No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

Résumé : Cette thèse porte sur l’élaboration d’un outil de capture d’ADN permettant d’identifier une mutation génétique (SNP) grâce à la formation de sandwichs avec des particules de carboxylatex biofonctionnalisées avec des oligonucléotides couplée à une détection de la fluorescence. Le modèle biologique choisi pour ce projet est le génotypage plaquettaire et plus particulièrement la recherche du gène biallélique HPA-1. Le principal objectif de ce travail a été d’optimiser un outil de capture préalablement développé dans l’équipe (Trévisan, 2011) afin de réduire le nombre d’étapes et de simplifier la mise en œuvre globale du test en modifiant les interactions moléculaires utilisée pour capturer l’ADN cible et en utilisant des particules fluorescentes comme élément de détection. En présence d’ADN cible, des sandwichs sont formés entre les particules fluorescentes et les particules magnétiques biofonctionnalisées. Ces sandwichs sont purifiés par séparation magnétique et la fluorescence est détectée par trois méthodes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (détection par ondes évanescentes). Dans un premier temps, les paramètres de fonctionnalisation chimique et biologique des différentes particules (magnétiques et fluorescentes) ont été déterminés et optimisés ainsi que les conditions d’hybridation pour la capture de l’ADN cible. Ensuite, la formation des sandwichs et leur détection ont été suivies par des mesures de fluorescence en utilisant trois méthodes différentes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (capteur à ondes évanescentes). Les résultats obtenus avec les différentes méthodes de détection sont concordants et montrent que l’outil de capture d’ADN développé permet de capturer la cible synthétique (oligonucléotide) HPA-1 en réduisant le temps d’analyse de 45 min. Dans nos conditions, le test permet de discriminer l’allèle a de l’allèle b du gène HPA-1 qui ne diffère que d’un nucléotide. Le rapport des signaux de fluorescence issus du sandwich spécifique et du sandwich non spécifique est d’environ 2,5 à 3. Ce rapport devra être amélioré par la suite, en optimisant les conditions de formation des sandwichs. La prochaine étape consistera à optimiser le système de capture d’ADN développé pour gagner en spécificité et déterminer la limite de détection du test. Ce test devra également être validé avec des échantillons biologiques. A plus long terme, la fluorescence pourra être détectée par un photodétecteur miniaturisé actuellement développé à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Des études préliminaires présentées dans ce manuscrit montrent les potentialités de ce nouveau transducteur. // Abstract : This thesis is about the development of a new assay to capture DNA. This assay is based on the formation of sandwiches between biofunctionnalized with oligonucleotides carboxylatex microparticles combined with fluorescence detection. It should be able to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This assay is designed to be applied to platelet genotyping for the research of the gene HPA-1. The main goal of this work was to improve an assay previously developed (Trévisan, 2011) by INL and EFS Rhône-Alpes. The objectives are to reduce the number of steps and to simplify the test. To do so, the molecular interactions used in order to capture target DNA are modified and fluorescent microparticles are used for the detection. In the presence of target DNA, sandwiches are formed between both biofunctionnalized fluorescent and magnetic particles. Those sandwiches are purified through magnetic separation. Then, fluorescence is detected by three methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader (detection with an evanescent wave). First, chemical and biological parameters for the functionalization of the different particles (magnetic and fluorescent) are determined. The conditions for the capture of target DNA were optimized. Then, the formation and the detection of the sandwiches were estimated by measuring the fluorescence using three different methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader. The results obtained with the three methods are consistent. They show that the new system enables to capture synthetic target (oligonucleotide) HPA-1 with a reduction of total time analysis of 45 min. In our conditions, SNP can be discriminated for HPA-1 gene. For this discrimination, the fluorescence signal ratio about 2.5 to 3. This ratio should be improved by optimizing the conditions of sandwiches formation. Next step will consist in the optimization of the system developed to capture DNA in order to gain specificity and to determine the limit of detection. This test should also be validated with biological samples. In the long term, fluorescence could be detected by a miniaturized photodetector developed in the University of Sherbrook. Preliminary studies presented in this manuscript show the potentialities of this new transducer.

