Des formes galéniques spécialement étudiées permettent l'administration topique d'un médicament ou d'un actif cosmétique afin d'obtenir un effet local ou une action systémique. Les excipients présents dans la formulation, comme les tensioactifs dans les solutions micellaires, émulsions, microémulsions, nanoémulsions, nanostructures, peuvent être alors des éléments influençant la pénétration et la perméation de l'actif. L'étude de leurs effets sur la barrière cutanée peut être utile afin de choisir au mieux les différents composés de la formulation. L'objectif de cette thèse a été d'étudier l'effet de différents tensioactifs (alkylpolyglucosides, lipoaminoacides, alcools gras éthoxylés et copolymères à blocs de type Poloxamer) en solution aqueuse sur la structure et la fonction barrière de la peau, grâce à des techniques d'infrarouge à transformée de Fourier, de calorimétrie différentielle à balayage, de mesure de la perte insensible en eau et de microscopie électronique à transmission. L'objectif spécifique de ce travail a porté sur l'étude de l'absorption cutanée ex vivo de trois principes actifs de lipophilie différente (caféine, kétoprofène et progestérone) à travers un modèle de peau animale co-traitée par différents tensioactifs. Plus spécifiquement, la pénétration de la progestérone au sein des différentes couches de la peau a été étudiée compte tenu de sa lipophilie élevée limitant son passage dans les couches cutanées plus hydrophiles. A l'issue de ces travaux, nous montrons que les tensioactifs peuvent exercer non seulement des effets sur l'organisation lamellaire des lipides intercornéocytaires mais aussi sur les cornéocytes du stratum corneum (SC). Par ailleurs, ces différents résultats ont permis de définir les structures chimiques des tensioactifs favorisant l'absorption cutanée de principes actifs. Les tensioactifs anioniques comportant une chaîne aliphatique de 12 carbones augmentent sélectivement la perméation cutanée de principes actifs hydrophiles et la pénétration de principes actifs lipophiles dans les tissus cutanés. La pénétration cutanée de principes actifs est étroitement corrélée à la taille des micelles de tensioactif susceptible de s'incorporer dans les espaces intercornéocytaires du SC. Enfin, la valeur de concentration micellaire critique est une propriété physico-chimique permettant d'expliquer en partie l'effet des tensioactifs sur leur perméabilité cutanée / Dosage forms specially designed allow the topical administration of drugs or cosmetic active ingredients to obtain a local effect or a systemic action. Excipients, such as surfactants in micellar solutions, emulsions, microemulsions, nanoemulsions, nanostructures can influence the drug penetration and permeation. Understanding their effects on skin barrier is helpful in the choice of surfactant. The aim of this thesis was to study the effect of different surfactants (alkylpolyglucosides, lipoaminoacids, ethoxylated fatty alcohol and copolymers blocks) in aqueous solution on the skin barrier structure and function, using techniques like infrared Fourier transform, differential scanning calorimetry, transepidermal water loss measurement and transmission electron microscopy. The specific aim of this work focused on the ex vivo cutaneous absorption of three drugs showing different lipophilicity (caffeine, ketoprofen and progesterone) through animal skin co-treated by different surfactants. More specifically, the penetration of progesterone in the different skin layers has been studied due to its high lipophilicity limiting its permeation in the most hydrophilic layers (viable epidermis and dermis). At the outset, we showed that surfactants could provide not only an effect on lamellar organization of intercorneocyte lipids but also on the corneocytes into the stratum corneum (SC). Moreover, these different results allowed to define surfactant chemical structure increasing drug cutaneous absorption. Anionic surfactant with a C12 chain length increased significantly cutaneous permeation of hydrophilic drug and penetration of lipophilic drug into cutaneous tissue. Drug penetration is correlated with micelle size allowed its incorporation into SC intercorneocyte spaces. Finally, the value of its critical micellar concentration is a physico-chemical properties allowed to partially explain the surfactant effect on their cutaneous permeability

