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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Texas at Dallas, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Orientador: Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião / Banca: Pedro Canísio Binsfeld / Banca: Marco Vinícius Chaud / Banca: Marlus Chorilli / Banca: Beatriz Stringhetti Ferreira Cury / Resumo: A nanotecnologia tem evoluído rapidamente em diversas áreas, incluindo na área farmacêutica. Para produtos sujeitos à regulação sanitária, em especial medicamentos, esta evolução é um desafio regulatório. Embora já existam medicamentos base nanotecnológica disponíveis no mercado, existem importantes lacunas regulatórias que precisam ser preenchidas. Assim, frente à importância e ao impacto deste tema, foi realizada uma pesquisa científica-regulatória de modo a propor bases para a construção de um arcabouço regulatório, em especial para a regulação de medicamentos de base nanotecnológica. Ficou evidente que não existe, a nível mundial, diretrizes únicas para este tipo de regulação, iniciando pela ausência de consenso no conceito de "nanomaterial". Percebe-se como consenso internacional que a complexidade e diversidade que cerca os nanomateriais exigem abordagens diferenciadas daquelas empregadas em produtos tradicionais, requerendo avaliações caso a caso e abordagens para avaliar os novos riscos introduzidos. Dessa forma, este trabalho avaliou as metodologias Quality by Design (QbD) e Gerenciamento de Riscos como alternativas para a construção do modelo regulatório. QbD e Gerenciamento de Riscos facilitam, compilam, direcionam e sistematizam o conhecimento e assim, por meio do desenvolvimento de produtos robustos, seguindo as etapas previstas no QbD, inclusive com a construção e sedimentação do Perfil de Qualidade Alvo do Produto e de Atributos Críticos a Qualidade, constituem... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Nanotechnology has evolved rapidly in diverse areas, which include the pharmaceutical field. For products subject to sanitary regulation, especially drugs, this evolution is a regulatory challenge. Although there are nanotechnological drugs available in the market, there are important regulatory gaps that must be completed. Thus, in view of the importance and impact of the object, a scientific-regulatory research was carried out in order to propose bases for a regulatory framework, particularly for a regulation of nanotechnological drugs. It became clear that there is no a worldwide guidance for this type of regulation, starting with the lack of consensus for the concept of "nanomaterial". It has been noticed as an international consensus that the complexity and diversity surrounding nanomaterials require different approaches from those used in traditional products, demanding case-by-case evaluation and approaches to assess new introduced risks. Thus, this work evaluated Quality by Design (QbD) and Risk Management methodologies as alternatives for the construction of the regulatory model. QbD and Risk Management facilitate, compile, direct and systematize knowledge and thus, through a robust product development, following as expected by QbD steps - including a construction and sedimentation of the Product Target Quality Profile and Critical Quality Attributes - become important tools for building quality in nanotechnology-based drugs. Risk Management, especially the risk anal... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Defective structures in two-dimensional (2D) materials have been proved to have significant influences on the materials' properties. Understanding structural defects in 2D materials at atomic scale is therefore required. With the use of advanced imaging techniques, one of the main approaches applied in this project was aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopy (AC-TEM), the structures are able to be resolved with single-atom sensitivity with the reduction of both spherical aberration and the influence of chromatic aberration. This laid the foundation for the first two experiments, which involve the bond length measurement of each C-C bond within three types of divacancies and Si-C bonds at graphene edges. The former explains the tendency of bond rotations within the divacancies from the perspective of strain inside the defective areas and surrounding lattice; the latter revels the interactions between isolated Si atoms and zigzag/armchair graphene edges. The use of in-situ heating holder in the AC-TEM makes the direct visualization of structures and their dynamics at elevated temperatures possible. The Si-graphene edge interactions, as well as the following two experiments are all designed to study the high-temperature performances for different systems. Gold nanoclusters are introduced to monolayer graphene by thermal evaporation to study the interaction between gold and graphene at elevated temperature. Due to the strong interaction between gold and graphene, gold crystals are able to adapt to planar configurations with two different crystalline forms, and an epitaxial relationship was found for planar gold crystals and graphene. Atomically flat and long line defects and zigzag edges in monolayer molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) are successfully created by in-situ thermal annealing. The relationship between S vacancy mobility and defect forms are revealed based on the experiment. High-temperature atomic configurations of line defects and edge terminations are resolved in the first time. Their electronic properties are also explored with the support of density functional theory calculations.