Previous studies have demonstrated that chitosan and its derivative, N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) are effective and safe absorption enhancers to improve mucosal delivery of macromolecular drugs including vaccines. Furthermore, chitosan and TMC can easily form microparticles and nanoparticles, which have the ability to encapsulate large amounts of antigens. Emzaloid™ technology has proven in the past to be an effective delivery system for numerous drugs. Emzaloids can entrap, transport and deliver large amounts of drugs including vaccines. In this study, the ability of chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles, TMC microparticles as well as micrometer and nanometer range Emzaloids to enhance both the systemic and mucosal (local) immune response against diphtheria toxoid (DT) after nasal administration in mice was investigated. The above mentioned formulations were prepared and characterised according to size and morphology. DT was then associated to the chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles as well as TMC microparticles to determine the antigen loading and release. It was found that the loading efficacy of the formulations was 88.9 %, 27.74 % and 63.1 % respectively, and the loading capacity of the formulations was 25.7 %, 8.03 % and 18.3 %. DT loaded and unloaded (empty) chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles, TMC microparticles, micrometer and nanometer range Emzaloids as well as DT in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were administered nasally to mice. Mice were also vaccinated subcutaneous with DT associated to alum as a positive control. All mice were vaccinated on three consecutive days in week 1 and boosted in week 3. Sera was analysed for anti- DT IgG and nasal lavages were analysed for anti-DT IgA using an enzyme linked imrnunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the study conducted to determine the systemic (IgG) and local (IgA) immune responses it was seen that DT associated to all the experimental formulations produced a systemic immune response. The said formulations produced a significantly higher systemic immune response when compared to the formulation of DT in PBS. Furthermore, the mice vaccinated with DT associated to the TMC formulations showed a much higher systemic immune response than the mice that were vaccinated subcutaneously with DT associated to alum, whereas the other formulations produced systemic immune responses that were comparable to that of DT associated to alum. It was also found that DT associated to the experimental formulations produced a local immune response, however only DT associated to TMC microparticles produced a consistent local immune response. It can be concluded from the in vivo experiments that the TMC formulations, moreover, the TMC microparticles is the most effective and promising formulation for the nasal delivery of vaccines. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Previous studies have demonstrated that chitosan and its derivative, N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC) are effective and safe absorption enhancers to improve mucosal delivery of macromolecular drugs including vaccines. Furthermore, chitosan and TMC can easily form microparticles and nanoparticles, which have the ability to encapsulate large amounts of antigens. Emzaloid™ technology has proven in the past to be an effective delivery system for numerous drugs. Emzaloids can entrap, transport and deliver large amounts of drugs including vaccines. In this study, the ability of chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles, TMC microparticles as well as micrometer and nanometer range Emzaloids to enhance both the systemic and mucosal (local) immune response against diphtheria toxoid (DT) after nasal administration in mice was investigated. The above mentioned formulations were prepared and characterised according to size and morphology. DT was then associated to the chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles as well as TMC microparticles to determine the antigen loading and release. It was found that the loading efficacy of the formulations was 88.9 %, 27.74 % and 63.1 % respectively, and the loading capacity of the formulations was 25.7 %, 8.03 % and 18.3 %. DT loaded and unloaded (empty) chitosan microparticles and nanoparticles, TMC microparticles, micrometer and nanometer range Emzaloids as well as DT in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were administered nasally to mice. Mice were also vaccinated subcutaneous with DT associated to alum as a positive control. All mice were vaccinated on three consecutive days in week 1 and boosted in week 3. Sera was analysed for anti- DT IgG and nasal lavages were analysed for anti-DT IgA using an enzyme linked imrnunosorbent assay (ELISA). In the study conducted to determine the systemic (IgG) and local (IgA) immune responses it was seen that DT associated to all the experimental formulations produced a systemic immune response. The said formulations produced a significantly higher systemic immune response when compared to the formulation of DT in PBS. Furthermore, the mice vaccinated with DT associated to the TMC formulations showed a much higher systemic immune response than the mice that were vaccinated subcutaneously with DT associated to alum, whereas the other formulations produced systemic immune responses that were comparable to that of DT associated to alum. It was also found that DT associated to the experimental formulations produced a local immune response, however only DT associated to TMC microparticles produced a consistent local immune response. It can be concluded from the in vivo experiments that the TMC formulations, moreover, the TMC microparticles is the most effective and promising formulation for the nasal delivery of vaccines. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Pharmaceutics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Cette thèse porte sur l’élaboration d’un outil de capture d’ADN permettant d’identifier une mutation génétique (SNP) grâce à la formation de sandwichs avec des particules de carboxylatex biofonctionnalisées avec des oligonucléotides couplée à une détection de la fluorescence. Le modèle biologique choisi pour ce projet est le génotypage plaquettaire et plus particulièrement la recherche du gène biallélique HPA-1. Le principal objectif de ce travail a été d’optimiser un outil de capture préalablement développé dans l’équipe (Trévisan, 2011) afin de réduire le nombre d’étapes et de simplifier la mise en oeuvre globale du test en modifiant les interactions moléculaires utilisée pour capturer l’ADN cible et en utilisant des particules fluorescentes comme élément de détection. En présence d’ADN cible, des sandwichs sont formés entre les particules fluorescentes et les particules magnétiques biofonctionnalisées. Ces sandwichs sont purifiés par séparation magnétique et la fluorescence est détectée par trois méthodes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (détection par ondes évanescentes). Dans un premier temps, les paramètres de fonctionnalisation chimique et biologique des différentes particules (magnétiques et fluorescentes) ont été déterminés et optimisés ainsi que les conditions d’hybridation pour la capture de l’ADN cible. Ensuite, la formation des sandwichs et leur détection ont été suivies par des mesures de fluorescence en utilisant trois méthodes différentes : la cytométrie en flux, l’imagerie de fluorescence et l’Evareader (capteur à ondes évanescentes). Les résultats obtenus avec les différentes méthodes de détection sont concordants et montrent que l’outil de capture d’ADN développé permet de capturer la cible synthétique (oligonucléotide) HPA-1 en réduisant le temps d’analyse de 45 min. Dans nos conditions, le test permet de discriminer l’allèle a de l’allèle b du gène HPA-1 qui ne diffère que d’un nucléotide. Le rapport des signaux de fluorescence issus du sandwich spécifique et du sandwich non spécifique est d’environ 2,5 à 3. Ce rapport devra être amélioré par la suite, en optimisant les conditions de formation des sandwichs. La prochaine étape consistera à optimiser le système de capture d’ADN développé pour gagner en spécificité et déterminer la limite de détection du test. Ce test devra également être validé avec des échantillons biologiques. A plus long terme, la fluorescence pourra être détectée par un photodétecteur miniaturisé actuellement développé à l’Université de Sherbrooke. Des études préliminaires présentées dans ce manuscrit montrent les potentialités de ce nouveau transducteur. / This thesis is about the development of a new assay to capture DNA. This assay is based on the formation of sandwiches between biofunctionnalized with oligonucleotides carboxylatex microparticles combined with fluorescence detection. It should be able to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). This assay is designed to be applied to platelet genotyping for the research of the gene HPA-1. The main goal of this work was to improve an assay previously developed (Trévisan, 2011) by INL and EFS Rhône-Alpes. The objectives are to reduce the number of steps and to simplify the test. To do so, the molecular interactions used in order to capture target DNA are modified and fluorescent microparticles are used for the detection. In the presence of target DNA, sandwiches are formed between both biofunctionnalized fluorescent and magnetic particles. Those sandwiches are purified through magnetic separation. Then, fluorescence is detected by three methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader (detection with an evanescent wave). First, chemical and biological parameters for the functionalization of the different particles (magnetic and fluorescent) are determined. The conditions for the capture of target DNA were optimized. Then, the formation and the detection of the sandwiches were estimated by measuring the fluorescence using three different methods: flow cytometry, fluorescence imaging and Evareader. The results obtained with the three methods are consistent. They show that the new system enables to capture synthetic target (oligonucleotide) HPA-1 with a reduction of total time analysis of 45 min. In our conditions, SNP can be discriminated for HPA-1 gene. For this discrimination, the fluorescence signal ratio about 2.5 to 3. This ratio should be improved by optimizing the conditions of sandwiches formation. Next step will consist in the optimization of the system developed to capture DNA in order to gain specificity and to determine the limit of detection. This test should also be validated with biological samples. In the long term, fluorescence could be detected by a miniaturized photodetector developed in the University of Sherbrook. Preliminary studies presented in this manuscript show the potentialities of this new transducer.

