Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para a determinação da capacidade anti-radicalar de substâncias hidrofílicas e lipofílicas baseada na quimiluminescência do luminol em meio micelar. A reação de luminol, hemina e peróxido de hidrogênio foi estudada na presença de tensoativos carregados (CTAB/CTAC e SDS). Variou-se independentemente a concentração de cada reagente de forma a avaliar seu papel sobre a intensidade inicial de emissão (I0), que é proporcional à velocidade inicial da reação. Em solução aquosa de SDS, a I0 apresentou correlação linear com a concentração de H2O2 entre 5,0 10-6 e 6,0 10-5 mol/L e com a concentração de hemina no intervalo de 8,0 10-9 a 4,0 10-7 mol/L. O aumento da concentração de luminol no intervalo de 5,0 10-7 a 1,0 10-3 provocou aumento na I0 até 5,0 10-5 mol/L, permanecendo constante para concentrações maiores. Na presença de CTAB, o valor de I0 variou linearmente com a concentração de H2O2 no intervalo estudado (2,0 10-5 a 6,7 10-4 mol/L). A I0 aumentou com o aumento da concentração da hemina entre 8,0 10-8 e 8,0 10-6 mol/L. A variação da concentração de luminol de 5,0 10-7 a 5,0 10-5 também provocou aumento na I0, a qual ficou constante para concentrações maiores. Para este tensoativo foram realizadas também medidas de cmc nas condições de reação (tampão fosfato pH 11,6 e µ = 0,1), obtendo-se um valor de 2 10-4 mol/L, cinco vezes menor do que a cmc em água. As mudanças espectrais de hemina e luminol em diferentes concentrações de CTAB foram avaliadas, obtendo-se evidências da interação destes reagentes com o tensoativo. Destes estudos, foi possível compreender melhor o comportamento do sistema e foram encontradas condições nas quais se obtêm decaimento lento da intensidade de emissão e I0 alto. Estas condições são ideais para a realização de um ensaio de determinação da capacidade anti-radicalar. O efeito do antioxidante trolox, utilizado como padrão, foi avaliado nestas condições nos sistemas baseados nos três tensoativos. Em todos os casos, observou-se correlação linear entre a concentração de trolox e a área suprimida na cinética de emissão, a qual é proporcional ao número de radicais seqüestrados pelo antioxidante. Os limites de detecção para trolox ficaram abaixo de 1,0 10-7 mol/L, e a faixa de linearidade é de no mínimo uma ordem de grandeza (não foram testadas concentrações superiores a 2,0 10-6 mol/L). No meio de reação com CTAB foram determinadas as capacidades anti-radicalares (n) dos seguintes antioxidantes: vitamina E (n=3,5 ± 0,1), rutina (n=4,0 ± 0,2), quercetina (n=3,8 ± 0,4) e ácido úrico (n=1,3 ± 0,1). Os valores de n determinados com este método foram muito similares com aqueles medidos utilizando-se o ensaio com o radical estável DPPH. Portanto, o ensaio desenvolvido com luminol em meio micelar se mostrou adequado para testar tanto substâncias hidrossolúveis como lipossolúveis. Foram testadas condições para a realização de ensaios consecutivos com injeções repetidas de várias alíquotas de antioxidante na presença de CTAB. Os valores encontrados com o ensaio realizado desta forma foram iguais aos obtidos com o ensaio onde as injeções são feitas individualmente. Este método permite automação e resulta na economia de reagentes e redução do tempo de ensaio / In this work, a methodology to evaluate the anti-radical capacity of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds based on luminol chemiluminescence in micellar media was developed. The reaction of luminol, hemin and hydrogen peroxide was studied in the presence of charged surfactants (CTAB/CTAC and SDS). The concentration of each reagent was independently varied in order to evaluate its influence on the initial emission intensity (I0), which is proportional to the initial reaction rate. In aqueous SDS solution, I0 showed a linear correlation with the H2O2 concentration between 5,0 10-6 and 6,0 10-5 mol/L, and with the hemin concentration between 8,0 10-9 and 4,0 10-7 mol/L. An increase in the luminol concentration between 5,0 10-7 and 1,0 10-3 mol/L led to an increase in I0 up to 5,0 10-5 mol/L, higher luminol concentrations do not further increased I0. In the presence of CTAB, I0 increased linearly with the H2O2 concentration in the interval studied (2,0 10-5 to 6,7 10-4 mol/L). An increase in I0 was also observed on increasing the hemin concentration from 8,0 10-8 to 8,0 10-6 mol/L. An increase of the luminol concentration from 5,0 10-7 to 5,0 10-5 increased the observed I0, which did not change for higher luminol concentrations. The cmc of CTAB was measured in the reaction conditions (phosphate buffer pH 11,6 and µ= 0,1), and the value determined, 2 10-4 mol/L, was five times lower than the cmc in water. The absorption spectra of hemin and luminol in different CTAB concentrations