京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第18294号 / 工博第3886号 / 新制||工||1596(附属図書館) / 31152 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻 / (主査)教授 中條 善樹, 教授 吉﨑 武尚, 教授 秋吉 一成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

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Catalysis using nanostructures has been a topic of substantial interest for fundamental studies and for practical applications in energy and environmental sectors. The growing demand for production of energy and in the cleaning of polluting hazardous vehicles/industrial wastes has led to several studies in catalysis. Despite the substantial growth of heterogeneous catalytic technologies in last decade, they are still far from reaching their full potential in terms of efficiency, selectivity as well as durability. It is often difficult to simultaneously tackle all the mentioned issues with single component catalysts. Most of these challenges are being overcome with heterostructures/supported hybrid catalysts by modifying their interfaces. The properties of heterostructures hybrids arises not only from the individual contributions of the individual components but also from strong synergetic effect arising from the interface. Engineering the interfaces provides pathways to promote the catalytic performance and hence has been explored. In this regard, we have focused on the progress in investigating the active interfaces that affect the performance of metal oxide-metal, semiconductor-metal and coupled semiconductor nanocatalyst hybrids. We explored a wide spectrum of their applications in photo catalytic, electrocatalytic as well as gas-phase reactions and highlighted the importance of the interface for overall performance. The entire study reported in the thesis is organized as follows: Chapter 1 is a general introduction of hybrid nanocatalyst and their role in wide spectra of catalytic reactions in photo/electro catalysis as well as gas-phase reactions. This chapter describes the motivation behind modulating the interface between two or more nanostructures to obtain multifunctional nanocatalysts. Nan catalysts to achieve high throughput with active interfaces are elaborated while indicating the role of morphology, internal induced state, charge transfer, geometric, support, as well as electronic effect for enhanced performance. Motivation behind specific nanocatalyst hybrid, synthesis routes as well as characterization techniques are detailed in the respective chapters. Specific details for different hybrids are described in the following chapters. Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of high dense ultrathin Au wires on ZnO nanorods for electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol, where the prerequisite step is the formation of amine-modified support. Oleylamine modification not only serves to anchor Au nanowires on ZnO but also passivates surface defects of ZnO, which in turn enhances the photocurrent. In addition to the stability, the support induces electronic effect on Au nanowires, which facilitates redox process at low potential. Most importantly, the support promotes the activity of Au nanowires upon photoirradiation, and thus leading to synergy between electro and photooxidation current. This is of immense importance for photofuel cell technologies. Moreover, the method enabled the first time electrocatalysis on these nanowires that revealed ultrathin nanowires are potentially interesting systems for catalysis applications provided they are stabilized by a suitable support. Chapter 3 deals with the growth of ultrathin Au nanowires on metal oxide (TiO2) coupled with graphene hybrid support in order to overcome the low conductivity of metal oxide. Oleylamine, used for growth of Au nanowires simultaneously functionalizes the support and leads to room temperature GO reduction. With respect to catalytic activity, we also synthesized the binary counterparts (rGO/Au, TiO2/Au ultrathin nanowires) to delineate the contribution of each of the components to the overall electrocatalytic oxidation of ethanol. Comparative analysis of photo and electrocatalytic activity between the different binary and ternary hybrids provides interesting information. Both, electronic effect of TiO2 and electrical conductivity of rGO add their specific beneficial to the nanowires, leading to superior ternary system. Chapter 4 rGO supported ultrathin Au nanowires exhibits high electrocatalytic performance for oxidation of borohydride with a lower onset potential compared to rGO/Au nanoparticles. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements display abnormal inductive behavior of the synthesized hybrids, indicative of Au surface reactivation. DFT calculations indicate that the origin of the high activity stems from the shift in the position of the Au d-band center. Chapter 5 Different aspect ratio ZnO nanostructures are obtained by varying the solvothermal reaction time. We observed a direct correlation between observed photocatalytic activity, measured photocurrent and length of the ZnO nanorods. Furthermore, photoresponse of the high aspect ratio ZnO nanorods are improved by attaching Au nanoparticles, intimate contact of two components leads to band bending. Thus, the synthesized ZnO/Au heterostructure favors for prominent separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Chapter 6 TiO2 and PbO/TiO2 hybrids are synthesized via non–hydrolytic sol–gel combustion method. Hybrid exhibits higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dye than TiO2. The estimated photogenerated species reveals that the origin of enhanced activity stems from the direct oxidization of dye via photogenerated hole rather than radicals. The semiconductors are matched based on their band edge positions, for the formation of energetic radicals to degrade the pollutants. Based on this study, we infer that semiconductors should not neglected (for example Si) based on calculated mismatch of their valence band edges position for photooxidation reaction via radicals. Chapter 7 describes the Pd dopant associated band engineering, a strategy for tuning the optoelectronic properties of ZnO towards enhanced photocatalytic activity. Incorporated Pd heterocation induces internal energy states within the ZnO band gap. The created energy level leads to trends mismatch between photocatalytic activity and measured photocurrent. Formed energy level arrests the photogenerated electrons, which make them not contribute for the photocurrent generation. Hence, the isolated photogenerated hole efficiently oxidizes the pollutants through hydroxyl radicals, and thus leads to enhanced photocatalytic activity. Chapter 8 employed Pd-substituted zinc stannate for CO oxidation as heterogeneous catalyst for the first time. Compared with SnO2 support, zinc stannate based materials exhibits abnormal sudden light-off profiles at selective temperatures. On the basis of DRIFT studies under relevant conditions, we find that the initially formed product gets adsorbed over the catalyst surface. It leads to the accumulation of carbonates as a consequence, both lattice oxygen mobility and further CO interactions are disabled. As soon as Sn redox nature dominates over the accumulated carbonates, this leads to sudden release of lattice oxygen, and thus leads to a sudden full conversion. Therefore, choosing the suitable support material greatly influences the nature of the light-off CO oxidation profile. Chapter 9 Although, reducible oxide supported gold nanostructures exhibits the highest CO oxidation activity; they still suffer from problems such as limited selectivity towards CO in the presence of H2. Both ex-situ and in-situ experiments demonstrate that, Au nanoparticles supported on Zn2SnO4 matrix selectively oxidizes CO. DRIFT experiments revealed that the involvement of OH groups leads to the formation of hydroxycarbonyl under PROX conditions. Chapter 10 This chapter discusses the conclusions for the previous chapters and highlights the possibilities for future scope for the developed nanocatalysts hybrids for energy and environmental applications.

Submitted by Kian Eghrari Moraes null (kianem@gmail.com) on 2017-03-14T19:44:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Kian_Eghrari_Moraes.pdf: 1379647 bytes, checksum: 5a9daad8a0289711efcdab3175a3dd1e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by LUIZA DE MENEZES ROMANETTO (luizamenezes@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2017-03-21T19:54:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 moraes_ke_me_jabo.pdf: 1379647 bytes, checksum: 5a9daad8a0289711efcdab3175a3dd1e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T19:54:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 moraes_ke_me_jabo.pdf: 1379647 bytes, checksum: 5a9daad8a0289711efcdab3175a3dd1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Os híbridos de milho transgênicos, em geral, apresentam o locus transgênico em hemizigose. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do número de alelos transgênicos em híbridos de milho em relação à expressão de Cry1F nas folhas, ataque de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) e a produtividade de grãos, utilizando cinco híbridos isogênicos nas versões transgênicas homozigota e hemizigota, além da versão convencional de um dos híbridos. O nível de expressão da proteína Cry1F (PRYF) foi quantificado pela técnica de ELISA. Nos experimentos de campo, conduzidos na primeira e segunda safras do ano agrícola 2015/2016, avaliou-se o ataque de S. frugiperda em campo (ALC), por infestação natural, e a produtividade de grãos (PG). Dois bioensaios foram realizados em laboratório para avaliar a sobrevivência larval de S. frugiperda de 1º instar (SL) alimentadas com as folhas dos híbridos. Os híbridos transgênicos, homozigotos e hemizigotos, não apresentaram silenciamento gênico. Os híbridos homozigotos apresentaram maior concentração de proteína Cry1F. Quando houve elevado ALC, na primeira safra, os híbridos transgênicos foram superiores à testemunha convencional na PG, entretanto, não houve diferença entre os híbridos homozigotos e hemizigotos. Os híbridos transgênicos também foram superiores à testemunha convencional nos bioensaios, sendo que os homozigotos apresentaram as menores médias de SL. A presença de um alelo transgênico a mais nos híbridos homozigotos propiciou comportamento genético aditivo para a expressão de Cry1F e controle de S. frugiperda, diminuindo ALC e SL, sem diminuir a capacidade produtiva das plantas. Diante do exposto, não há limitações para a utilização de híbridos de milho homozigotos para o transgene, pois apresentaram melhor controle de S. frugiperda em comparação com os híbridos hemizigotos. / Genetically modified (GM) maize hybrids, in general, possess the transgenic locus in a hemizygous state. