Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre d’une collaboration entre Sanofi à Vitry-sur-Seine et le Laboratoire Hétérochimie Fondamentale et Appliquée (LHFA) à Toulouse, et a pour but de développer de nouveaux nanovecteurs à base de conjugués polymériques biodégradables et biocompatibles capables d’encapsuler, de transporter et de libérer des agents thérapeutiques. Les travaux précédemment réalisés au laboratoire, ont montré que la libération de principes actifs hydrophobes, tels que le Cabazitaxel de la famille des taxanes, pouvait être contrôlée grâce à l’architecture de conjugués de nature PEG-PLA. Dans le premier chapitre, une étude a été menée afin d’améliorer la cinétique de libération du principe actif, en tirant profit de la différence de pH qui réside entre les tissus sains et les tissus cancéreux. Différents liens (reliant le principe actif au copolymère) ayant un comportement pH dépendant ont été étudiés, comme l’hydrazone, l’acétal et le β-thiopropionate. La liaison ester boronique, dynamique en fonction du pH, a aussi été étudiée dans le but de déstructurer la NP et permettre indirectement d’améliorer la libération du principe actif. La synthèse et l’évaluation des divers conjugués ont montré que la structure polymérique amphiphile des conjugués inhibait considérablement le comportement pH dépendant attendu. Dans le second chapitre, plusieurs technologies comme le ciblage, permettant de diriger la NP dans l’organisme, ou l’imagerie permettant de les visualiser, ont été étudiées. L’influence de la structure des conjugués de forme Y et L sur les propriétés de reconnaissance et d’imagerie a été analysée. La structure Y offre quelques avantages quant à la quantité de ligand requise pour obtenir un ciblage actif optimal ainsi qu’une meilleure visualisation, en comparaison des résultats obtenus avec les conjugués L. La méthode de co-nanoformulation a permis de faire varier la quantité de ligand ou de sonde d’imagerie au sein des NPs. Dans le troisième chapitre, la synthèse et l’efficacité de sels de (bi)pyridinium comme catalyseurs pour la ROP de l’ε-caprolactone sont présentées. Un phénomène de coopérativité avec des bipyridiniums, dications donneurs de deux liaisons hydrogènes (IHBD) a été mis en évidence pour l’activation de l’ε-caprolactone, avec des activités en ROP plus importante en comparaison des systèmes impliquant la participation d’une seule liaison H. Les meilleurs systèmes ont pu être évalués plus en détail et ont permis d’accéder à des polymères de masses définies allant jusqu’à 13 000 g/mol. / This PhD thesis is based on a joint between Sanofi in Vitry-sur-Seine and LHFA. This work consists in the development of new nanovectors based on biodegradable and biocompatible polymerics conjugate that enable to encapsulate, transport and deliver therapeutic agents. Previous works in the laboratory have shown that the release of hydrophobic drugs, such as Cabazitaxel, a taxane derivative, could be controlled by the architecture of the conjugated PEG-PLA. In the first chapter, a study was realized to improve the release kinetics of the drug, taking advantage of the difference of pH between healthy and cancerous tissue. Different linkers (linking the drug to the copolymer) having a pH dependent behavior have been studied, such as hydrazone, acetal and β-thiopropionate. The boronic ester bonding, dynamic function of pH, was also studied in order to destroy the NP and indirectly improve the release of drug. The synthesis and the evaluation of various conjugates have shown that the amphiphilic polymeric structure of the conjugates significantly inhibited the expected pH-dependent behavior. In the second chapter, several technologies such as targeting or imaging were studied. The influence of the Y and L-shape on the recognition and imaging properties was analyzed. The Y-shape offers advantages like the amount of ligand required for optimal active targeting and better visualization, in comparison with the results obtained with the L conjugates. The method of co-nanoformulation allowed to adjust the ligand amount or imaging probe within the NPs. In the third chapter, the synthesis and efficiency of (bi)pyridinium salts as catalysts for the ROP of ε-caprolactone are presented. A collaborative behavior with dication bipyridiniums is bearing two hydrogen bonds (IHBD) was demonstrated for the activation of the ε-caprolactone, with greater ROP activities compared to systems involving the participation of only one H bond. The best systems were evaluated in more details and allowed access to polymers with a molecular weight of up to 13 000 g / mol.