showed significant variation with the surfactant concentration, indicating an interaction between these reagents and the surfactant. With these studies it was possible to understand well the behavior of the system and to establish experimental conditions which lead to kinetic curves with a slow emission intensity decay and relatively high I0, ideal conditions for the performance of the anti-radical capacity assay. The effect of trolox, the antioxidant used as reference, was evaluated in this conditions in the systems based on the three surfactants. In all the cases a linear correlation between the trolox concentration and the suppressed area in the emission kinetics was observed. This area is proportional to the number of radicals trapped by the antioxidant. Detection limits for trolox were below 1,0 10-7 mol/L, and the linear range was at least one order of magnitude (concentrations higher than 2,0 10-6 mol/L were not evaluated). The antioxidant capacity (n) was determined in the reaction medium containing CTAB for vitamin E (n= 3,5 ± 0,1), rutin (n=4,0 ± 0,2), quercetin (n=3,8 ± 0,4) and uric acid (n=1,3 ± 0,1). The n values determined by this method were very similar to those measured with the DPPH assay. Hence, the assay developed with luminol in micelar media was adequate to evaluate the anti-radical capacity of hidrosoluble as well as liposoluble compounds. The assay conditions established in the presence of CTAB allowed the consecutive injection of antioxidant samples during the same kinetic run. The values determined in this consecutive injection assay proved to be very similar to those obtained in the assay where injections were made individually. This method allows automation, economy of reagents and reduction of assay time

Neste trabalho foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para a determinação da capacidade anti-radicalar de substâncias hidrofílicas e lipofílicas baseada na quimiluminescência do luminol em meio micelar. A reação de luminol, hemina e peróxido de hidrogênio foi estudada na presença de tensoativos carregados (CTAB/CTAC e SDS). Variou-se independentemente a concentração de cada reagente de forma a avaliar seu papel sobre a intensidade inicial de emissão (I0), que é proporcional à velocidade inicial da reação. Em solução aquosa de SDS, a I0 apresentou correlação linear com a concentração de H2O2 entre 5,0 10-6 e 6,0 10-5 mol/L e com a concentração de hemina no intervalo de 8,0 10-9 a 4,0 10-7 mol/L. O aumento da concentração de luminol no intervalo de 5,0 10-7 a 1,0 10-3 provocou aumento na I0 até 5,0 10-5 mol/L, permanecendo constante para concentrações maiores. Na presença de CTAB, o valor de I0 variou linearmente com a concentração de H2O2 no intervalo estudado (2,0 10-5 a 6,7 10-4 mol/L). A I0 aumentou com o aumento da concentração da hemina entre 8,0 10-8 e 8,0 10-6 mol/L. A variação da concentração de luminol de 5,0 10-7 a 5,0 10-5 também provocou aumento na I0, a qual ficou constante para concentrações maiores. Para este tensoativo foram realizadas também medidas de cmc nas condições de reação (tampão fosfato pH 11,6 e µ = 0,1), obtendo-se um valor de 2 10-4 mol/L, cinco vezes menor do que a cmc em água. As mudanças espectrais de hemina e luminol em diferentes concentrações de CTAB foram avaliadas, obtendo-se evidências da interação destes reagentes com o tensoativo. Destes estudos, foi possível compreender melhor o comportamento do sistema e foram encontradas condições nas quais se obtêm decaimento lento da intensidade de emissão e I0 alto. Estas condições são ideais para a realização de um ensaio de determinação da capacidade anti-radicalar. O efeito do antioxidante trolox, utilizado como padrão, foi avaliado nestas condições nos sistemas baseados nos três tensoativos. Em todos os casos, observou-se correlação linear entre a concentração de trolox e a área suprimida na cinética de emissão, a qual é proporcional ao número de radicais seqüestrados pelo antioxidante. Os limites de detecção para trolox ficaram abaixo de 1,0 10-7 mol/L, e a faixa de linearidade é de no mínimo uma ordem de grandeza (não foram testadas concentrações superiores a 2,0 10-6 mol/L). No meio de reação com CTAB foram determinadas as capacidades anti-radicalares (n) dos seguintes antioxidantes: vitamina E (n=3,5 ± 0,1), rutina (n=4,0 ± 0,2), quercetina (n=3,8 ± 0,4) e ácido úrico (n=1,3 ± 0,1). Os valores de n determinados com este método foram muito similares com aqueles medidos utilizando-se o ensaio com o radical estável DPPH. Portanto, o ensaio desenvolvido com luminol em meio micelar se mostrou adequado para testar tanto substâncias hidrossolúveis como lipossolúveis. Foram testadas condições para a realização de ensaios consecutivos com injeções repetidas de várias alíquotas