The aims of this thesis are concerned with the synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles with controlled morphology and particle size distribution and an investigation of their physical properties. An introduction of layer double hydroxide chemistry, especially existing synthetic approaches, is reviewed in Chapter 1. Structural investigations, characterisation techniques, the properties and the applications of LDHs are discussed consecutively. The first successful synthesis of lithium aluminium nanorods using the hydrothermal treatment of a gibbsite precursor with a rod-like morphology is described in Chapter 2. The rod morphology is depicted using electron microscopy and confirmed by comparing refined X-ray diffraction patterns to a standard sample. Chapter 3 describes the application of reverse microemulsion method to prepare Co-Al and Ni-Al LDH nanoplatelets. The LDH particle sizes can be effectively controlled, and the structures of the nanoplatelets are investigated. The magnetic properties of the LDH nanoplatelets are dependent on the size of the nanoplatelets. A novel single component microemulsion system for the synthesis of LDHs is developed in Chapter 4. Mg-Al LDH nanoplatelets were successfully synthesised with precise particle size control. The factors affecting the formation of the microemulsions and the mechanism of the synthesis are discussed. Chapter 5 focuses on the applications of the novel single component microemulsion methods to prepare a range of LDHs with different metal combinations including Co-Al, Ni-Al, Zn-Al, Li-Al, Ca-Al, and Ni-Fe. This method proves very effective at controlling the particle sizes. The magnetic properties of the LDHs containing paramagnetic transition metal centres have been studied in detail. In Chapter 6, the DIFFaX program has been used to simulate the XRD patterns of layered structures. The factors influencing the XRD patterns in these materials have been systematically investigated including the effects of particle size, stacking faults, and disorder. The XRD patterns of materials described in previous chapters are simulated using the latest DIFFaX+ code in order to estimate the particle sizes and stacking sequences. The characterising techniques and the experimental details are listed in Chapter 7.

Afin d'établir un lien entre les solutions servant de modèles dans la préparation de matériaux mésoporeux, on étudie les propriétés physiques à l'équilibre et hors équilibre de solutions micellaires aqueuses à base de deux tensioactifs fluorés : C8F17C2H4(OC2H4)9OH, [RF8(EO)9] and C7F15C2H4(OC2H4)8OH, [RF7(EO)8]. Cette étude devrait nous aider à comprendre pourquoi on obtient des matériaux mésoporeux bien ordonnés à partir de solutions micellaires du tensioactif RF8(EO)9 et des structures désordonnées lorsque l'on utilise RF7(EO)8. Les expériences sont menées sur quatre systèmes de deux surfactants: RF7(EO)8/H2O, RF7(EO)8/NaI/H2O, RF8(EO)9/H2O et RF8(EO)9/NaCl/H2O. Plusieurs techniques expérimentales sont utilisées: rhéologie, biréfringence d'écoulement et diffusion de neutrons aux petits angles dans le but de décrire ces quatre systèmes. Les diagrammes de phase des deux tensioactifs montrent qu'une phase micellaire L1 existe dans une large gamme de température et concentration. Mais dans tous les cas, la distance à la courbe de miscibilité a une influence sur les caractéristiques rhéologiques bien que toutes les solutions soient une phase L1. La biréfringence d'écoulement des deux systèmes apporte des informations complémentaires quant à la taille et la forme des micelles. Pour les deux systèmes, avec et sans sel, les résultats suggèrent l'existence de petites micelles allongées liées en chaines par des forces faibles excepté pour le système RF8(EO)9 qui ne présente pas de biréfringence notable; les micelles sont probablement petites avec une forme voisine de la sphère. Pour les quatre systèmes, on observe une perte du caractère Maxwellien lorsque les conditions de concentration et de température se rapprochent de la courbe de miscibilité. Ces résultats confortent l'idée selon laquelle : les conditions thermodynamiques choisies pour l'addition de la silice ne doivent pas être trop proches de la courbe de miscibilité, afin d'obtenir des matériaux mésoporeux ordonnés. Dans ces conditions, les solutions sont Maxwelliennes et les matériaux mésoporeux synthétisés sont ordonnés / To provide a link between the micellar templates and the mesoporous material characteristics in the final product, the physical properties of aqueous systems prepared with two kinds of fluorinated surfactants are described and analyzed under equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium conditions: the surfactants are C8F17C2H4(OC2H4)9OH, [RF8(EO)9] and C7F15C2H4(OC2H4)8OH, [RF7(EO)8]. This study may help us to understand why the ordered mesoporous materials are recovered only when RF8(EO)9 micellar solutions are used as building blocks while RF7(EO)8 solutions give rise to wormhole like structure. The distance to the lower consolute boundary (LCB) and a shift in position by salt additions are also taken into account. The experiments concern four systems of two surfactants; 1) pure RF7(EO)8 in water, 2) RF7(EO)8 in the presence of the NaI salt, 3) pure RF8(EO)9 in water, and 4) RF8(EO)9 in the presence of the NaCl salt. Several experimental techniques have been used (rheology, flow birefringence, neutron scattering) to shed light on the physical difference between the four systems. The phase diagrams of both surfactants show that a direct micellar phase (L1) exists in a wide range of concentrations and temperatures. In any cases, the distance to the LCB is a parameter which influences rheological behaviour although the micellar phase still is a L1 phase. The flow birefringence experiments performed on both systems bring complementary information of the size and shape of the micelles. For both systems, with and without salt, the results suggest the existence of small elongated micelles linked by weak forces except for the RF8(EO)9 system which shows no birefringence; the micelles in solution are probably small with a shape close to a sphere. From all four systems, the loss of the Maxwellian character is generally observed when the conditions approach the miscibility curve. These results consolidate the assumption that in order to prepare ordered mesoporous materials, the thermodynamical conditions at which the silica precursor is added to the micellar solution should not be too close to the miscibility curve. Therefore, this study suggests that the Maxwellian character seems to be a pre-requisite condition of the micellar solution for obtaining ordered mesoporous materials