Nanostructured materials with high specific surface areas and high pore volumes are of interest for applications in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). This study describes the use of novel preparative methods for obtaining nanostructured samarium-doped ceria (SDC) with a view to its application as an anode material in SOFCs. The strategy employed in this work was based on the nanocasting concept. Template materials with a polymer, carbon or silica framework are first obtained using a self-assembly process. These materials have long range networks of ordered mesopore channels and so act as templating moulds. From a three step procedure of precursor impregnation, in-situ formation of SDC by calcination and template removal, SDC with the inverse pore structure of the template is created. Novel methods for producing such SDC materials were applied and the products evaluated. As silica templates have wide ranging applications involving exposure to high temperatures -not least in nanocasting- it was desirable to understand the thermal stability of these materials over a range of temperatures. A systematic study was conducted on three representative silica templates. An inherent problem in nanocasting from silica templates is retention of residual silica after the template removal step. A detailed investigation into these alternative wet chemistry procedures was undertaken. To circumvent the silica problem completely, a number of alternative templates made of mesoporous carbon were considered. A range of ordered mesoporous carbons were prepared and evaluated as templates. To provide a comparator for the ordered SDC materials, a simple combustion method was used to prepare an SDC product without the influence of a structure directing template. The techniques of TEM, SEM-EDX, UV–Vis spectroscopy, MAS-NMR, PXRD and gas physisorption were used to characterise the physical and chemical properties of the products in the bulk and at the nanoscale.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T16:53:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-01-30Bitstream added on 2015-05-14T16:59:05Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000825248.pdf: 2617755 bytes, checksum: d33b1e0e24ef50f07023fc78c225d13e (MD5) / Neste trabalho, compósitos de poli(sulfeto de fenileno) reforçados com nanotubos de carbono (MWCNT) puros e funcionalizados foram obtidos a partir da técnica de mistura em fusão. Os compósitos nanoestruturados foram caracterizados através de ensaios elétricos, térmicos, mecânicos reológicos e morfológicos. A condutividade elétrica do PPS apresentou um aumento de 11 e 9 ordens de magnitude quando 3,0 e 4,0% em massa de MWCNT puros e funcionalizados foram incorporados na matriz polimérica, respectivamente. Além disso, os limites de percolação elétrica encontrado para esses sistemas foram de 2,1 e 3,6 m/m%, o que sugere a formação de uma rede tridimensional condutora no interior da matriz polimérica. A temperatura máxima de cristalização do PPS apresentou aumentos de 19°C e 13°C devido a incorporação dos reforços puros (p-MWCNT) e funcionalizados (f-MWCNT), respectivamente, evidenciando o efeito nucleante das nanopartículas. A análise dinâmico mecânica mostrou um aumento no módulo de armazenamento e na temperatura de transição vítrea a partir do aumento da concentração de MWCNT, com um incremento maior para o sistema p-MWCNT/PPS. A temperatura máxima de degradação do PPS aumentou 14°C e 6°C devido a incorporação de 4,0 e 2,0% em massa de p-MWCNT e f-MWCNT, respectivamente, sugerindo a formação de sistemas termicamente mais estáveis. O módulo de armazenamento (G’) do PPS apresentou um aumento de 2 ordens de magnitude quando 2,0 e 3,0% em massa de MWCNT puros e funcionalizados foram considerados, com a formação de uma estrutura interconectada de nanotubos, destacando o comportamento pseudoplástico das amostras. A formação de uma rede percolada de nanotubos foi atingida para concentrações de 1,5 e 2,3, m/m% em compósitos de p-MWCNT/PPS e f-MWCNT/PPS, respectivamente. As análises de microscopia ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / In this work, pristine and functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes reinforced poly (phenylene sulfide) composites were successfully obtained by melt mixing technique. The nanostructured composites were characterized by means of electrical, thermal, mechanical, rheological, and morphological methods. The electrical conductivity of neat PPS showed an increase by 11 and 9 orders of magnitude when 3.0 and 4.0 wt% of pristine MWCNT and functionalized MWCNT were incorporated in polymeric matrix, respectively. Moreover, the electrical percolation thresholds found on these systems were 2.1 and 3.6 wt%, suggesting the formation of three-dimensional conductive network within the polymeric matrix. The maximum crystallization temperature of PPS increased by about 19°C and 13°C due the incorporation of pristine (p-MWCNT) and functionalized filler (f- MWCNT), demonstrating the nucleating effect of the nanoparticles. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed an increase in storage modulus and glass transition temperature, due the incorporation of p-MWCNT and f-MWCNT in PPS matrix. However, it is worth to mention that the increment was bigger in p-MWCNT/PPS system. The maximum degradation temperature of PPS increased by about 14°C and 6°C due to the incorporation of 4,0 and 2,0 wt% of p-MWCNT and f-MWCNT, respectively, suggesting the formation of more thermally stable systems. The storage modulus (G’) of neat PPS presented an increase by 2 orders of magnitude when 2.0 and 3.0 wt% of pristine MWCNT and functionalized MWCNT were considered, with the formation of an interconnected nanotube structure, indicative of ‘pseudo-solid-like’ behavior. Percolation networks formed when the loading levels achieve up to 1.5 and 2.3 wt% for the composites with pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT/PPS) and functionalized MWCNT (f-MWCNT/PPS), respectively. In addition, for ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

This thesis presents the study of the effects of CdTe-TGA quantum dots (QDs) on optical limiting ability of different phthalocyanine (Pc) complexes (5-12) containing Zn, Ga, In central metals and substituted with benzyloxyphenoxy, phenoxy, tertbutylphenoxy and amino groups in solution and in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) films. The optical limiting parameters of Pcs were higher for tertbutylphenoxy when compared to benzyloxyphenoxy and phenoxy substituents, in DMSO. Non-peripheral substitution decreased the optical limiting parameters. Third-order susceptibility (Im[χ⁽³⁾]/α) values of Pcs in the absence and presence of CdTe QDs were in the 10⁻¹² to 10⁻¹° esu cm range. Hyperpolarizabilities (γ) ranged from 10⁻³¹ to 10⁻²⁹ esu L for Pc alone or in mixture with QDs. The effect on the optical limiting abilities of twelve embedded phthalocyanines containing In, Ga, Zn and Al as central metals in polymer thin films was also examined. The effect of forming a covalent link zinc tetraamino phthalocyanine (12) with poly (methyl acrylic acid) (PMAA) and Zn (13) and OHAl (14) octacarboxy phthalocyanines to polyethylenimine (PEI) was also studied. The hyperpolarizability of the twelve phthalocyanines in polymer was found to be in the range of 10⁻²⁶ to 10⁻²⁴ esu.L. This is significantly higher than the hyperpolarizabilities of these phthalocyanines in solution. Non-linear optical (NLO) parameters were determined for phthalocyanine complexes containing In, Ga and Zn as central metals when embedded in PMMA polymer in the presence of quantum dots (QDs). The QDs mainly employed were CdTe-TGA (TGA = thioglylcolic acid). Triplet lifetimes increased as k (excited state (σex) to ground state (σg) absorption cross section ratio) values decreased with the addition of the CdTe-TGA to the phthalocyanines. The saturation energy density (Fsat) values were smaller in the films when compared to the solutions. Complex 7 tetrasubstituted with tert-butylphenoxy groups at non-peripheral positions was also studied in the presence of CdS-TGA, CdSe-TGA, fullerenes and single walled carbon nanotubes. There is a general improvement in optical limiting ability of Pc complexes in the presence of nanomaterials (NMs). Degradation studies seem to indicate that placing a phthalocyanine within a polymer thin film may protect it slightly from photo- and thermal degradation. 3(4), 15(16)-Bis-(4 -tert-butyl-phenoxy)-10, 22-diaminohemiporphyrazinato chloroindium hemiporphyrazine was synthesized from 1, 3, 5-triaminobenzene and 4-tert-butyl-phenoxyisoindoline. The structure of the complex was confirmed using mass, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopies. The nonlinear parameters of the compound was also analyzed in dimethylformamide and found to be significantly greater than previously analyzed phthalocyanines.