de antioxidante na presença de CTAB. Os valores encontrados com o ensaio realizado desta forma foram iguais aos obtidos com o ensaio onde as injeções são feitas individualmente. Este método permite automação e resulta na economia de reagentes e redução do tempo de ensaio / In this work, a methodology to evaluate the anti-radical capacity of hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds based on luminol chemiluminescence in micellar media was developed. The reaction of luminol, hemin and hydrogen peroxide was studied in the presence of charged surfactants (CTAB/CTAC and SDS). The concentration of each reagent was independently varied in order to evaluate its influence on the initial emission intensity (I0), which is proportional to the initial reaction rate. In aqueous SDS solution, I0 showed a linear correlation with the H2O2 concentration between 5,0 10-6 and 6,0 10-5 mol/L, and with the hemin concentration between 8,0 10-9 and 4,0 10-7 mol/L. An increase in the luminol concentration between 5,0 10-7 and 1,0 10-3 mol/L led to an increase in I0 up to 5,0 10-5 mol/L, higher luminol concentrations do not further increased I0. In the presence of CTAB, I0 increased linearly with the H2O2 concentration in the interval studied (2,0 10-5 to 6,7 10-4 mol/L). An increase in I0 was also observed on increasing the hemin concentration from 8,0 10-8 to 8,0 10-6 mol/L. An increase of the luminol concentration from 5,0 10-7 to 5,0 10-5 increased the observed I0, which did not change for higher luminol concentrations. The cmc of CTAB was measured in the reaction conditions (phosphate buffer pH 11,6 and µ= 0,1), and the value determined, 2 10-4 mol/L, was five times lower than the cmc in water. The absorption spectra of hemin and luminol in different CTAB concentrations showed significant variation with the surfactant concentration, indicating an interaction between these reagents and the surfactant. With these studies it was possible to understand well the behavior of the system and to establish experimental conditions which lead to kinetic curves with a slow emission intensity decay and relatively high I0, ideal conditions for the performance of the anti-radical capacity assay. The effect of trolox, the antioxidant used as reference, was evaluated in this conditions in the systems based on the three surfactants. In all the cases a linear correlation between the trolox concentration and the suppressed area in the emission kinetics was observed. This area is proportional to the number of radicals trapped by the antioxidant. Detection limits for trolox were below 1,0 10-7 mol/L, and the linear range was at least one order of magnitude (concentrations higher than 2,0 10-6 mol/L were not evaluated). The antioxidant capacity (n) was determined in the reaction medium containing CTAB for vitamin E (n= 3,5 ± 0,1), rutin (n=4,0 ± 0,2), quercetin (n=3,8 ± 0,4) and uric acid (n=1,3 ± 0,1). The n values determined by this method were very similar to those measured with the DPPH assay. Hence, the assay developed with luminol in micelar media was adequate to evaluate the anti-radical capacity of hidrosoluble as well as liposoluble compounds. The assay conditions established in the presence of CTAB allowed the consecutive injection of antioxidant samples during the same kinetic run. The values determined in this consecutive injection assay proved to be very similar to those obtained in the assay where injections were made individually. This method allows automation, economy of reagents and reduction of assay time

L'objectif de ce travail était d'étudier l'influence qu'exerce la microstructure des matrices laitières sur la diffusion moléculaire.<br />Une première partie de ce travail a permis d'étudier la diffusion de sondes de taille variable, des polyéthylèneglycols (PEGs), dans des gels de caséines ayant différentes structures. Les variations des coefficients de diffusion ont été reliées à la porosité du réseau. Dans un second temps, ces résultats ont été complétés par la mesure en continu de la diffusion de sondes par RMN au cours de la formation des gels de caséines. Deux tailles de PEG ont été sélectionnées et leur diffusion a été mesurée au cours des procédés de coagulation présure, acide et mixte. L'évolution de la diffusion de la sonde de petite taille a été reliée aux modifications de structure et de porosité des agrégats micellaires, tandis que la diffusion du PEG de plus grande taille a été expliquée par la porosité du réseau. La confrontation de ces résultats avec des mesures rhéologiques et des images de microscopie électronique à balayage a permis de mettre en évidence les potentialités de la technique RMN à gradient de champ pulsé pour étudier les microstructures des matrices caséiques à différentes échelles.