Master of Science / Department of Chemistry / Kenneth J. Klabunde / The motivation for the preparation of gold nanoparticles includes their potential utility in sensors, nanoelectronics, and the vast basic knowledge we can gain from these novel materials. Colloids of gold nanoparticles are also one of the most stable and easiest to manipulate. Synthesizing gold nanoparticles with narrow size distribution, uniform shape, and good crystalline nature represents a significant challenge. Thiols were found to be very efficient capping ligands for the digestive-ripening process in our research group, during which a colloidal suspension in a solvent is refluxed at the solvent boiling temperature in the presence of a capping ligand to convert a highly polydispersed colloid into a nearly monodispersed one. The current thesis research focuses on using amines instead of thiols as the capping ligands, which were also found to have similar efficiency for this purpose. The major part of the work is devoted to understanding the digestive ripening of gold-amine colloids system, and the effect of the nature of the amine ligands. A noteworthy achievement of the current work is the ability to synthesize stable gold colloids with different sizes by using different amine ligands. A diverse set of instrumental techniques is used for the characterization of the gold nanoparticles.

Oximas têm sido extensivamente usadas como antídoto para envenenamento por organofosforados e como desontaminante. Micelas e vesículas, utilizadas como catalisadores e transportadores de drogas, constituem agentes potenciais para tratamento e descontaminação. Neste trabalho descrevemos a reação de p-Nitrofenildifenilfosfato (PNPDPP), um substrato modelo para organofosforado, com: acetofenoxima (I); ácido 10- fenil-10-hidroxiiminodecanóico (II); 4-(9-carboxinonanil)-1-(9-carboxi-1-hidroiimino nonanil) benzeno (III); cloreto de N-dodecilpiridina (IV); cloreto N-metilpiridina 2-aldoxima (V), na presença de micelas catiônicas e zwitteriônicas de cloreto de hexadeciltrimetilamônio, CTAC e N-Hexadecil-N,N-dimetil-1-propano sulfonato, HPS, respectivamente, e vesículas catiônicas de dioctadecildimetilamônio, DODAC. O pKa aparente, pKap, das oximas em agregados de anfifilicos, a constante de velocidade de segunda ordem de oximólise em micelas ou vesículas, km, e as constantes de velocidade observadas para a oximólise de PNPDPP, kobs, foram determinadas espectrofotometricamente, a pH constante, variando-se a concentração dos anfifílicos. Os resultados foram analisados usando as teorias: modelo de pseudofase (PP) e modelo de pseudofase com considerações de troca iônica (PIE), descrita na literatura pelo nosso grupo. As constantes de segunda ordem para oximólise de PNPDPP em água, kox, determinadas foram 6,5 M^-1 min^-1 (I, II e III) e 2,8 M^-1 min^-1 (IV e V). O kobs máximo em micelas e vesículas, kobsmax, e o kobs em água, kw, no mesmo pH, foram utilizadas para calcular o fator de aceleração máxima, AF, para cada anfifílico (AF = kobsmax/kw). Os agregados catalisam a decomposição de PNPDPP e os valores de AF (e km) foram da ordem de 10^4 (32 min^-1), 10^4 (125 min^-1) e 10^6 (80 min^-1) para a reação da oxima IV com CTAC, HPS e DODAC, respectivamente. A análise quantitativa da dependência da concentração de agregados anfifílicos na oximólise mostrou um considerável aumento da constante de velocidade da reação produzido por micelas e vesículas (maior que 8 x 10^6 vezes). Esse efeito é parcialmente devido a: concentração local dos reagentes, efeitos nos pKas dos nucleófilos e, mais importante, mudança na reatividade intrínseca das oximas. / Oximes have been extensively used as antidotes and decontaminants of organophosphates. Micelles and vesicles, catalysts and drug transport agents, constitute potential vehicles for Oxime treatment. Here we describe the reaction of p-nitrophenyldiphenylphosphate (PNPDPP) with: acetophenoxime (I); 10-phenyl-10-hydroxyiminodecanoic acid (II); 4-(9-carboxynonanyl)-1-(9-carboxy-1-hydroyiminononanyl) benzene (III); N-dodecylpyridinium chloride (IV); N-methylpyridinium 2-aldoxime chloride (V), in the presence of cationic and zwitterionic micelles, hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride, CTAC and N-Hexadecyl-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanesulfate, HPS, respectively, and cationic vesicles of dioctadecyldimethylammonium, DODAC. The apparent pKa, pKap, of the oximes in the amphiphile aggregates, the second order rate constants of oximolysis in micelles and vesicles, km, and the observed rate constants for PNPDPP oximolysis, kobs, were determined spectrophotometrically at constant varying amphiphilic concentrations. The results were analyzed using the pseudo-phase theory (PP) and pseudo-phase / ion exchange (PIE). The second order rate constant for (uncatalyzed) oximolysis of PNPDPP were 6.5 M^-1 min^-1 (I, II and III) and 2.77 M^-1 min^-1 (IV and V). From the maximum value of kobs in micelles and vesicles, kobsmax, and the value of kobs in water, kox, at the same pH, the maximum acceleration factor, AF, were calculated (AF = kobsmax / kw). The amphiphiles catalyzed the oximolysis of PNPDPP and the values of AF (and km) were ca 10^4 (32 min^-1), 10^4 (125 min^-1) and 10^6 (80 min^-1) for the reactions of Oxime IV in CTAC, HPS and DODAC, respectively. Quantitative analysis of the amphiphile concentration-dependence of rates demonstrated that the considerable rate increase produced by micelles and vesicles on the rate of oximolysis (up to 8 x 10^6 fold) is partly due to reagent concentration in the aggregate, effects on the pKas of the nucleophiles and, more importantly, catalysis.

Highly concentrated micellar casein concentrate (HC-MCC), a potential ingredient for cheese making, containing ~20% casein with ~70% of serum proteins removed by microfiltration, and diafiltration of skim milk, and then further concentrated by vacuum evaporation. The objectives of this research were to investigate solubilization, cold gelation, rennet coagulation properties of recombined HC-MCC and cream for its use in cheese making. In Chapter 3, either mixing thawed HC-MCC in water at high temperature (~50C) or addition of trisodium citrate can achieve complete dispersion and more than 80% solubility of HC-MCC in water (3% protein). Overnight storage helps to fully disperse HC-MCC, but only reaches ~30% of solubility at 20C. Cold-gelation of HCMCC is thermally reversible and reducing protein levels in HC-MCC can decrease its CGT. The HC-MCC with less than 16% of protein does not gel at 5C. We propose that cold-gelation of HC-MCC occurs when the kinetic energy of the casein micelles is sufficiently reduced to inhibit their mobility in relation to adjacent casein micelles. In Chapter 4, the recombined concentrated milk (RCM) by mixing thawed frozen HC-MCC and cream with 12% casein at pH 6.6 does not gel until cooled below 12°C. Addition of either sodium citrate or high levels of calcium increased CGT, although low levels of calcium did not impact CGT. Cold gelation of RCM was thermally reversible, even when citrate was added to partially chelate calcium. We propose that cold gelation of RCM occurs when protein strands that have been partially released from the casein micelles entangle, restrict their mobility and form a fine stranded gel network. The RCM at a casein level of 12% (wt/wt) has potential for use in cheese making. In Chapter 5, reducing rennet level can increase coagulation time of RCM (11% casein) without impact on curd firmness or firming rate. Decreased coagulation temperature helps to increase coagulation time and decrease curd firmness rate, but also increases the initial viscosity of RCM. Pre-acidified RCM has no advantage in increasing coagulation time, decreasing curd firmness or firming rate. Microstructure of RCM and its coagulum indicates that the increased curd firmness probably results from the highly inter-linked and longer protein strands in RCM curd. Reducing rennet level can be applied to slow down rennet coagulation of RCM (11% casein) in cheese making.