In this study, tetraphenylthiophenen (TP) with aggregation-induced emission enhancement (AIEE) property is served as terminal and central fluorophores of poly(£^-benzyl-L-glutamate) (PBLG)-based polymers of TP1PBLG and TP2PBLG, respectively, to probe for the relationship between the secondary structure (£\-helix) of polypeptides and the ALEE-operative fluorescence (FL). Intermolecular aggregation of the central TP unit in the di-substituted TP2PBLG is sterically blocked by the large £\-helical PBLG chains, which lead to the reduced AIEE-oriented FL. On the contrast, the terminal TP units in TP1PBLG can easily approach each other to form aggregates with strong FL. Factor (e.g. solvent annealing) controlling the fraction of £\-helix chain also varies the corresponding emission intensity. Conformational difference between TP1PBLG and TP2PBLG evaluated from the infrared and the X-ray (wide- and small-angle) diffraction spectra is also used to verify its influence on the AIEE-operative FL behavior.

Studies concerning the formation of industrially useful polycarbonates are the focus of this dissertation. Of particular importance is the biodegradable polymer, poly(trimethylene carbonate) which has a wide range of medical applications. The production of polycarbonates can be achieved by the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbonate, or the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and oxiranes or oxetanes. For the production of polycarbonates from these monomers, Schiff base metal complexes have been designed, synthesized, and optimized as catalysts. Detailed kinetic and mechanistic studies have been performed for the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic carbonates, as well as the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and oxiranes or oxetane. In addition, the copolymerization of cyclic carbonates and cyclic esters to modify the mechanical and biodegradable properties of materials used for medical devices has been studied using biocompatible metal complexes. In the process for ring-opening polymerizations of trimethylene carbonate or lactides, Schiff base metal complexes (metal = Ca(II), Mg(II) and Zn(II)) have been shown to be very effective catalysts to produce high molecular weight polymers with narrow polydispersities. Kinetic studies demonstrated the polymerization reactions to proceed via a mechanism first order in [monomer], [catalyst], and [cocatalyst] if an external cocatalyst is applied, and to involve ring-opening by way of acyl-oxygen bond cleavage. The activation parameters (ΔH≠, ΔS≠ and ΔG≠) were determined for ringopening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate, ring-opening polymerization of lactides, and copolymerization of trimethylene carbonate and lactide. In the process for copolymerization of carbon dioxide and oxetane, metal salen derivatives of Cr(III) and Al(III) along with cocatalyst such as n-Bu4NX or PPNX (PPN = bis(triphenylphosphine)iminium, and X = Br, Cl and N3) have been shown to be effective catalysts to provide poly(trimethylene carbonate) with only trace amount of ether linkages. The formation of copolymer is proposed not to proceed via the intermediacy of trimethylene carbonate, which was observed as a minor product of the coupling reaction. To support this conclusion, ring-opening polymerization of trimethylene carbonate has been performed and kinetic parameters have been compared with those from the copolymerization of carbon dioxide and oxetane.

This study is focused on the use of visible light in photoinitiated cationic polymerization. Photoinitiated polymerization of oxiranes, vinyl ethers, and other vinyl monomers was achieved. In doing so, (2-(2,3 dihydrobenzo [b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-3-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b]-[1,4]dioxin-7-yl)-5-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)-8-(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-7yl) quinoxaline) (DBQEd) and poly(2,3,5,8-tetra(thiophen-2-yl)quinoxaline) (TTQ), two dibenzo[a,c]phenazine derivatives / 10,13-bis(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxin-5-yl)dibenzo[a,c] phenazine (PHED) and 10,13-bis(4-hexylthiophen-2-yl)dibenzo[a,c]phenazine (PHEHT) were utilized as the photosensitizers for diaryliodonium salt photoinitiators. Novel dyes based on the dibenzo[a,c]phenazine and quinoxaline skeleton were shown to be efficient in carrying out the cationic photopolymerizations of a wide variety of epoxide, oxetane, and vinyl monomers at room temperature upon irradiation with long-wavelength UV and visible light. The polymerizations were initiated at room temperature in the presence of diphenyliodonium hexafluorophosphate (Ph2I+PF-6) and monitored by optical pyrometry (OP). The photopolymerization of an epoxide monomer via solar irradiation was also demonstrated.