Les polymacromonomers (PMs) sont des polymères ramifiés bien définis issus de la polymérisation de macromonomères. Les méthodes de synthèse utilisées ici (polymérisation anionique et polymérisation procédant par métathèse et ouverture de cycle) nous ont permis de travailler dans les conditions d?une polymérisation ?vivante? et d?obtenir des PMs (branches de polystyrène (PS) et tronc de polynorbornène) possédant une distribution régulière et élevée de branches. La DNPA s?est avéré idéale pour décrire de façon quantitative la conformation des PMs, en offrant la possibilité de marquer nos polymères sans altérer leur architecture grâce au marquage sélectif. Différents modèles géométriques, tels que des modèles de micelles à c?ur sphérique ou cylindrique, ont été ajustés aux facteurs de forme expérimentaux mesurés par DNPA, en solution comme en fondus. Nous avons démontré que l?architecture influence directement la conformation des PMs et leurs interactions avec le milieu environnant. Notamment, sous certaines conditions apparaît une démixtion purement entropique, due à la structure intrinsèque de PMs dans les mélanges PMs ? PS linéaire. Par ailleurs, les propriétés mécaniques et le comportement dynamique des PMs sont fortement modifiés par la structure ramifiée des PMs. Nous avons mené une étude en rhéologie oscillatoire et comparé la réponse viscoélastique des PMs à celle du PS linéaire. Afin d?établir de façon précise la dynamique de relaxation des PMs, des films étirés puis relaxés ont été étudiés par DNPA. L?interprétation des résultats obtenus est complexe et s?est faite à l?aide d?un modèle de micelle modifié (combinant un c?ur ellipsoïdal et des branches modélisées par le modèle de réseau fantôme).

Nous avons étudié, à l'aide de techniques optiques, plusieurs propriétés des solutions isotropes d'amphiphiles (micelles et microémulsions). Dans une première partie, nous avons utilisé ces systèmes en tant que systèmes colloïdaux modèles afin d'étudier les variations du coefficient d'auto-diffusion de particules en interaction avec la concentration de particules et les interactions ; cette étude a été réalisée à l'aide d'un montage de Recouvrement de Fluorescence Après Photoblanchîment que nous avons réalisé. En utilisant des solutions micellaires, nous avons ainsi pu montrer que le coefficient d'auto-diffusion de particules en interaction dépend peu de ces interactions (contrairement au coefficient de diffusion collective mesurée par Diffusion Quasi-élastique de la Lumière) et que les coefficients de friction associés à ces deux coefficients de diffusion étaient différents. Dans le cas des microémulsions, nous avons mis en évidence l'effet des phénomènes d'agrégation réversible (responsables des phénomènes de percolation électrique) sur les mécanismes d'auto-diffusion. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons utilisé les techniques expérimentales utilisées dans le cadre du travail décrit ci-dessus en vue d'étudier la structure de microémulsion en présence de protéines solubilisées. En particulier, nous avons pu déterminer les rayons des gouttelettes de microémulsion ayant solubilisé une protéine dans les deux cas extrêmes où le volume du coeur acqueux est supérieur ou inférieur au volume de la protéine. Enfin, nous avons étudié les propriétés interfaciales des mélanges polyphasiques eau-huile-amphiphiles ; nous avons ainsi pu mettre en évidence le rôle primordial du film interfacial dans l'obtention de basses tensions interfaciales.