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of the number of transgenic alleles in maize hybrids regarding the Cry1F leaf expression, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) attack and grain yield, through the evaluation of five isogenic hybrids in the homozygous and hemizygous transgenic versions and a non-GM hybrid. Cry1F protein expression levels (PRYF) were quantified by ELISA. In field experiments conducted during the summer and autumn seasons of 2015/2016, we assessed the leaf-feeding injury of S. frugiperda in the field (LFI) by natural infestation and grain yield (GY). Two bioassays were carried out in the laboratory to evaluate the survival of first-instar S. frugiperda larvae (SL) fed with the maize hybrids. Transgenic hybrids did not present gene silencing. Homozygous hybrids presented higher Cry1F expression levels than hemizygous hybrids. With high LFI during the summer season, transgenic hybrids were superior to the non-GM for GY, however, there was no difference between homozygous and hemizygous hybrids. The transgenic hybrids were superior to the non-GM hybrid in the bioassays, and the homozygotes caused the highest mortality of S. frugiperda. The addition of one transgenic allele in the homozygous hybrids provided an additive genetic effect, increasing PRYF and S. frugiperda control, whereas GY was not affected. In conclusion, there are no limitations to the use of transgenic homozygous maize hybrids, which presented better S. frugiperda control comparing to hemizygous hybrids.

Lignin är en av de vanligaste naturliga råvarorna på jorden och finns mestadels i trä. Nuförtiden är valoriseringen av lignin en av processutvecklingarna för teknologier inom massa- och pappersindustrin. Denna utveckling syftar till att öka värdet av lignin. Traditionellt förbränns genererat lignin, känt som tekniskt lignin, som bränsle i sodapannan som en del av svartlutskomponenter, och denna praxis är används kontinuerligt inom massa- och pappersindustrin. Syftet med detta examensarbete är att undersöka det tekniska ligninet från två specifika träslag, Acacia crassicarpa (Acra) och Eucalyptus Hybrids (Euca), för att öka kunskapen om det tekniska ligninet och hitta lämpliga tillämpningar för dessa råvaror i framtiden. I denna studie isolerades lignin från svartlut som genererats från två olika kokningsmetoder, kraftkokning- och kraftbased dissolvingkokning (KP och DP). Karakteriseringsmetoderna inkluderade molekylviktsfördelning (THF-SEC), analys av ligninets funktionella grupper med fosfor-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P-NMR) kvantifiering och ligninets trukturella elementanalys via Two-Dimensional Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation NMR (2D-HSQC NMR). Utbytet erhållet från kraftkokning (KP) och kraftbased dissolvingkokning (DP) visade inga skillnader för samtliga prover och resultaten visas inom samma intervall (cirka 0,06-0,08 g/mol svartlut). Molekylviktsfördelningen för KP och DP-kokning ligger fortfarande inom intervallet för kraftlignin Mw (1500-5000 g/mol) och polydispersitetsindex (PDI) för KP hade ett högre värde än DP för båda typerna av undersökta råvaror. För de funktionella grupperna hade Eucalyptus Hybrids högre -OH-halt än Acacia crassicarpa oavsett kokningstyp. 31P-NMR kvantifieringsdata visade tydligt att KP-Euca innehöll den högsta halten av  alifatisk-OH (1,4 mmol/g). DP-Euca hade den högsta halten C5-kondenserad (2,5 mmol/g), medan den högsta mängden Guaiacyl-OH identifierades i DP-Acra (1,2 mmol/g). Fingeravtrycket av kopplingarna som kvantifierades från 2D-NMR HSQC visade att KP hade högre β-O-4', β-5' och β-β' interenhetskopplingar än DP. Dessutom hade Acacia crassicarpa en högre andel interenhetskopplingar än Eucalyptus Hybrids för båda kokmetoderna. De högsta β-O-4'-, β-5'- och β-β'-kopplingarna detekterades i KP-Acra med 3,4 %, 0,5 % respektiv 4,3 %. / Lignin is one of the most abundant natural raw materials on Earth and is mostly found in wood. Nowadays, the valorization of lignin is one of the continual process developments for technologies in the pulp and paper industry. This development is intended to increase the value of lignin. In the traditional approach, generated lignin known as technical lignin is burnt as fuel in the recovery boiler as part of black liquor components, and this practice is still common in the pulp and paper industry. The objective of this thesis work is to explore the technical lignin from specific wood species, Acacia crassicarpa (Acra) and Eucalyptus Hybrids (Euca), to