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The two-photon absorption (2PA) phenomenon has attracted attention from various fields ranging from chemistry and biology to optics and engineering. Two of the common NLO applications in which organic materials have been used are three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence imaging and optical power limiting. Two-photon absorbing materials are, therefore, in great demand to meet the needs of emerging technologies. Organic molecules show great promise to meet this need as they can be customized through molecular engineering, and as the development of two-photon materials that suit practical application intensifies, so does research to meet this need. However, there remains some uncertainty in the particulars of design criteria for molecules with large 2PA cross sections at desired wavelengths, as such research to understand structure-property relationships is matter of significant importance. As a result, the full potential of 2PA materials has not been fully exploited. Several strategies to enhance the magnitude and tune the wavelength of 2PA have been reported for ?-conjugated organic molecules. On this account, we have designed novel fluorophores using the fluorene moiety and modified it to tune the properties of the compounds. Chapter 2 of this dissertation reports the successful application of fluorene-based compounds in photocatalysis; a process that involves the decomposition of organic compounds into environmentally friendly carbon dioxide and water attesting to the photostability of the fluorene moiety. A facile organic nanoparticle preparation method is reported in chapter 3 using the reprecipitation method, whose surface was then modified using a naturally occurring surfactant, Lecithin, and were then successfully used in fluorescence cell imaging. Chapter 4 reports the design and synthesis of a fluorene-based compound using an acceptor, s-indacene-1, 3, 5, 7(2H, 6H)-tetra one, or Janus Dione, a moiety that is relatively new and that has not been fully exploited despite its very attractive features. Owing to the hydrophobicity of this compound, notwithstanding its unprecedented 2PA cross section, it was not applicable in fluorescence cell imaging but provided the tenets for the design of related derivative. This limitation was circumvented in the concluding chapter by tuning the compound's hydrophilicity. The hydrophilic Janus dione probe was then used as envisioned for cell imaging as the dual prerequisites for fluorescence imaging probes; large 2PA cross sections and high fluorescence quantum yields were met.

Yes / Exaggerated Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAKSTAT) signalling is key to the pathogenesis of pro-inflammatory disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases. Mutational activation of JAKs is also responsible for several haematological malignancies, including myeloproliferative neoplasms and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Accumulating evidence links adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)–activated protein kinase (AMPK), an energy sensor and regulator of organismal and cellular metabolism, with the suppression of immune and inflammatory processes. Recent studies have shown that activation of AMPK can limit JAK-STAT-dependent signalling pathways via several mechanisms. These novel findings support AMPK activation as a strategy for management of an array of disorders characterised by hyper-activation of the JAKSTAT pathway. This review discusses the pivotal role of JAK-STAT signalling in a range of disorders and how both established clinically used and novel AMPK activators might be used to treat these conditions. / British Heart Foundation; Diabetes UK; Chief Scientist Office; NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Research Endowment Fund; Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland

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Nanoparticle-based technologies are an emerging field with the promise to impact a wide range of application areas. However, that potential is somewhat married to a host of research questions that remain to be answered. This work explores the surface modification of magnetic nanoparticles in a controlled fashion to produce hybrid nanoparticle (metal/polymer) systems with different morphologies, understand in-situ behavior of stimuli-responsive polymers grafted to a substrate, and obtain better computational methods for particle-tracking and -deposition. Nanoparticle surface modification was performed using ATRP, obtaining homo-, block-co-, and ‘twoaced/biphasic’ polymer structures on the nanoparticle surfaces. Biphasic Janus nanoparticles (JPs) were formed using a magnetic nanoparticle core and an innovative technique combining non-covalent solid protection with sequential controlled radical polymerization to form the two surface-grafted polymer phases. Surface-confined polymerizations were conducted using pH- and thermo-responsive materials. Poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and a series of (aminoalkyl) methacrylate polymers were used as pH responsive polymers. Additionally, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) was selected as the thermo-responsive material for this study. In-situ characterization techniques, including atomic force microscopy (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and ellipsometry, were used to evaluate the thermo- and pH-responsiveness of these stimuli responsive materials. A new general-oscillator (GENOSC) model was used to determine swelling ratio, thickness, and optical constant changes in the polymer brush as pH was changed in-situ. AFM was used to study morphological changes due to changes in pH and temperature. Nanoparticle temperature responsiveness was investigated using DLS. A related effort involved the use of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methods to track (micron-sized) particles in certain geometries, including a human lung morphology. Predicted particle transport and deposition was compared to Lagrangian computational approaches and available experimental data. The Eulerian particle phase modeling method developed resulted in the accurate prediction of both near-wall particle tracking and wall deposition. This Eulerian-Eulerian model is a new tool that has potential for particle tracking in physiological morphologies. This combination of experimental and computational research has led to new nano- and micro-particle surface modification methods and particle transport modeling.

