in the viscosity. In relation to the temperature, the production conduced at 25ºC favored the cellular growth and the gum production, but at 30ºC the xanthan of better quality was formed. The comparative study... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Pedro de Oliva Neto / Banca: Susana Marta Isay Saad / Banca: Claudia Dorta / Banca: Maria de Lourdes Corradi Custodio da Silva / Banca: Ivanise Guilherme Branco / Resumo: Xanthomonas são bactérias que produzem o biopolímero denominado xantana que apresenta grande aplicabilidade em vários setores industriais. Essas bactérias não apresentam grandes exigências nutricionais, mas os nutrientes disponíveis no meio interferem no processo de biossíntese da xantana. Assim, o presente trabalho objetivou estudar a influência da composição do meio de produção sobre a composição química, massa molecular e qualidade da goma produzida por Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Também foram avaliados alguns parâmetros do processo de obtenção desse biopolímero como: modos de extração, temperatura e a comparação entre incubadora orbital e fermentador para produção da xantana. A fermentação foi conduzida em duas etapas, crescimento da biomassa inoculante e produção do biopolímero através de meios formulados por delineamento experimental e citados na literatura. Verificou-se que os nutrientes utilizados no meio de produção interferem na composição química e massa molecular da goma produzida. A ausência da fonte de nitrogênio e a presença de pouco citrato (0,1%) e de lecitina de soja (0,001%) favoreceram a formação da goma xantana mais viscosa que a produzida em meio descrito na literatura. Esta goma de qualidade superior apresentou massa molecular dez vezes maior (1,17 x 106 g/mol), e em sua estrutura havia mais acetil e menos piruvil que a goma produzida no meio já citado. O uso de sais (NaCl e KCl) e formaldeído na etapa de extração da goma permitiu a precipitação de uma maior quantidade de xantana. No entanto, ambos interferiram negativamente em sua viscosidade. A adição de sais durante a solubilização da goma não provocou alterações significativas na viscosidade da mesma. Em relação à temperatura, a produção realizada a 25ºC favoreceu o crescimento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Xanthomonas are producer bacteria of biopolymer denominated xanthan gum that has great applicability in several industrial sections. Those bacteria do not present great nutritional demands, but the available nutrients in the medium interfere in the process of xanthan biosynthesis. The present work aimed to study the influence of the composition of production medium on the chemical structure, molecular mass and quality of the gum produced by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris. Other parameters that involve xanthan production also were studied as: extraction, temperature and the use of shaker incubator or reactor. The fermentation was carried out in two stages, biomass growthing and biopolymer production using media formulated by experimental design and media mentioned in the literature. It was verified that the nutrients used in the production medium interfere in the chemical composition and molecular mass of the produced gum. The absence of the nutrient nitrogen and the presence of little citrate (0.1%) and lecithin (0.001%) favored the formation of the xanthan more viscous than the gum produced in medium described by Garcia-Ochoa et al. (1992). This better gum presented molecular mass ten times larger (1.17 x 106 g/mol), and structure with more acetate and less piruvate than the gum produced in the last medium mentioned. The use of salts (NaCl and KCl) and formaldehyde in extraction of the gum allowed the precipitation of a larger amount of xanthan, however, both interfered negatively in her viscosity. The salts addition during the gum solubilization did not provide significant alterations in the viscosity. In relation to the temperature, the production conduced at 25ºC favored the cellular growth and the gum production, but at 30ºC the xanthan of better quality was formed. The comparative study... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Este trabalho consiste no estudo e nas aplicações da dosimetria por Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônico (RPE). Em uma tentativa de realizar a dosimetria retrospectiva do esmalte dentário através do menor método invasivo possível utilizamos espectrômetros de Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônico (RPE), operando em Banda - X e Banda - K, visando determinar as condições que poderiam ser usados em casos de exposições acidentais. Primeiro, um pequeno prisma de esmalte foi removido e um almofariz de ágata foi utilizado para triturar este prisma até que as partículas atinjam um diâmetro de cerca de 0,5 mm. Este processo de extração do esmalte resultou em um menor sinal de artefato comparado com a extração de esmalte realizado diretamente com uma broca de abrasão diamantada. A moagem manual do esmalte não leva a qualquer sinal induzido de