published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Botany / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Chemistry / Master / Master of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Biological Sciences / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

A series of studies on monomer to polymer conversion in adhesive systems was undertaken using micro-Raman spectroscopy. A database of micro-Raman spectra was compiled for identification of tooth tissues and materials. The degree of conversion was assessed as a function of time and light source. Linear and two-dimensional micro- Raman characterisations of the adhesive-dentine and resin-based composite-adhesivedentine interfaces were performed. The degree of monomer to polymer conversion of adhesive systems was correlated with the amount of eluted monomers obtained by highperformance liquid chromatography. The degree of conversion varied significantly depending on adhesive chemical composition, curing time and light source. It was impossible to specify one curing time applicable to all adhesive systems, due to differences in conversion kinetics. In general, conventional halogen light-curing units at twenty seconds curing time produced similar or higher degree of conversion in adhesive systems compared to high-power LED units at ten seconds. Significantly higher monomer conversion was found in the adhesive layer compared to the hybrid layer in both etch-and-rinse and self-etch systems. Etch-and-rinse adhesive systems formed thicker hybrid layers compared to self-etch systems. Micro-Raman spectroscopy gave a more precise indication of dentine demineralisation and adhesive penetration than scanning electron microscopy and indicated that the hybrid layer is a gradual transitional zone between the adhesive layer and un-affected dentine. The absolute amount and weight percent of eluted monomers varied in all tested adhesive systems. In most adhesive systems, more than 90% of eluted monomers were detected within the first one hour of immersion. Overall, no correlation was found between the degree of conversion and the amount of eluted monomers.

La polymérisation du chlorure de vinyle est une réaction très fréquente dans l’industrie des polymères, conduisant à l’obtention d’un matériau plastique très commun, connu sous le nom de PVC (polychlorure de vinyle). Ses applications concernent principalement l’industrie des constructions néanmoins d’autres domaines sont également touchés. La complexité de ce procédé de polymérisation est due à la nature toxique du monomère, à la maitrise du transfert de chaleur ou au maintien de l’agitation. Le control de ces variables de procédé influence de manière directe les caractéristiques finales du produit. Même si la polymérisation en suspension du chlorure de vinyle a été largement étudiée dans des réacteurs de type batch, il y a un manque de données au niveau de la cinétique et de la physicochimie d’une goutte de monomère pendant la réaction. L’objectif de ces travaux est de proposer un dispositif microstructuré permettant d’obtenir des gouttes monodisperses ayant un diamètre de 200 µm environ, chacune étant considérée comme un réacteur de polymérisation. Une fois identifiés les verrous liés au système eau/chlorure de vinyle en microréacteur, la réaction de polymérisation a été décrite de manière qualitative par visualisation des gouttes/grains de polymère. Des mesures Raman non-invasives en temps réel ont été réalisées sur une goutte immobile de chlorure de vinyle, cela permettant d’accéder aux valeurs des constantes cinétiques. Un modèle théorique en bon accord avec les résultats expérimentaux a été proposé afin de simuler le degré de conversion de la réaction. Les caractéristiques morphologiques des grains de PVC obtenus en microréacteur présentent des particularités intéressantes en termes d’agglomération des particules primaires ou porosité. / Vinyl chloride suspension polymerization is a common reaction in polymer industry allowing to obtain one of the world wide most used plastics, known as PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Its applications involve mostly the construction industry but other domains are also concerned. This polymerization process is highly complex due to the toxic nature of the monomer, the good manage of heat transfer and agitation. The control of these process variables directly impacts the characteristics of the final product. Even though the suspension polymerization of vinyl chloride has been extensively studied in batch reactors, there is a lack of data regarding the kinetics or the physicochemistry of a single monomer droplet during the reactions. The aim of this present work is to propose a microstructured device which enables obtaining monodisperse droplets within 200 µm in diameter, each one being considered as a polymerization reactor. After a good acknowledgement of the vinyl chloride/water system in microchannel the polymerization reaction was qualitatively described by means of droplet/polymer grain visualization. Real-time non-invasive Raman measurement has been performed on stationary vinyl chloride monomer droplets and has provided values of kinetic constants. A theoretical model was proposed, simulating the reaction conversion in good agreement with the experimental values. The morphologic characteristics of the PVC grains obtained in microreactor presented interesting features in terms of primary particle agglomeration or porosity.