Des tensioactifs dimériques cationiques ont été étudiés en faisant varier la nature du contre-ion afin de déterminer quels sont les effets ioniques qui influencent principalement leurs propriétés d'agrégation.<br />La méthode de synthèse de ces molécules a été adaptée afin de permettre l'investigation d'une large variété de systèmes se distinguant par leur contre-ion. La micellisation de ces tensioactifs a fait l'objet d'une étude par conductimétrie qui a permis de montrer l'influence prépondérante de l'hydrophobie du contre-ion associée à des effets secondaires tels que l'hydratation ou la morphologie du contre-ion. Nous avons aussi montré comment l'utilisation d'un colorant, l'Orange de Méthyle, peut s'avérer être un outil d'investigation de l'hydratation et de l'ionisation des micelles. La solubilité de ces tensioactifs dans l'eau a également été examinée à travers l'étude de leur température de Krafft en fonction du contre-ion. Les morphologies des assemblages formés par ces systèmes en solution aqueuse ont également fait l'objet d'une étude par diverses techniques de microscopie. La dernière partie est consacrée à une classe particulière de tensioactifs cationiques à double chaîne complexés à des mononucléotides anioniques. Les propriétés d'agrégation de ces nucléolipides ainsi que les morphologies des structures formées dans l'eau ont été étudiées. On a montré que le confinement de nucléotides chiraux sur des membranes cationiques peut induire l'émergence d'une chiralité supramoléculaire. De plus, ces systèmes mettent en place une reconnaissance moléculaire spécifique, distincte de celle se produisant dans l'ADN, dont les causes restent encore à clarifier.

Knowledge about structure and dynamics of the important biological macromolecules — proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and sugars — helps to understand their function. Atomic-resolution structures of macromolecules are routinely captured with X-ray crystallography and other techniques. In this thesis, simulations are used to explore the dynamics of the molecules beyond the static structures. Viruses are machines constructed from macromolecules. Crystal structures of them reveal little to no information about their genomes. In simulations of empty capsids, we observed a correlation between the spatial distribution of chloride ions in the solution and the position of RNA in crystals of satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV) and satellite tobacco mosaic virus (STMV). In this manner, structural features of the non-symmetric RNA could also be inferred. The capsid of STNV binds calcium ions on the icosahedral symmetry axes. The release of these ions controls the activation of the virus particle upon infection. Our simulations reproduced the swelling of the capsid upon removal of the ions and we quantified the water permeability of the capsid. The structure and dynamics of the expanded capsid suggest that the disassembly is initiated at the 3-fold symmetry axis. Several experimental methods require biomolecular samples to be injected into vacuum, such as mass-spectrometry and diffractive imaging of single particles. It is therefore important to understand how proteins and molecule-complexes respond to being aerosolized. In simulations we mimicked the dehydration process upon going from solution into the gas phase. We find that two important factors for structural stability of proteins are the temperature and the level of residual hydration. The simulations support experimental claims that membrane proteins can be protected by a lipid micelle and that a non-membrane protein could be stabilized in a reverse micelle in the gas phase. A water-layer around virus particles would impede the signal in diffractive experiments, but our calculations estimate that it should be possible to determine the orientation of the particle in individual images, which is a prerequisite for three-dimensional reconstruction. / BMC B41, 25/5, 9:15

This Thesis presents studies of molecular association in aqueous solution and at the liquid/solid interface. The investigated molecular systems range from self-aggregating surfactants to hydration water in contact with micelles or individual molecules. In most studies, combinations of various NMR methods were applied. These vary from simple chemical shift and intensity measurements to more elaborate self-diffusion and intermolecular cross-relaxation experiments. Non-ideal mixed micelles of fluorinated and hydrogenated surfactants were studied by an experimental procedure that allows an analysis in terms of micellar structure, using a minimal number of initial assumptions. Quantitative conclusions about micro-phase separation within mixed micelles were obtained within the framework of the regular solution theory. Additionally, NMR was introduced and developed as a powerful method for studying adsorption of surfactants at solid interfaces. Adsorption isotherms for pure and mixed surfactant systems and non-ideal mixing behavior of fluorinated and hydrogenated surfactants at solid surfaces were quantified. Fluorosurfactant-protein association was investigated using the methods described. Intermolecular cross-relaxation rates between solute and solvent molecules were recorded at several different magnetic fields. The results reveal strong frequency dependence for both small molecules and micelles. This finding demonstrates that intermolecular cross-relaxation is not solely controlled by fast local motions, but also by long-range translational dynamics. Data analysis in terms of recently developed relaxation models provides information about the hydrophobic hydration and micellar structure. / QC 20100914