Systems of interacting colloidal particles are ideal tools for studies of pattern formation and collective non-equilibrium dynamics on the mesoscopic scale. These processes are governed by the interaction between the particles, which can be tuned by sophisticated fabrication. In this thesis, self-assembly of artificially designed magnetic spheres dispersed in water has been studied via video microscopy. The particles are based on silica microspheres with hemispherical ferromagnetic coating of [Co/Pd] multilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. These particles are exceptional in that they exhibit an off-centered net magnetic moment and yet obey rotational and mirror symmetry. It has been demonstrated how these magnetic properties provide innovative flexibility in pattern formation and collective dynamics based on magnetostatic interactions on the mesoscopic scale. The results are supported by analytical and numerical calculations of interacting spheres with radially shifted point dipoles (sd-particles). In two dimensions, the particles spontaneously self-assemble into branched structures as a result of a bistable assembly behavior where neighboring particles exhibit a non-collinear magnetic orientation. It has been shown that these features, which are atypical for homogeneous systems of magnetic particles, can be reproduced by simulation. It employs a theoretical model of a sphere that contains a distribution of three radially shifted point dipoles in analogy to the magnetization distribution in the coated particles. The stability of the assembly has been examined further by external manipulation using optical tweezers and homogeneous magnetic fields. A rich variety of stable structures with diverse spatial and magnetic ordering has been found. Particularly, the collective alignment of the specially designed particles in external fields opens completely new possibilities for the remote control over reversible pattern formation on the micrometer scale. In time-dependent fields, the collective dynamics of the anisotropic particles has revealed a novel approach for magnetically actuated translation. The variety of stable structures particularly enables control over this motion. / Kolloidale Suspensionen sind geeignete Systeme zur Untersuchung von Strukturbildung und kollektiver Nichtgleichgewichtsdynamik in mesoskopischen Größenskalen. Diese Vorgänge werden durch die Wechselwirkung zwischen den Teilchen bestimmt, welche durch geeignete Partikelherstellung angepasst werden kann. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird ein System von künstlich hergestellten magnetischen Partikelsuspensionen mittels Videomikroskopie untersucht. Quarzglas-Mikrokugeln wurden halbseitig mit einer ferromagnetischen Dünnschicht aus [Co/Pd] Multilagen mit senkrechter Anisotropie beschichtet. Solche Partikel sind ausgezeichnet durch ein resultierendes magnetisches Moment mit Rotations- und Spiegelsymmterie, welches zusätzlich vom Mittelpunkt der Kugel verschoben ist. Die vorliegende Arbeit zeigt, dass diese Besonderheit zu einer bisher unbekannten Flexibilität bei der mesoskopischen Strukturbildung und der kollektiven Dynamik auf der Basis magnetostatischer Wechselwirkung führt. Die vorgestellten Ergebnisse werden durch analytische und numerische Berechnungen unterstützt, denen ein Modell einer idealen Kugel mit verschobenem Dipol zugrunde liegt. Die zweidimensionale Selbstanordnung der Partikel zeigt experimentell zwei stabile Formen der Verknüpfung, welche zu verzweigten Strukturen mit unterschiedlich magnetischer Ausrichtung benachbarter Partikel führen. Diese für ein homogenenes System magnetischer Partikel außergewöhnlichen Eigenschaften konnten in Simulationen durch ein Modellsystem aus Kugeln mit drei verschobenen Punktdipolen reproduziert werden. Darüber hinaus wurde die spontante Anordnung unter externer Manipulation mittels optischer