RPE, enquanto que o uso de uma broca diamantada mesmo em baixa velocidade aparecem rebarbas produzindo um sinal de artefato equivalente ao sinal dosimétrico induzido por uma dose de 500 mGy de radiação gama. Uma massa de 25 mg de esmalte foi removida de um dente molar previamente irradiado in vitro com uma dose de 100 mGy. Esta quantidade de esmalte foi suficiente para detectar o sinal dosimétrico em um espectrômetro de Banda - X padrão. Utilizando a Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica (RPE) espectros de goma arábica irradiados com doses entre 0,5 e 5 kGy foram estudados. A relação linear entre a dose absorvida e as intensidades dos espectros de RPE foi observada. Espectros de RPE irradiados de goma arábica apresentaram um decaimento das concentrações relativas dos radicais livres originados pela radiação produzindo pelo menos duas espécies de radicais livres com meia-vida de 3,3 e 125,4 horas. Os resultados das simulações encontradas para estes grupos radicais foram giso = 2,0046; A = 1,2 mT e gx = gy = 2,0062, gz = 2,0025. / In an attempt to make in vitro electron spin resonance (ESR) retrospective dosimetry of the tooth enamel a lesser invasive method, experiments using X-Band and K-Band were performed, aiming to determine conditions that could be used in cases of accidental exposures. First, a small prism from the enamel was removed and ground with an agate mortar and pestle until particles reach a diameter of approximately less than 0.5 mm. This enamel extraction process resulted in lower signal artifact compared with the direct enamel extraction performed with a diamond burr abrasion. The manual grinding of the enamel does not lead to any induced ESR signal artifact, whereas the use of a diamond burr at low speed produces a signal artifact equivalent to the dosimetric signal induced by a dose of 500 mGy of gamma irradiation. A mass of 25 mg of enamel was removed from a sound molar tooth previously irradiated in vitro with a dose of 100 mGy. This amount of enamel was enough to detect the dosimetric signal in a standard X-Band spectrometer. Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of irradiated gum Arabic with doses between 0.5 to 5kGy were studied. A linear relationship between the absorbed dose and the intensities of the ESR spectra was observed. ESR spectra of irradiated gum Arabic showed a decay of relative concentrations of free radicals originated by radiation and the production of at least two species of free radicals with half-times: 3.3 and 125.4 hours. The results of spectral simulations for these radical groups were giso= 2.0046; A= 1.2mT and gx= gy= 2.0062, gz= 2.0025.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver formulações de pellets contendo teofilina, utilizando a goma gelana como aglutinante. Inicialmente, o uso desse polímero foi avaliado em comparação com o PVP. Por meio de delineamento experimental 32 foram analisadas as variáveis aglutinante e diluente. Os pellets obtidos apresentaram resultados satisfatórios na friabilidade e esfericidade. Verificou-se que o diluente exerceu influência significativa na granulometria, de modo que formulações com manitol apresentaram maior formação de pó após a produção. Com relação ao aglutinante sua maior influência foi na dissolução, pois formulações com gelana apresentaram eficiência de dissolução, em média, menor que as formulações com PVP. A seguir, foi avaliada a influência do polímero, sua quantidade, e seu modo de incorporação nas formulações. Para isso foi realizado um delineamento experimental 23, tendo a gelana, a quantidade, e a incorporação como variáveis. Verificou-se que a característica que sofreu maior influência das variáveis foi a granumoletria, pois as condições empregadas influenciaram significativamente o rendimento de pellets. Com relação à friabilidade, esfericidade e dissolução, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os resultados, ainda que algumas tendências puderam ser identificadas. / Aim of this work was to develop pellet formulations containing theophylline, using gellan gum as a binding agent. Inicially, application of the polymer was compared with PVP. By a 32 experimental design, variables binder and diluent were analyzed. Pellets presented satisfactory results in friability and sphericity. It was found that the diluent exerted significant influence on granulometry, so formulations with mannitol showed higher dust formation after production. Regarding binder variable, its higher influence was in the dissolution, since formulations with gellan presented smaller dissolution efficiency than formulations with PVP. Next, the influence of polymer, amount, and incorporation were evaluated. In this part, a 23 experimental design was carried out, with gellan, quantity, and incorporation as variables. It was found that granulometry was the most influenced by variables. So conditions employed influenced significantly the yield of pellets. Regarding friability, sphericity and dissolution, no significant differences were observed, although some trends could be identified.