Cette thèse a pour objectif l'élaboration de nanoparticules hybrides à base de silice par microémulsion inverse. Les nanoparticules de silice constituent une matrice de base permettant de confiner et de protéger des molécules organiques et/ou des nanoparticules métalliques. L'incorporation combinée de différentes entités dans la silice ouvre ainsi de larges perspectives de par l'introduction de nouvelles propriétés liées à la structure hybride. Afin d'élaborer de tels objets, nous avons utilisé des micelles inverses à base d'eau, de Triton X-100, d'hexanol et de cyclohexane comme milieu réactionnel. L'influence des conditions opératoires sur le contrôle de la taille des micelles inverses a d'abord été étudiée. Ces micelles inverses ont ensuite été mises à profit comme nanoréacteurs pour la synthèse de nanoparticules de silice par procédé sol-gel en utilisant les précurseurs alkoxysilanes adéquats. Nous avons regardé dans quelle mesure il était possible de contrôler la taille des nanoparticules de silice en fonction du pourcentage d'eau par rapport au tensioactif. Il a ainsi été possible d'accéder de façon reproductible à des nanoparticules avec de tailles variables, de 30 nm à 200 nm. Nous avons ensuite regardé qu'il était possible d'encapsuler au sein de cette matrice nanométrique des fluorophores et des nanoparticules d'or et d'argent de façon contrôlée. En vue d'assurer une bonne stabilisation colloïdale en solution, ces nanoparticules hybrides ont été fonctionnalisées d'une part par ajout d'un silane fonctionnel et d'autre part par click chemistry. Nous avons ainsi pu montrer qu'il est possible d'effectuer dans un même milieu micellaire l'ensemble des processus de fabrication de la nanoparticule hybride, de la matrice de silice à sa fonctionnalisation en passant par l'incorporation d'entités fonctionnelles. Cette méthode de synthèse séquentielle nous a ainsi permis de supprimer les étapes de purification et de redispersion qui peuvent s'avérer problématiques dans les procédés classiques. L'ensemble de ce travail a été mis à profit pour la conception d'un agent antibactérien à base de nanoparticules argent/silice capables d'empêcher la prolifération bactérienne grâce au relargage progressif des ions argent. Les tests effectués en solution comme sur le coton et le polyéthylène téréphtalate imprégnés montrent effectivement un caractère antibactérien certain de ces systèmes.

In Chapter I is a general description of novel metal complexes which hydrolytically cleave peptides, proteins, DNA, and other biological molecules. These reagents are becoming the more important as potential therapeutic agents. A panel of ligands was investigated for coordination to ZrIV and other metals in groups 4, 5, and 6 to effect the greatest degree of hydrolysis. Chapter II describes a ZrIV complex which is capable of hydrolyzing a 30 amino acid peptide, insulin chain B, with amino acid specificity. Oxidized insulin chain B peptide was hydrolyzed after only 4 h of treatment at pH 7.0 and 60 °C using ZrCl4 in the presence of 4,13-diaza-18-crown-6. MALDI-TOF and ESI LC-MS mass spectra indicated that insulin chain B was hydrolyzed by ZrIV at the Gly8-Ser9, Ser9-His10, and Gly20-Glu21 amide bonds within the oligopeptide. To our surprise, the cysteine sulfonic acid sequences Cys(SO3H)7-Gly8 and Cys(SO3H)19-Gly20 were also cleaved. To the best of our knowledge, this constitutes the first example of metal-assisted hydrolysis of a Cys(SO3H)-Xaa amide bond. This is significant in light of the fact that cysteine sulfonic acid formation in proteins is triggered by oxidative stress and has been associated with amyloid fibril formation, Parkinson’s disease, and other deleterious, physiological processes. Chapter III describes the metal-assisted hydrolysis of sphingomyelin which is a principle phospholipid component of animal cell membranes. The sphingomyelin assays showed evidence of metal-assisted hydrolysis after 20 h of treatment at lysosomal pH 4.8 and cytosolic pH 7.0 at both physiological temperature 37 °C and 60 °C. The metal ion CeIV was the most reactive, followed by ZrIV, and then HfIV. The goal of this work is to develop metal-based reagents to reverse the lethal build-up of sphingomyelin that occurs in lysosomes of patients suffering from Niemann-Pick disease.