No description available.

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by various forms of the Plasmodium parasite. It is responsible for thousands of deaths yearly with 90 % of those deaths being in sub-Saharan Africa, thus making it a disease of global importance. The global burden of malaria is worsened by resistance to current treatment, a lack in funding and limited research outputs. More alternative ways of treatment must be explored and may include the co-formulation of antimalarial drug substances as well as alternative ways of drug delivery. Antifolates are drugs which interfere with an organism’s folate metabolism by inhibiting dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) or dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Dapsone is a synthetic sulfone which has a mechanism of action that is very similar to that of sulphonamides. The mechanism of action is characterised by the inhibition of folic acid synthesis through the inhibition of dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS). Another antifolate drug, proguanil, is the prodrug of cycloguanil. Its mechanism involves the inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), thus inhibiting the malaria parasite to metabolise folates and therefore stunting its growth. Unfortunately, dapsone has a serious side-effect in people with a deficiency of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) causing oxidative stress on the red blood cells leading to the rupturing of these cells. The main objective of this study was to formulate and characterise TMC-TPP microparticles loaded with the effective but toxic drug combination of dapsone and proguanil and to determine if these drug-containing microparticles had in vivo efficacy against malaria. N-trimethyl chitosan chloride (TMC), a partially quaternised chitosan derivative, shows good water solubility across a wide pH range thus having mucoadhesive properties and excellent absorption enhancing effects even at neutral pH. A faster, more efficient microwave irradiation method was developed as an alternative to the conventional synthesising method of TMC. TMC with the same degree of quaternisation (DQ), ± 60 %, was obtained in a quarter of the reaction time (30 min) by using the newly developed method. The TMC synthesised with the microwave irradiation method also exhibited less degradation of the polymer structure, thus limiting the chance for the formation of any unwanted by-products (Omethylation, N,N-dimethylation and N-monomethylation). The formation of complexes by ionotropic gelation between TMC and oppositely charged macromolecules, such as tripolyphosphate (TPP), has been utilised to prepare microparticles which are a suitable drug delivery system for the dapsone-proguanil combination. Both these drugs were successfully entrapped. These particles were characterised and the in vivo efficacy against the malaria parasites was determined. The microparticles with both the drugs, separately and in combination, displayed similar or better in vivo efficacy when compared to the drugs without the TMC microparticles. An in vitro dissolution study was also performed by subjecting the dapsone and proguanil TMC formulations to 0.1N HCl dissolution medium. Samples were withdrawn after predetermined time points and the drug concentration was determined with HPLC. It was found that the TMC microparticles resulted in a sustained release profile since only 73.00 ± 1.70 % (dapsone) and 55.00 ± 1.90 % (proguanil) was released after 150 minutes. The in vivo bioavailability of the dapsone and proguanil TMC formulations was evaluated in mice by collecting blood samples at predetermined time points and analysing the samples with a sensitive and accurate LC-MS/MS method. The in vivo bioavailability of the dapsone TMC formulation relative to the normal dapsone formulation was found to be 244 % and 123 % for the proguanil TMC formulation relative to the normal proguanil formulation. These TMC-TPP microparticles formulations showed better in vivo efficacy and bioavailability when compared to the normal formulation. Together with the sustained release, these formulations may be a promising cheaper and more effective treatment against malaria. / PhD (Pharmaceutics), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015