No description available.

No description available.

L'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier la dynamique et le désordre spatial de l'orientation de l'axe facile, d'un cristal liquide nématique. La première partie du manuscrit est consacrée à l'étude de la dynamique de l'axe facile. Cette dynamique est généralement décrite au niveau moléculaire par deux procédés différents impliquant un mécanisme d'adsorption / désorption (AD) à la surface et la relaxation conformationelle d'un polymère. Nous avons élaboré une expérience et un modèle originaux capables de séparer l'influence de ces deux mécanismes microscopiques. Dans la deuxième partie, nous avons caractérisé statistiquement le désordre orientationnel de l'axe de facile pour différentes couches d'ancrage. Le désordre a des propriétés universelles, c'est à dire qu'il est le même sur toutes les surface analysées. Nous avons ensuite construit un modèle basé sur le « quenching » en surface des fluctuations nématique orientationnelles causé par le processus d'AD. Dans la dernière partie, nous avons mis en place une méthode avec une résolution spatiale et temporelle capable de capturer l'orientation moyenne de l'axe facile et sa distribution spatiale en fonction du temps. Nous montrons que le glissement de l'axe facile moyen se produit avec un changement relativement faible de son désordre spatial. / The aim of this PhD is to investigate the dynamics and the spatial disorder of the easy axis orientation, in the case of a nematic liquid crystal. The first part of the manuscript is devoted to the study of the easy axis dynamics. This dynamics is usually described at molecular level by two different processes involving adsorption/desorption (AD) at the surface and polymer conformal relaxations. We devise an original experiment and we build a general model able to separate the influence of these two microscopic mechanisms. In the second part, we statistically characterize the orientational disorder of the easy axis in a whole set of different anchoring layers. This disorder is found to have universal properties, i.e. it is the same on all the analyzed layers. We then build up a model based on the surface quenching of the nematic orientational fluctuations due to the AD-process. In the final part, we set up a method with spatial and temporal resolution capturing the average easy axis orientation and its spatial distribution as function of time. We show that the drift of the average easy axis occurs with a relatively small change of its spatial disorder.

No description available.

In this thesis, we consider two problems in the Q-tensor theory of nematic liquid crystals. The first concerns eigenvalue constraints on the Q-tensor order parameter. In particular, by employing a singular potential constructed by Ball and Majumdar, we consider the existence, regularity and "strict physicality" of weak solutions to the Beris-Edwards equations of nemato-hydrodynamics. In the second part of the thesis, we consider a gradient flow of the well-studied Landau-de Gennes energy. We prove some rigorous results on the average long-time statistical behaviour of its solutions, which are in agreement with experimental observations in the condensed matter physics literature.

Au cours de cette thèse, j’ai mis au point et validé une voie de synthèse inédite donnant accès à une nouvelle famille de chromophores oligo-péri-naphtyléniques. Notre approche repose sur le couplage de deux briques facilement synthétisables (l’une centrale, l’autre terminale), puis sur une réaction de cyclodéshydrogénation multiple en milieu fortement basique. Aisément fonctionnalisés ensuite par estérification à leurs extrémités, ces colorants présentent un comportement cristallin liquide. Nous avons ainsi réussi à élaborer des cristaux liquides colonnaires absorbant fortement les grandes longueurs d’onde de la lumière visible tout en présentant leur mésophase à température ambiante. / During this thesis, I worked out and validated a novel synthetic route to a new series of oligo-peri-naphthylenic chromophores. Our approach is based on the assembling of two easily accessible building blocks – one central, the other terminal – via a coupling reaction followed by a multiple cyclodehydrogenation in a strongly basic medium. Smoothly further functionalised by esterification at each end, these dyes display a liquid-crystalline behaviour. We succeeded in elaborating columnar liquid crystals that strongly absorb the long wavelengths of the visible light while displaying their mesophase at room temperature.