emphasize the knowledge about the technical lignin and finding suitable application for the mentioned raw materials in the future. In this study, lignin was isolated from black liquor generated from two different cooking methods, kraft and kraft dissolving pulp cooking (KP and DP). The Characterization methods included molecular weight distribution by THF-SEC, lignin functional groups analysis via Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (31P-NMR) quantification, and lignin structural elements analysis via Two-Dimensional Heteronuclear Single Quantum Correlation NMR (2D-HSQC NMR). The isolation yield obtained from kraft cooking (KP) and kraft dissolving pulp cooking (DP) did not have drastic differences for all the samples and therefore the results are within the same ranges (around 0.06-0.08 g/mol of black liquor). The molecular weight distribution values of KP and DP cooking are still within the range of kraft lignin Mw (1500-5000 g/mol) and the polydispersity index (PDI) of KP had a higher value than DP for both types of raw material investigated.  For the functional groups, Eucalyptus Hybrids had the higher -OH content than Acacia crassicarpa regardless of the cooking type. The 31P-NMR quantification data showed clearly that KP-Euca was the richest in Aliphatic-OH (1.4 mmol/g). DP-Euca had the greatest amount of C5-Condensed (2.5 mmol/g), while the highest amount of Guaiacyl-OH was identified in DP-Acra (1.2 mmol/g). The fingerprint of the linkages that was quantified from 2D-NMR HSQC showed that KP cooking had a higher β-O-4’, β-5’ and β-β’ interunit linkages than DP cooking. Furthermore, Acacia crassicarpa had a higher interunit linkages percentage than Eucalyptus Hybrids for both cooking methods. The highest β-O-4’, β-5’ and β-β’ linkages were detected in KP-Acra with 3.4 %, 0.5 %, and 4.3 % respectively.

Malaria endemic areas not only pose a public health threat, but affects 3.3 billion people worldwide. In 2011, estimated malaria related deaths amounted to 660 000 out of 219 million reported cases, with 81% of these and 91% of malaria related mortality occurred in the African region. Those most affected were pregnant women, children under the age of five and immunocompromised individuals. Malaria is the fifth deadliest disease worldwide and accounts for the second highest death rate in Africa, following HIV/Aids. To combat this parasitic infection of antiquity, the ideal malaria pharmacotherapy would be a cost effective and easily obtainable monotherapy. The malaria parasite, however, has an intrinsic ability to develop drug resistance through various mechanisms. Widespread resistance towards antimalarial drugs has rendered traditionally used drugs therapeutically ineffective, hence accentuating the efficacy of the artemisinins as first line treatment option for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). A devastating reality of the challenging battle against malaria is the confirmed prolonged parasitic clearance times of the artemisinins, despite adequate drug exposure, which emphasises the urgent need for identifying and developing new, effective and safe therapies. During this study, 9-aminoacridines and artemisinin-acridine hybrids were successfully synthesised through nucleophillic substitution and their chemical structures confirmed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The hybrid compounds were synthesised through microwave assisted radiation, by covalently linking the artemisinin- and amino-functionalised acridine pharmacophores by means of a liable aminoethyl ether chain. The target compounds were screened in vitro for antimalarial activity against both the chloroquine sensitive (NF54) and chloroquine resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum. Their cytotoxicities were assessed against various mammalian cells of different origins, viz. the Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO) from animal origin, and from human origin, hepatocellular- (HepG2), neuroblastoma- (SH-SY5Y) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The synthesised hybrids exhibited antimalarial activity against both Plasmodium strains. Compound 7, featuring an ethylenediamine moiety in the linker, was the most active hybrid, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2.6 nM and 35.3 nM against the NF54 and Dd2 strains, respectively. It had gametocytocidal activity against the NF54 strain, comparable to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and artesunate (AS) and it is significantly more potent than chloroquine (CQ), whilst possessing a resistance index value of 14, indicative of a significant loss of activity against the CQ resistant strain. Contrary, the promising hybrid 10, containing a 2-methylpiperazine linker, had gametocytocidal activity, comparable to CQ and was found to be six-fold more potent than CQ against the Dd2 strain, with a resistance index (RI) value of 2, whilst it further showed highly selective action towards the parasitic cells. Compound 10 was also found to possess anticancer activity against the HeLa cell line, comparable to DHA and AS, but fivefold higher than that of CQ, with the same levels of hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The artemisinin-acridine hybrids displayed superior antimalarial activity, compared to the derived 9-aminoacridines against both the Plasmodium strains. They, however, did not have the ability to overcome resistance, reduce the toxicity of acridine, nor induce synergistic activity. The hybrids, indeed displayed promising anticancer activity against HeLa cells. It is anticipated that these compounds may stand as drug candidates for further investigation in the search for new anti-cervical cancer drugs, rather than as antimalarials. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Malaria endemic areas not only pose a public health threat, but affects 3.3 billion people worldwide. In 2011, estimated malaria related deaths amounted to 660 000 out of 219 million reported cases, with 81% of these and 91% of malaria related mortality occurred in the African region. Those most affected were pregnant women, children under the age of five and immunocompromised individuals. Malaria is the fifth deadliest disease worldwide and accounts for the second highest death rate in Africa, following HIV/Aids. To combat this parasitic infection of antiquity, the ideal malaria pharmacotherapy would be a cost effective and easily obtainable monotherapy. The malaria parasite, however, has an intrinsic ability to develop drug resistance through various mechanisms. Widespread resistance towards antimalarial drugs has rendered traditionally used drugs therapeutically ineffective, hence accentuating the efficacy of the artemisinins as first line treatment option for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). A devastating reality of the challenging battle against malaria is the confirmed prolonged parasitic clearance times of the artemisinins, despite adequate drug exposure, which emphasises the urgent need for identifying and developing new, effective and safe therapies. During this study, 9-aminoacridines and artemisinin-acridine hybrids were successfully synthesised through nucleophillic substitution and their chemical structures confirmed by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), high resolution mass spectroscopy (HRMS) and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The hybrid compounds were synthesised through microwave assisted radiation, by covalently linking the artemisinin- and amino-functionalised acridine pharmacophores by means of a liable aminoethyl ether chain. The target compounds were screened in vitro for antimalarial activity against both the chloroquine sensitive (NF54) and chloroquine resistant (Dd2) strains of P. falciparum. Their cytotoxicities were assessed against various mammalian cells of different origins, viz. the Chinese hamster ovarian cells (CHO) from animal origin, and from human origin, hepatocellular- (HepG2), neuroblastoma- (SH-SY5Y) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The synthesised hybrids exhibited antimalarial activity against both Plasmodium strains. Compound 7, featuring an ethylenediamine moiety in the linker, was the most active hybrid, with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2.6 nM and 35.3 nM against the NF54 and Dd2 strains, respectively. It had gametocytocidal activity against the NF54 strain, comparable to dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and artesunate (AS) and it is significantly more potent than chloroquine (CQ), whilst possessing a resistance index value of 14, indicative of a significant loss of activity against the CQ resistant strain. Contrary, the promising hybrid 10, containing a 2-methylpiperazine linker, had gametocytocidal activity, comparable to CQ and was found to be six-fold more potent than CQ against the Dd2 strain, with a resistance index (RI) value of 2, whilst it further showed highly selective action towards the parasitic cells. Compound 10 was also found to possess anticancer activity against the HeLa cell line, comparable to DHA and AS, but fivefold higher than that of CQ, with the same levels of hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. The artemisinin-acridine hybrids displayed superior antimalarial activity, compared to the derived 9-aminoacridines against both the Plasmodium strains. They, however, did not have the ability to overcome resistance, reduce the toxicity of acridine, nor induce synergistic activity. The hybrids, indeed displayed promising anticancer activity against HeLa cells. It is anticipated that these compounds may stand as drug candidates for further investigation in the search for new anti-cervical cancer drugs, rather than as antimalarials. / MSc (Pharmaceutical Chemistry), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The activation of the innate immune system is the first line of host defence against infection. Nucleic acids can potently stimulate this response and trigger a series of signalling cascades leading to cytokine production and the establishment of an inflammatory state. Mutations in genes encoding nucleases have been identified in patients with autoimmune