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have drawn the attention of researchers due to their ability to internalize large cargos into cells including cancer cells. The mechanism(s) with which the peptides enter the cell, however, is/are not clear and full of controversy. The peptide conformations and their microenvironment in live cells had been unknown until the development of a technique developed in our lab. As a first demonstration of principle, penetratin, a 16-residue CPP derived from the Antennapedia homeodomain protein of Drosophila, was measured in single, living melanoma cells. Carbon-13 labeling of the Phe residue of penetratin was used to shift the intense aromatic ring-breathing vibrational mode from 1003 to 967 cm-1, thereby enabling the peptide to be traced in cells. Difference spectroscopy and principal components analysis (PCA) were used independently to resolve the Raman spectrum of the peptide from the background cellular Raman signals. / On the basis of the position of the amide I vibrational band in the Raman spectra, the secondary structure of the peptide was found to be mainly random coil and b-strand in the cytoplasm, and possibly assembling as b-sheets in the nucleus. Next, label-free transportan was studied with the same methodology. The peptide, besides predominantly a-helix, adopted a significant portion of b-sheet conformation in the cytoplasm and nucleolus, which is different from the peptide in aqueous solution. The peptide microenvironment was also probed through H-bonding reported by the tyrosine Fermi doublet. Transportan displayed a tendency to accumulate in the cytoplasm over time which was unlike penetratin, which concentrated in the nucleus. The relative concentration of CPPs in various locations of live melanoma cells was directly estimated from the Raman spectra using average Phe concentration in the cell as an internal standard. / The rapid entry and almost uniform cellular distribution of both peptides, as well as the lack of correlation between peptide and lipid Raman signatures, indicated that the mechanism of CPP internalization under the conditions of study was probably non-endocytotic. Last, transportan and penetratin were studied using polarized Raman spectroscopy for more detailed vibrational spectroscopic information of the two peptides in water and TFE solutions. The majority of the bands in the Raman spectra of the peptides were highly polarized, consistent with the high symmetry of aromatic ring side chain vibrational bands dispersed throughout the spectra. This work has provided new insights into the structure of CPPs in live cells and in solutions. / by Jing Ye. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Foram estudados através de espectroscopia vibracional, Raman e infravermelho, uma série de derivados do íon pentacianocobaltato(II), de fórmula geral [Co(CN)5-L-Co(CN)5]n-, onde L é H2C=CH2, H3COOC-C=C-COOCH3, C2H5COO-C=C-COOC2H5, SO2, O--2, O-2 ou NO2. Além desses Complexos, o íon dímero [Co2(CN)10]6- também foi objeto de estudo. No caso dos íons [Co(CN)5-L-Co(CN)5]n- os espectros vibracionais na região de estiramento CN são interpretados com base numa simetria C4v dos grupos Co(CN)5 isolados. A natureza das ligações C=N e das, ligações do ligante L para esses compostos é discutida com base nos resultados obtidos. / The vibrational spectra (Raman and infrared) of a series of compounds of general formula [Co(CN)5-L-Co(CN)5]n-, derived from the pentacianocobaltate(II) ion, where L is H2C=CH2, H3CCOO-C=C-COOCH3, C2H5COO-C=C-COOC2H5, NO2, SO2, O--2 or O-2, were studied. The dimer ion [Co2(CN)10]6- has also been subject of study. In the case of the [Co(CN)5-L-Co(CN)5]n- ions the vibrational spectra in the region of CN stretching vibrations were interpreted based on the C4v symmetry of the isolated Co(CN)5 groups. Characteristic frequencies of the ligand L and skeletal vibrations of Co(CN)5 group are tentatively assigned. The nature of C=N bonding and the structure of ligand L for these compounds are discussed on the basis of the obtained spectral results.