This thesis describes original research aimed at the development of highly efficient polymer functionalization strategies by introducing orthogonal chemistry within polymeric systems. The primary hypothesis of this thesis is that the use of click chemistries or noncovalent interactions can provide new and easy pathways towards the synthesis of highly functionalized polymers thereby addressing the shortcomings of traditional covalent functionalization approaches. To verify the hypothesis, the work presented in the following chapters of this thesis further explores previous methods of either covalent or noncovalent polymer functionalization described in Chapter 1. Chapters 2 and 3 present advanced methods of covalent polymer functionalization based on high-yielding and orthogonal click reactions: 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, hydrazone formation, and maleimide-thiol coupling. All three click reactions employed can be orthogonal to one another and conversions can be quantitative, leading to the easy and rapid synthesis of highly functionalized polymers without interference among functional handles along the polymer backbones. The next two chapters focus on the noncovalent functionalization strategies for creating supramolecular block copolymers via the main-chain self-assembly of telechelic polymers. Novel synthetic methods to prepare telechelic polymers bearing terminal recognition motifs were developed through a combination of ROMP using functionalized ruthenium initiators and functionalized chain-terminators, and the resulting polymers were self-assembled to form supramolecular block copolymers. Chapter 4 demonstrates the formation of supramolecular multiblock copolymers via self-assembly of symmetrical telechelic polymers using metal coordination, while Chapter 5 demonstrates that supramolecular ABC triblock copolymers can be prepared by the self-assembly of a heterotelechelic polymer as the central block with two other complementary monotelechelic polymers using two orthogonal hydrogen bonding interactions. Chapter 6 presents a unique application of noncovalent functionalization approaches. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a controlled polymerization method based on noncovalent templation. The initial attempts at the metal coordination-based template polymerization are presented in this chapter. Finally, Chapter 7 summarizes the findings in each chapter and presents the potential extensions of the orthogonal functionalization strategies developed in this thesis.

Polylactic acid (PLA) is one of the most promising bio-compostable and biodegradable thermoplastic made from renewable sources. PLA, is typically obtained by polymerising lactide monomer. The technique mainly used for ring opening polymerization (ROP) of Lactide is based on metallic/bimetallic catalyst (Sn, Zn, and Al) or other organic catalysts in suitable solvent. However, the PLA synthesized using such catalysts may contain trace elements of the catalyst, which may be toxic. In this work, reactive extrusion experiments using stannous octoate Sn(Oct)2 and tri-phenyl phosphine (PPh)3 were considered to perform ROP of lactide monomer using ultrasound as an alternative energy (AE) source for activating and/or boosting the polymerization. Mathematical model of ROP of lactide, was developed to estimate the impact of reaction kinetics and AE source on the polymerization process. Ludovic® software, a commercial code was used. It was adopted for the simulation of continuous reactive extrusion of PLA. Results from experiments and simulations were compared to validate the simulation methodology. Results indicate that the application of AE source in reaction process boost the PLA formation rate. Result obtained through Ludovic simulation and experiments were validated. It was shown that there is a case for reducing the residence time distribution (RTD) in Ludovic due to the ‘liquid’ monomer flow in the extruder. This change in the parameters resulted in validation of the simulation. However, it was concluded that the assumption would have to be established by doing further validations. The simulation model includes the details of kinetics of reactions involved with in the process and helps to upscale the reaction output. This work also estimates the usefulness and drawbacks of using different catalysts as well as effect of alternative energies and future aspects for PLA production.