diseases, including Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS). This rare childhood inflammatory disorder is characterised by the presence of high levels of the antiviral cytokine interferon-α in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, which is thought to be produced as a consequence of the activation of the innate immunity by unprocessed self-nucleic acids. This thesis therefore aimed to define the role of one of the AGS nucleases, the Ribonuclease H2 (RNase H2) complex, in innate immunity, and to establish if nucleic acid substrates of this enzyme were able to induce type I interferon production in vitro. The AGS nucleases may function as components of the innate immune response to nucleic acids. Consistent with this hypothesis, RNase H2 was constitutively expressed in immune cells, however, its expression was not upregulated in response to type I interferons. RNase H2-deficient cells responded normally to a range of nucleic acid PAMPs, which implied that a role for RNase H2 as a negative regulator of the immune response was unlikely, in contrast to the reported cellular functions of two other AGS proteins, TREX1 and SAMHD1. Therefore, no clear evidence was found for the direct involvement of RNase H2 in the innate immune response to nucleic acids. An alternative model for the pathogenesis of disease hypothesises that decreased RNase H2 activity within the cell results in an accumulation of RNA:DNA hybrids. To investigate the immunostimulatory potential of such substrates, RNA:DNA hybrids with different physiochemical properties were designed and synthesised. Methods to purify the hybrids from other contaminating nucleic acid species were established and their capacity as activators of the innate immune response tested using a range of in vitro cellular systems. A GU-rich 60 bp RNA:DNA hybrid was shown to be an effective activator of a pro-inflammatory cytokine response exclusively in Flt3-L bone marrow cultures. This response was completely dependent on signalling involving MyD88 and/or Trif, however the specific receptor involved remains to be determined. Reduced cellular RNase H2 activity did not affect the ability of Flt3-L cultures to mount a cytokine response against the RNA:DNA hybrid. These in vitro studies suggested that RNA:DNA hybrids may be a novel nucleic acid PAMP. Taken together, the data in this thesis suggest that the cellular function of RNase H2 is in the suppression of substrate formation rather than as a component of the immune response pathways. Future studies to identify endogenous immunostimulatory RNA:DNA hybrids and the signalling pathways activated by them should provide a detailed understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AGS and related autoimmune diseases.

Various synthetic methods have been developed to produce metal nanostructures including copper and iron nanostructures. Modification of nanoparticle surface to enhance their characteristic properties through surface functionalization with organic ligands ranging from small molecules to polymeric materials including organic semiconducting polymers is a key interest in nanoscience. However, most of the synthetic methods developed in the past depend widely on non-aqueous solvents, toxic reducing agents, and high temperature and high-pressure conditions. Therefore, to produce metal nanostructures and their nanocomposites with a simpler and greener method is indeed necessary and desirable for their nano-scale applications. Hence the objective of this thesis work is to develop an environmentally friendly synthesis method to make welldefined copper and iron nanostructures on a large-scale. The size and shape-dependent optical properties, solid-state crystal packing, and morphologies of nanostructures have been evaluated with respect to various experimental parameters. Nanostructures of copper and iron were prepared by developing an aqueous phase chemical reduction method from copper(II) chloride and Fe(III) chloride hexahydrate upon reduction using a mild reducing agent, sodium borohydride, under an inert atmosphere at room temperature. Well-defined copper nanocubes with an average edge length of 100±35 nm and iron nanochains with an average chain length up to 1.70 μm were prepared. The effect of the molar ratios of each precursor to the reducing agent, reaction time, and addition rate of the reducing agent were also evaluated in order to develop an optimized synthesis method for synthesis of these nanostructures. UV-visible spectral traces and X-ray powder diffraction traces were obtained to confirm the successful preparation of both nanostructrues. The synthesis method developed here was further modified to make poly(3-hexylthiophene) coated iron nanocomposites by surface functionalization with poly(3-hexylthiophene) carboxylate anion. Since these nanostructrues and nanocomposites have the ability to disperse in both aqueous-based solvents and organic solvents, the synthesis method provides opportunities to apply these metal nanostructures on a variety of surfaces using solution based fabrication techniques such as spin coating and spray coating methods.