With ever increasing regulation of the quality of drinking water and wastewater treatment, there is a need to develop methods to remove nitrogenous compounds from water. These processes are mediated by a variety of micro-organisms that can oxidise ammonia to nitrate, and then reduced to gaseous nitrogen by another set of organisms. This two stage process involves the relatively slow oxidation of ammonia to nitrate followed a relatively fast reduction of nitrate to nitrogen. Nitrate reduction normally requires anaerobic environments and the addition of organic matter to provide reducing power (electrons) for nitrate reduction. In practical situations the nitrate reduction can be problematic in those precise quantities of organic matter to ensure that the process occurs while not leaving residual organic matter. The aim of this study was to investigate microbial denitrification using electrochemical sources to replace organic matter as a redactant. The work also involved developing a system that could be optimised for nitrate removal in applied situations such as water processing in fish farming or drinking water, where high nitrate levels represent a potential health problem. Consequently, the study examined a range of developments for the removal of nitrate from water based on the development of electrochemical biotransformation systems for nitrate removal. This also offers considerable scope for the potential application of these systems in broader bio-nanotechnology based processes (particularly in bioremediation). The first stage of the study was to investigate the complex interactions between medium parameters and their effects on the bacterial growth rates. The results proved that acetate is a good carbon source for bacterial growth, and therefore it was used as an organic substrate for the biological process. High nitrate removal rate of almost 87% was successfully achieved by using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) enriched with soil inocula with the cathodes cells fed with nitrate and the anode fed with acetate. The maximum power density obtained was 1.26 mW/m2 at a current density of 10.23 mA/m2. The effects of acetate, nitrate and external resistance on current generation and denitrification activity were investigated, and the results demonstrated that nitrate removal was greatly dependent on the magnitude of current production within the MFC. Increase of acetate (anode) and nitrate (cathode) concentrations improved the process, while increasing external resistance reduced the activity. Furthermore, for a clear understanding of the nitrate reduction process, the analysis of the associated bacteria was performed through biochemical tests and examination of morphological characteristics. A diversity of nitrate reducing bacteria was observed; however a few were able to deliver complete denitrification. Pure cultures in MFC were examined and the voltage output achieved was about 36% of that obtained by mixed cultures. The nitrate removal gained was 56.2%, and this is almost 31% lower than that obtained by the mixed bacterial experiment. In an attempt to improve the MFC, modifications to the electrochemical properties of the electrode were investigated through the use of a cyclic voltammetry using carbon nanomaterials to coat the graphite felts electrodes. Among all the nanomaterials used in this study, graphitised carbon nanofibres (GCNFs) was selected for further investigation as it offered the best electrochemical performance and was thought to provide the largest active surface area. The performance of the MFC system coupled with the GCNFs modified electrodes was evaluated and significant improvements were observed. The highest voltage output achieved was about 41 mV with over 95% nitrate removal. The work is discussed in the context of improved MFC performance, potential analytic applications and further innovations using a bio-nanotechnology approach to analyse cell-electrode interactions.