Pinzette und magnetischen Feldern untersucht. Es konnte eine Vielfalt an stabilen Strukturen mit verschiedenen magnetischen und strukturellen Anordnungen gefunden werden. Insbesondere die kollektive Ausrichtung dieser Partikel in externen Feldern eröffnet neuartige Möglichkeiten, kontrolliert und reversibel Mikrostrukturen zu erzeugen. In zeitabhängigen Feldern zeigen die anisotropen Partikel zusätzlich eine kollektive Dynamik welche eine neue Möglichkeit zum magnetischen Antrieb von Partikelagglomeraten eröffnet. Die Vielfalt der möglichen stabilen Strukturen erlaubt es in besonderer Weise diese Bewegung zu steuern.

As Neoplasias mieloproliferativas (NMP) representam um vasto grupo de doenças clonais hematológicas malignas com três elementos principais: Policitemia vera (PV), Trombocitemia essencial (TE), e Mielofibrose Primária (MFP). JAK2 é uma proteína citoplasmática com atividade de tirosina quinase com função na transdução de várias vias na hematopoiese. A identificação da mutação do gene JAK2 (JAK2V617F) nas PV, TE e MFP representa um importante avanço para a compreensão da biologia destas NMPs. Variações marcantes na frequência desta mutação são observadas entre os diferentes estudos e acredita-se que um dos fatores responsáveis por estas diferenças seja a sensibilidade do método utilizado. Atualmente, diversas técnicas para detecção de JAK2V617F têm sido utilizadas, testadas e validadas quanto à sua sensibilidade e especificidade, entre elas: PCR RFLP (Restriction Fragment Lenght Polymorphysm), ARMS PCR (Amplification-Refractory Mutation System), HRM (High-Resolution Melt Analysis) e Sequenciamento pela técnica de Sanger. Neste estudo foram realizadas todas as metodologias citadas anteriormente para a detecção da mutação de JAK2V617F em amostras de sangue de 136 pacientes (PV=20; MFP=20; TE=28; suspeita de NMP=68). Os resultados obtidos foram concordantes para as quatro técnicas empregadas nos pacientes com PV e MFP, já nos pacientes com TE as metodologias PCR-ARMS e PCR-HRM detectaram a mutação JAK2V617F em 67,8% enquanto o PCR-RFLP e o Sequenciamento pela técnica de Sanger foi 71,4% e 64,2% respectivamente. Nos casos onde houve suspeita diagnóstica de NMP também foram encontradas discordâncias entre as metodologias PCR-RFLP (4,4%) e PCR-HRM (1,5%) quando comparadas ao PCR-ARMS (3%) e o Sequenciamento (3%). O PCR-ARMS foi considerado nesse estudo como a melhor técnica para a detecção da mutação JAK2V617F, devido o menor risco de contaminação cruzada durante a reação, baixo tempo de execução, além da sua capacidade de determinação da carga alélica de JAK2, importante para o acompanhamento do paciente / Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) represent a large group of clonal hematologic malignant diseases with three main members: Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (ET), and Primary Mielofibroses (PMF). JAK2 is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase protein and is important in different signal transduction pathways. Identification of JAK2V617F mutation in PV, ET and PMF is an important advance for understanding the biology of MPN. Differences in the frequency of this mutation are reported among different studies and it is believed that technical sensitivity could be the major reason for this variability. Currently, several techniques for detection of JAK2V617F have been developed, tested and validated for their sensitivity and specificity, including: PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Lenght Polymorphysm), PCR-ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System), PCR-HRM (High-Resolution Melt analysis) and Sanger Direct Sequencing. The present study, evaluated all four molecular diagnostic methods mentioned above blood samples from 136 patients (PV=20; MFP=20; ET=28 and other MPN=68). Comparable results were observed for PV and PMF when all technics were applied. Patients