Orientador: Ranulfo Monte Alegre / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T10:10:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SobenesGutierrez_JennyRoxana_M.pdf: 1378752 bytes, checksum: 422ae3abb0f6df0de59c85a305ea8495 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a produção de goma xantana utilizando x. campestris ATCC 13951 e soro de queijo desproteinado. Foram feitos ensaios preliminares para determinar as condições de fermentação: 29 °C, pH inicial 7,0 e 180 rpm em agitador orbital por 72 horas. Fez-se dois planejamentos experimentais utilizando as variáveis: concentração de lactose no soro de queijo, concentração de extrato de levedura e sulfato de amônio ou uréia como fonte de nitrogênio. O melhor resultado quanto à produção de goma foi obtido com meio contendo soro desproteinado, lactose (44 g/L), extrato de levedura (3 g/L) e sulfato de amônio (1,5 g/L) cuja produção de goma alcançou 20,28 g/L em 72 h de fermentação. Em meio constituído de soro desproteinado, lactose (44 g/L), extrato de levedura (3 g/L) e uréia (2 g/L) no lugar de sulfato de amônio, a produção de goma alcançou 18,96 g/L. Entretanto, utilizando apenas o soro de queijo desproteinado, a produção de goma foi praticamente a mesma, atingindo 19,68 g/L. Portanto, a suplementação do soro de queijo desproteinado com fontes de nitrogênio para produção de goma xantana é desnecessária, visto que as frações de proteínas e outros compostos nitrogenados do leite foram suficientes para suprir este elemento à bactéria. O aumento da concentração de lactose no soro desproteinado não aumentou a produção de goma, obtendo-se melhores resultados em meio com baixa concentração da fonte de carbono. Sendo o soro de queijo um sub-produto abundante e de baixo custo, este processo torna-se interesante na produção de goma xantana, visto que este polissacarídeo tem importante utilização a nivel industrial sendo atualmente muito utilizada na elaboração de produtos alimenticios / Abstract: The objective of this work was to study the xanthan gum production using x. campetris ATCC 13951 and de-proteinated cheese whey. Some preliminary assays indicated as good fermentation condition 29 °C, initial pH 7.0 and 180 rpm in shaker during 72 hours. Some assays were done obeying experimental planning being the variables the lactose concentration at the de-proteinated cheese whey, yeast extract concentration and ammonium sulfate or urea as nitrogen source. The best result was obtained in the medium using de-proteinated cheese whey containing 44 g/L of lactose, 3 g/L of yeast extract and 1.5 g/L of ammonium sulfate, where the gum production reached 20.28 g/L. At the medium using de-proteinated cheese whey (44 g/L of lactose), yeast extract (3 g/L) and ammonium sulfate replaced by urea (2 g/L) the gum reached 18.96 g/L. However, when the de-proteinated cheese whey was used alone as culture medium the gum production, almost reached the same concentration (19.68 g/L). Therefore, the cheese whey supplementation with nitrogen sources to xanthan gum production is not necessary, since the protein fractions and others compounds containing nitrogen from whey that remain in the de-proteinated cheese whey are sufficient to supply this element at the bacteria. The increase of the lactose concentration in the de-proteinated cheese whey do not increase the gum production obtaining better results in half with low concentration of carbon source. Cheese whey is an abundant and low cost byproduct, so this process becomes interesting for the production of xanthan gum, since it has important industrial use bing widely used in the preparation of food products / Mestrado / Engenharia de Alimentos / Mestra em Engenharia de Alimentos

Orientador: Rosiane Lopes da Cunha / Texto em português e inglês / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T12:57:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Picone_CarolinaSiqueiraFranco_D.pdf: 4074904 bytes, checksum: 1a2779daa118fabb35ba241a8f6bf16f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: As nano partículas possuem grande potencial para a liberação controlada de bioativos, porém ainda são pouco exploradas na área de alimentos. Neste trabalho foi estudada a formação de nanopartículas a partir da autoagregação de surfactantes, associação surfactante-polissacarídeo e complexação eletrostática entre diferentes polissacarídeos, no caso, quitosana e gelana. A compreensão das interações moleculares responsáveis pela formação das partículas e o conhecimento das variáveis que afetam sua formação permitem predizer e controlar suas propriedades. Tais interações dependem fortemente das características de cada macromolécula, como flexibilidade, estado conformacional e densidade de cargas que são diretamente afetadas pelas condições físico-químicas do meio como pH, força iônica e temperatura. Por isso, este trabalho foi dividido em três etapas. (I) Inicialmente foi avaliado o comportamento em solução dos polissacarídeos utilizados posteriormente para a formação de complexos. Os efeitos do pH e da temperatura nas