Du fait de leurs exceptionnelles propriétés, un très vaste champ d'applications s'ouvre aux nanotubes de carbone. La connaissance de leur toxicité est un enjeu primordial afin de connaître les risques et les dangers que ces objets représentent.Le travail présenté dans cette thèse vise à la synthèse de dérivés ayant pour but de favoriser les interactions entre les nanotubes et le milieu vivant.La synthèse d'une série de dérivés du cholestérol utilisables pour la fonctionnalisation des nanotubes de carbone a été mise au point. L'utilisation de tels dérivés a pour but de favoriser les interactions entre les objets greffés et les membranes cellulaires.Par ailleurs, de nombreux intermédiaires de synthèse présentent des propriétés mésomorphes. Celles-ci ont été étudiées au moyen de différentes méthodes telles que la microscopie optique, la calorimétrie différentielle à balayage et la diffusion des rayons X.Des nanotubes HiPco ont pu être purifiés et fonctionnalisés. L'analyse de leur cytotoxicité a été abordée, celle-ci a permis de mettre en avant une diminution de la toxicité des nanotubes greffés comparée à celles de nanotubes purifiés. / Synthesis and study of mesomorphic properties of grafts for carbon nanotubes functionalizationIn order to study the toxicity of carbon nanotubes, cholesterol based derivatives were synthesized. Due to their exceptional properties, a wide field of applications is opened for carbon nanotubes. Regarding this field, knowing their toxicity becomes a key issue.The work presented here aims towards the synthesis of chemical derivatives designed to increase interactions between carbon nanotubes and a biological environment. The synthesis of a series of cholesterol derivatives aimed for the functionalization of carbon nanotubes has been developed. Such derivatives are intended to interact with cell membranes.Moreover, many synthetic intermediates have mesomorphic properties. These properties have been studied using different methods such as polarized optical microscopy (POM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray scattering (MWAXS).HiPco nanotubes have been purified, functionalized and characterized with techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD).Finally, a study of carbon nanotubes toxicity is presented.

Orientador: Maria Virgínia Costa Scarpa / Banca: Maria Valéria Robles Velasco / Banca: Marcos Antônio Corrêa / Resumo: A mistura de óleo, água e tensoativo é capaz de formar estruturas e sistemas variados, dependendo das características e da proporção dos componentes utilizados. Sistemas microestruturados, como cristais líquidos e microemulsões, são utilizados para encapsular fármacos e substâncias ativas em produtos farmacêuticos e cosméticos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver sistemas microestruturados para a incorporação da cafeína com finalidade de uso tópico para otimizar o tratamento da hidrolipodistrofia ginóide. A mistura direta de PPG-5-Ceteth-20 (tensoativo), adipato de dibutila (fase oleosa) e água em diferentes proporções possibilitou a obtenção de formulações com formas de estruturação variadas, como microemulsão, emulsão e mesofases líquido-cristalinas. As formulações obtidas foram caracterizadas por meio de microscopia de luz polarizada, determinação de índice de refração, densidade relativa e condutividade e comportamento reológico. Estudos de solubilidade mostraram que os sistemas foram capazes de solubilizar cerca de 1,5% de cafeína. Estudos de liberação in vitro, que utilizaram modelo de célula de difusão em sistema estático do tipo Franz adaptada ao equipamento de dissolução indicaram que as formulações apresentaram características de sistemas reservatórios de liberação prolongada. Para o estudo de permeação in vivo foram utilizados suínos machos, Landrace x Large White, submetidos ao tratamento com formulação acrescida ou não de cafeína. Fragmentos de pele e hipoderme foram retirados para a análise histológica. A formulação com características de cristal líquido de fase hexagonal foi eficaz em aumentar a permeação cutânea à cafeína, facilitando assim sua ação. A cafeína aplicada desta forma fez com que houvesse uma redução significativa da espessura da hipoderme. O sistema atua como promotor de permeação e garante a eficácia da cafeína no tratamento da celulite. / Abstract: Oil, water and surfactant mixture may form a variety of structures and phases accordingly to the characteristics and the ratio of the used components. Microcompartmented systems as liquid crystals and microemulsions are used to encapsulated drugs and active substances in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The objective of this research was the development of microcompartmented systems for incorporation of caffeine with the purpose of topical use on treatment of the gynoid lipodystrophy. The direct mixture of PPG-5-Ceteth-20 (surfactant), dybutyl adipate (oil phase) and water in differents proportions made possible to obtain formulations with different structuring forms as microemulsions, emulsions and liquid crystalline mesophases. The formulations were characterized through the polarization light microscopy, refractive index, relative density, conductivity and behavior rheological. Solubility studies were accomplished showed that the systems were capable to solubilize about 1,5% of caffeine. In vitro release studies using the cell of diffusion model in static system of Franz's type adapted to the dissolution equipment indicated formulations with characteristics of reservoirs systems. The permeability study in vivo used male pig (Landrace x Large White) and they were submitted to the treatment. Formulations with or without caffeine were applied. Skin's fragments and hypoderm of them were removed for histology analysis after the treatment. The formulation with liquid crystal of hexagonal phase characteristics was efficient in increasing skin permeability to the caffeine, thus facilitating its drug action. The application of caffeine this way led to a significant reduction of the hypoderms thickness. The developed system is adjusted for topical use, is skin penetration enhancers and it guarantees the effectiveness of the caffeine in the treatment of the cellulite. / Mestre

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Tomas A. Gonzalez. / Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1980.