Submitted by MICHELLE AYRES DE CAMPOS PINTO null (xelle_ayres@hotmail.com) on 2016-08-05T03:48:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação.pdf: 5119468 bytes, checksum: e45252647622db705d58e5563576139d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-08-10T13:39:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 pinto_mac_me_bauru.pdf: 5119468 bytes, checksum: e45252647622db705d58e5563576139d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T13:39:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pinto_mac_me_bauru.pdf: 5119468 bytes, checksum: e45252647622db705d58e5563576139d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-07 / O presente trabalho visa propor o uso de filmes nanoestruturados de PAni/MWCNT-COOH em sensores eletroquímicos aplicados à detecção de compostos fenólicos. A sinergia das propriedades condutoras dos nanotubos de carbono, CNT, com as propriedades mecânicas, como a moldabilidade, e comportamento eletroquímico bem conhecido do polímero condutor polianilina, PAni, foram os fatores determinantes para a proposta. Os filmes nanoestruturados foram construídos através da técnica Layer by Layer (LbL) variando-se o número de bicamadas do filme (1, 3, 5, 7 e 10 bicamadas) para avaliar a influência de sua arquitetura no funcionamento do sensor. Para avaliar as propriedades do compósito foram utilizados dois filmes, PAni/PVS (polivinilsulfato de sódio) e PEI/MWCNT-COOH (polietilenoimina / nanotubos de parede múltipla funcionalizados), com ambos os materiais isolados para comparação dos resultados obtidos. A análise por Voltametria Anódica de Redissolução por Onda Quadrada (SWASV) demonstrou que os filmes de PAni/MWCNT-COOH com 1, 3 e 5 bicamadas, assim como o filme de PAni/PVS não detectaram o analito 2-clorofenol. Por outro lado, o filme de PAni/MWCNT-COOH com 7 e 10 bicamadas e o filme de PEI/MWCNT-COOH detectaram a presença do analito, porém o limite de quantificação inferior do filme de 7 bicamadas foi superior a 1 ppm (7,78 μmol L-1) sendo ineficaz para aplicação ambiental. O filme que apresentou os melhores resultados para detecção dos analitos foi o filme PAni/MWCNT-COOH com 10 bicamadas. Os valores obtidos para o analito 2-clorofenol foram limites de quantificação de 4,7 – 15,9 μmol L-1, limite de detecção de 1,35 μmol L-1 e sensibilidade de 3,35 x 10-7 A . mol cm-² L-1. Para o analito 3-clorofenol foram obtidos limites de quantificação de 2,8 – 9,3 μmol L-1, limite de detecção de 1,1 μmol L-1 e sensibilidade de 2,3 x 10-7 A. mol cm-² L-1. Para o fenol, os seguintes valores foram obtidos: limites de quantificação de 3,7 – 11,2 μmol L-1, limite de detecção de 2,3 μmol L-1 e sensibilidade de 1,4 x 10-7 A. mol cm-² L-1. / This work proposes the use of PAni/MWCNT-COOH nanostructured films as electrochemical sensors applied to the detection of phenolic compounds. The synergy of carbon nanotubes, CNT, conductive properties with the mechanical properties, such as moldability, and well known electrochemical behavior of conducting polymer polyaniline, Pani, were the determining factors for this proposal. The nanostructured films were built using layer by layer (LbL) technique, changing the number of film bilayers (1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 bilayers) to evaluate the architectures influence on sensor performance. To compare the properties of the composite, two films were used, PAni/PVS (sodium poly(vinyl) sulfate) and PEI/MWCNT-COOH (polyethyleneimine / multi wall carbon nanotubes functionalized), with each isolated material for comparing the obtained results. Square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) analysis showed that the PAni/MWCNT-COOH films with 1, 3 and 5 bilayers, as well as the PAni/PVS film, did not detect the analyte 2-chlorophenol. On the other hand, the PAni/MWCNT-COOH film with 7 and 10 bilayers, and the PEI / MWCNT-COOH film detected the analyte, but the 7 bilayer film quantification limit was higher than 1 ppm (7.78 μmol L-1) being ineffective for environmental applications. The best results for analyte detection were presented by the PAni/MWCNT-COOH film. The values obtained for the 2-chlorophenol analyte were in the range from 4.7 to 15.9 μmol L-1, the detection limit was 1.35 μmol L-1 and the sensibility was 3.35 x 10-7 A . mol cm-² L-1. For the 3-chlorophenol analyte the range was 2.8 to 9.3 μmol L-1, the detection limit was 1.1 μmol L-1 and the sensibility was 2.3 x 10-7 A . mol cm-² L-1. For phenol, the following values were obtained: range of 3.7 – 11.2 μmol L-1, detection limit of 2.3 μmol L-1 and sensibility of 1.4 x 10-7 A mol cm-² L-1.