with diagnosis of ET JAK2V617F mutations were detected in 67.8% when PCR-ARMS and PCR-HRM were used whilst PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing detected 71.4% and 64.2% respectively. In 68 patients with suspicion of MPN discordant results were seen between PCR-RFLP (4.4%) and PCR-HRM (1.5%) when compared to PCR-ARMS (3%) and direct sequencing (3%) related to JAK2V617F frequency. In conclusion PCR-ARMS was considered the most reliable methodology for JAK2V617F detection by presenting the lowest risk for cross contamination, less laborious, and the ability in determining allele burden that is becoming an important tool for risk stratification

Les microgels sont des particules colloïdales de polymère réticulé gonflées par un solvant. Déformables et poreuses, elles peuvent changer d’état de gonflement lors de l’application d’un stimulus. Ce travail de thèse a pour but de développer de nouveaux concepts tirant profit des propriétés stimulables et de la déformabilité intrinsèque des microgels tout en approfondissant les connaissances sur le comportement de ces objets en solution et aux interfaces. Les microgels de poly(N-alkylacrylamide) sont utilisés comme modèles. Dans un premier temps, notre travail a porté sur l’étude d’un nouveau type de microgels électrochimiluminescents grâce à l’incorporation d’un complexe métallique de ruthénium dans la matrice polymère. A la transition de phase, ces microgels présentent une exaltation de l’intensité ECL jusqu’à 2 ordres de grandeur, en lien avec la distance entre les sites redox. Le concept est ensuite transposé à des microgels sensibles aux saccharides et à des systèmes comportant deux luminophores, un donneur ECL et un accepteur d’énergie pouvant donner lieu à un transfert d’énergie par résonance. La deuxième partie de la thèse est consacrée à l’adsorption de microgels à une interface liquide-liquide plane, en vue de mieux comprendre l’origine de la stabilité des émulsions stabilisées par ce genre d’objets. De façon analogue aux protéines flexibles, les microgels changent de conformation à l’interface, passant d’un état étendu à un état comprimé, à l’origine de variations de l’élasticité interfaciale. Les microgels ainsi adsorbés sont fonctionnalisés de façon régiosélective dans l’eau et permettent de produire des microgels non symétriques, dits Janus, susceptibles de s’auto-assembler. / Microgels are colloidal particles made of cross-linked polymer swollen by a solvent. Soft and porous, they can adapt their swelling degree in response to a stimulus. The main objective of this work is to develop new concepts taking advantage of microgels’ stimuli-responsive properties and intrinsicsoftness while deepening understanding of their properties in solution and at interfaces. Poly(Nalkylacrylamide) microgels are used as a model. Initially our work focused on the study of a new type of electrochemiluminescent (ECL) microgels thanks to the incorporation of a ruthenium complex in the polymer matrix. At the volume phase transition, these microgels exhibit an amplification of the ECL intensity up to 2 orders of magnitude, related to the decrease of the distance between redox sites. This concept is then transposed to saccharides-sensitive microgels and systems bearing two luminophores, an ECL donor and an energy acceptor in order to give rise to resonance energy transfer. The second part of this manuscript is devoted to adsorption of microgels at a planar liquid-liquid interface, to improve knowledge on the origin of the stability of emulsions stabilized by such objects. Such as flexible proteins, microgels can change their conformation at the interface, from an extended to a compressed state, causing variation in the interfacial elasticity. When microgels are adsorbed they can also be functionalized regioselectively in water to produce non-symmetrical microgels, called Janus, able to self-assemble.