Este trabalho investiga a termodifusão em coloides magnéticos através da técnica de varredura Z. O ponto de partida é a generalização do modelo de lente térmica, supondo o surgimento de um gradiente de concentração dos grãos magnéticos devido ao gradiente de temperatura causado pelo feixe de laser sobre a amostra. A partir do uso da técnica de varredura Z foi possível o estudo do coeficiente Soret (S IND.T) em ferrofluidos iônicos, surfactados e citrados, em amostras com baixa concentração de grãos (fração volumétrica de Fe, ø, menor que 1%). Na generalização do modelo de lente térmica que efetuamos, consideramos que a variação no índice de refração da amostra, em uma experiência de varredura Z, depende da variação da intensidade do feixe laser (I), da variação da temperatura (T) e da variação da concentração de grãos magnéticos (ø), onde C IND.N, C IND.T e C IND.S são seus respectivos parâmetros adimensionais no modelo. Uma vez que o tempo característico da termodifusão é da ordem de segundos, uma varredura Z com pulsos da ordem de 20ms é utilizada para a determinação de C IND.N. C IND.T é obtido independentemente por meio de métodos de óptica linear.Após a determinação de C IND.N e C IND.T, uma varredura Z com duração de pulso da ordem de 1 segundo é feita para determinar C IND.S e, posteriormente, o coeficiente Soret. A partir do comportamento da curva de evolução temporal da tranmitância com pulsos de 1 segundo pode-se determinar o sinal do coeficiente Soret. O sinal está relacionado com a tendência dos grãos de migrarem para a região mais fria (termofóbico, S IND.T>0) ou mais quente (termofílico, S IND.T<0) da amostra, dependendo de suas características físico-químicas. Mostramos que o módulo de S IND.T é proporcional a ø, em concordância com resultados obtidos para soluções mais concentradas (ø1) através da técnica de Espalhamento Rayleigh Forçado. Uma possível origem física para os comportamentos termofóbico e termofílico dos fluidos magnéticos poderia estar relacionada a mudanças na intensidade das forças que mantêm o equilíbrio coloidal, por ação da temperatura. / This work explores the thermodiffusion in magnetic colloids through the Z-Scan technique. The starting point is the generalization of the thermal lens model based on the assumption that the concentration gradient of the magnetic grains emerges due to the temperature gradient caused by the laser beam on the sample. By using the Z-Scan technique it was possible to study the Soret coefficient (ST) for ionic, surfacted and citrated ferrofluids in samples with low concentration of grains (Fe volumetric percentage, ø, less than 1%). In this thermal lens model generalization, we have considered that the refraction índex variation in a Z-Scan experiment depends on the laser beam intensity (I), the temperature variation (T) and the variation of the magnetic grains concentration (ø), where CN, CT and CS are their respective dimensionless parameters in the model. As characteristic time of thermodiffusion is of the order of seconds, a Z-Scan with pulses around 20 ms is used in order to determine CN. CT is obtained independently by using lenear optics methods. After the determination of CN and CT, a Z-Scan with pulses around 1 second is made in order to determine CS and, Consequently, the Soret coefficient. Through the behavior of the time dependent transmittance with 1-second pulses we were able to determine the sign of the Soret coefficient. The sign is related to the tendency of the grains to migrate to the colder region (thermophobic, ST>0) or to the warmer region (thermophilic, ST<0) of the sample, depending on its physical-chemical characteristics. We have showed that the ST module is proportional to ø, in agreement with the results for higher concentration solutions (ø1%) obtained through Forced Rayleigh Scattering. A possible physical originfor the thermophobic and thermophilic behavior of magnetic fluids could berelated to changes in the intensity of the forces that keep the colloidal balance, by means of temperature.