características reológicas e no estado conformacional de soluções puras de gelana e quitosana foram estudados. A agregação da gelana foi mais sensível às alterações do meio que a quitosana. (II) Na segunda etapa, nanopartículas foram formadas por autoassociação de polissorbatos na presença de quitosana. A influência do comprimento da cauda hidrofóbica do surfactante e do pH do meio nas propriedades das partículas foi estudada por espalhamento de luz, reologia, condutivimetria e microscopia de luz polarizada. O tamanho e estrutura das partículas formadas pelo surfactante de menor cadeia hidrofóbica foram mais favoráveis à associação com a quitosana. O pH do meio (3,0 ou 6,7) não influenciou de maneira significativa as características das partículas. O efeito da concentração de quitosana na estrutura e tamanho de partículas foi analisado. Maiores concentrações levaram a viscosidades mais elevadas, impedindo a agregação das micelas e formando partículas menores. (III) No terceiro estudo, nanopartículas foram obtidas pela complexação eletrostática de gelana e quitosana. Os efeitos da razão de concentração de cada polissacarídeo, do tempo de estocagem a 25 °C e da presença de um surfactante nãoiônico (polissorbato) no tamanho, carga e quantidade de partículas formadas foram avaliados. Devido à menor densidade de carga e flexibilidade da gelana, maior quantidade deste polissacarídeo foi necessária para obtenção de partículas neutras. De forma geral, as partículas apresentaram aumento de tamanho ao longo das primeiras 100 horas após o preparo e não foram observadas mudanças significativas das propriedades das partículas devido à adição de surfactante. O método de preparo das amostras também foi estudado. Partículas preparadas pela mistura das soluções de polissacarídeos em dois passos foram consideravelmente maiores que as preparadas pela mistura em uma única etapa. Este trabalho confirmou a possibilidade de formação de nanopartículas promissoras para a encapsulação de bioativos em alimentos a partir da associação de biopolímeros e surfactantes, cujas propriedades poderiam ser moduladas em função da composição e condições de processo / Abstract: Nanoparticles are promising vehicles for bioactive delivery, but their potential has not been fully explored by the food industry. This work studied the formation of nanoparticles by self-assembly of surfactants, polysaccharide-surfactant association, and electrostatic complexes formed by different polysaccharides, especially chitosan and gellan gum. The knowledge of molecular interactions and the variables that affect particle formation allows predicting and controlling the properties of nanoparticles. These interactions depend on the characteristics of each macromolecule such as conformation, charge density and flexibility, which are affected by the physicol-chemical properties of the solution, such as pH, ionic strength and temperature. This work was divided in three parts: (I) Firstly it was studied the behaviour of each polysaccharide alone. The influence of the pH and temperature on the rheological properties and structural conformation of the pure gellan and chitosan samples was determined. Gellan aggregation was more strongly affected by such variables than chitosan. (II) In the second part, nanoparticles were obtained by polysorbate-chitosan association. The effect of the length of surfactant tail and the solution pH on the particle properties was studied by dynamic light scattering, rheological and conductivity measurements and polarizing microscopy. The size and structure of nanoparticles composed by the shorter surfactant were more appropriated to chitosan assembly. The pH (6.7 or 3.0) did not affect significantly the particle properties. The effects of chitosan concentration on particle structure and size were studied. Greater chitosan concentration led to smaller particles due to the increase in viscosity values which prevented micelles aggregation. (III) In the third study nanoparticles were produced by electrostatic complexation of chitosan and gellan gum. Particle size, charge density, stability and complexes number were evaluated as a function of polysaccharide concentration, chitosan:gellan ratio and the presence of a non-ionic surfactant. Due to the stiffness and low charge density of gellan gum, a greater amount of such polysaccharide was necessary to obtain neutral particles. Overall particles showed an increase in size during 100 hours of storage at 25 °C, but no significant changes on particle properties were observed due to surfactant addition. The methodology of particle preparation was also evaluated. Particles prepared by 2 mixing steps were markedly larger than those prepared by mixing polysaccharides in a single step (all together). This work showed that it is possible to produce nanoparticles with promising application on bioactive delivery by biopolymer-surfactant association, since their properties could be modulated as a function of composition and process conditions / Doutorado / Engenharia de Alimentos / Doutor em Engenharia de Alimentos