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has prompted the research into novel kinds of antibacterial small molecules and polymers. Nature has solved this issue with the use of cationic antimicrobial peptides, which act as nonspecific antibiotics against invading species. Herein, we have tried to mimic this general mechanism in a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer micelle based on the polymerization of naturally occurring amino acids lysine and phenylalanine linked to a PEG tether. This amphiphilic structure allows for the spontaneous collapse into stable nanoparticles in solution, which contains a hydrophilic outer layer and a hydrophobic core. Our polymers have shown activity against clinically relevant strains including Methicillin Resistant S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, K. pneumoniae, and P. aeruginosa. To further the application of our biopolymers, we have used them as drug delivery vehicles as well. First, we have used an anionic analogue based on glutamic acid to encapsulate a super hydrophobic drug Tanshinone IIA, and use it against a hepatoma bearing mouse model. Second, we have used a cationic analogue to form a complex with miRNA-139 and use it against a hepatoma bearing mouse model as well. In both cases, our PEG poly(amino acids)s have shown promising efficacy in drastically reducing the tumor size compared to the control only. Taken together, our results show that our nanoparticles have the potential to be versatile biomaterials as antibacterials as well as drug delivery vehicles in vivo.

Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) technique was used to synthesize poly(methacrylic acid-block-methyl methacrylate) (P(MAA₁₀₂-b-MMA₁₀)) copolymer in order to study the aggregation behavior in aqueous solution over the course of neutralization. A combination of static and dynamic light scattering (SLS, DLS) and potentiometric titration techniques were used to investigate the size and shape of the micelle at various degrees of neutralization. The hydrodynamic radius (Rh) determined from dynamic light scattering increases from ~26nm (for unneutralized) to ~42nm (for completely neutralized sample). Both potentiometric and laser light scattering studies indicate the formation of a core shell micelle. The weighted average molecular weights of the polymer and micelle are 1.18x10⁴ and 2.25 x 10⁵ g/mol respectively, which suggests that the aggregation number of the micelle is ~20. / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

Supramolecular copolymers have become of increasing interest in recent years for the search of new materials with tunable properties. In particular, metallo-supramolecular block copolymers have seen important progresses since the last five years. In this thesis, a library of metallo-supramolecular amphiphilic block copolymers containing a hydrophilic block, linked to a hydrophobic block, through a metal-ligand complex has been investigated. The micelles formed in water from these copolymers were characterized by AFM and TEM and exhibited a different behavior compared to their covalent counterpart. Furthermore, a novel strategy to control the formation of amphiphilic brushes from metallo-supramolecular block copolymers has been developed. Starting from a heteroleptic block copolymer, the initial low molecular weight counterions were exchanged for polymeric ones, leading to the formation of complex architectures. Another part of this thesis is dedicated to the use of metal-ligand interactions located at the extremity of micelles. Since ligands are located at the extremity of the coronal chains, they are available for complexation with metal ions. The effect of the addition of various metal ions to this system was studied in the dilute regime by dynamic light scattering, and different situations have been observed depending on the metal-to-ligand ratio and to the nature of the metal ions. In more concentrated solutions, a second hierarchical level is reached leading to the formation of a micellar gel, due to the formation of intermicellar bridges. Rheological measurements revealed that the characteristic behavior of those gels critically depends on the added metal ions. Finally, the self-assembly of a metallo-supramolecular block copolymer in thin films was investigated. Due to the presence of the charged complex at the junction of the two blocks, this copolymer could be considered as a triblock with a highly immiscible block that effects the orientation of the cylindrical microdomains and the lateral ordering.

Cationic and zwitterionic polymerizable surfactants bearing tri- and tetraethyleneglycol spacer groups between the polymerizable moiety and the surfactant structure were prepared and polymerized. Monomers and polymers were investigated with respect to their aggregation behavior in aqueous systems and compared to analogous monomers and polymers lacking spacer groups. In the case of the monomeric surfactants, the spacer groups depress both the Kraffttemperature and the critical micelle concentration. the area occupied per molecule at the air-water interface is substantially enlarged by the spacers, whereas the depression of surface tension is nearly constant. Although the monomers with and without spacers are true surfactants, all the polymers are water-insoluble, but form monomolecular layers at the air-water interface. In analogy to the monomer behavior, the incorporation of the spacer groups increases the area occupied per repeat unit at the air-water interface substantially, but hardly affects the surface activity.