A review of the chemistry of poly(lactic acid) was carried out with a focus on techniques and applications of PLA polymer and copolymers with reference to some of the work that has been accomplished over the last 20 years or so. A review of the characterisation techniques used to analyse PLA polymers and copolymers was also carried out giving reference to the equipment and methods used herein. An investigation into the potential of PLA as the hydrophilic portion of a polymeric surfactant was carried out. To develop PLA based surfactants, the ring opening polymerisation of lactide was carried out in a melt in the presence of a long chain alcohol (C₇ to C₂₀) or diol (C₄ & C₆) to produce AB or ABA type polymers that follow the traditional surfactant template. Stannous octanoate and 4-dimethylaminopyridine were typically used as catalysts due to their high activity and relative cheapness. PLA only shows good hydrophilicity with up to 12 lactic acid units in the chain. Above this the electrostatic interactions between polymer chains reduced water solubility. It was also noted that D,L-lactide produced more water soluble polymers (syndiotactic) than the enantiomerically pure L-lactide (isotactic polymer chains). An investigation of the hydrophobic properties of PLA was carried out to evaluate their usefulness for other biodegradable surfactant applications. To this end an investigation of sugars as the hydrophilic portion of the molecule was carried out. Due to problems with solubilising sugars, they were deemed unsuitable for use as initiatiors within the scope of this research. Choline chloride was then investigated as a potential hydrophilic initiator and indeed has produced some of the most water soluble of PLA polymers. Choline chloride presented several challenges as an initiator, its high melting point resulted in polar solvents such as t-butanol being employed. Alternatively, more success was achieved by preparation of a choline chloride eutectic mixture prior to the polymerisation. It was discovered that a choline chloride/urea eutectic mixture was capable of self initiation, thus required no further addition of catalyst, this result shows a potential step forward in PLA green chemistry. A final investigation into producing surface-active PLA in a one-pot process that required only a hydroxycarboxylate initiator was carried out. The production of PLA sodium or potassium salts was carried out in a melt polymerisation and the results show some promise. Initiators that have been employed include a range of a, b and g-hydroxycarboxylic acids. These work through tautomerisation to the alkoxide, which then initiates a living type polymerisation of lactide to produce surface-active polymers. As well as the synthesis of these polymers some analysis of the physical and aqueous properties of these materials was carried out. PLA sodium salts were shown to have reasonable surfactant ability (~45 mNm⁻¹) and low CMC values of around 5x10⁻⁹ mol cm⁻³. They were also shown to have some properties as emulsifiers, and in some cases showed non-Newtonian fluid behaviour such as shear-thinning (thixotropy) and shear-thickening (dilatant). The thermal characteristics of the polymers such as T[subscript]g and stability were assessed as well as their ability to retain water.

Les poly(hydroxyalcanoate)s (PHAs), et notamment les poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) et poly(malolactonate d’alkyle)s (PMLARs), sont des polyesters biosourcés et biodégradables intéressants pour des applications comme polymères de commodité ou dans le domaine médical. La polymérisation par ouverture de cycle (ROP) de β-lactones est une stratégie très efficace pour la synthèse de PHAs, permettant un contrôle de la masse molaire, de la microstructure et de la fonctionnalité des polymères. Ainsi, il s’agit de moduler ces paramètres pour optimiser les propriétés physico-chimiques des polymères. Cette approche a permis de synthétiser de nouveaux (co)polymères PHAs, présentant des fonctionnalités, des tacticités (atactiques, syndiotactiques) et des topologies (copolymères à blocs, aléatoires et alternés) originales. L’utilisation de différents systèmes catalytiques et amorçants a permis la synthèse de PHAs α-base, ω-crotonate téléchéliques atactiques, mais également des premiers exemples de PMLARs (R = allyle, benzyle et méthyle) syndiotactiques. De la même manière, l’ingénierie catalytique offre la synthèse de copolymères P(BL-b-MLABe) et P(BL-ran-MLABe) par copolymérisation séquentielle et simultanée du couple rac-BL/rac-MLABe. Enfin la copolymérisation simultanée des comonomères (R)-MLAAll/(S)-MLABe en présence de complexe d’yttrium a conduit à la synthèse de copolymères alternés P(MLABe-alt-PMLAAll). Leur modification chimique post-polymérisation ouvre la voie à la synthèse de PHAs portant des fonctions latérales réactives alternées. / Biobased and biodegradable polyesters of the family of poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs), and more specifically poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(alkyl malolactonate)s (PMLARs), display a wide array of valuable uses ranging from commodity plastics to biomedical applications. Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of β-lactones is an efficient strategy for the synthesis of PHAs with control of the molar mass, the microstructure and the functionalities of polymers. So, it is a question of modulating these parameters to optimize the physicochemical properties of polymers. This approach allowed the synthesis of new (co)polymers PHAs, exhibiting original functionalities, tacticities (atactic, syndiotactic) and topologies (block, random and alternating copolymers). Tunable catalytic/initiating systems afford the synthesis of α-base, ω-crotonate telechelic atactic PHAs and of the first examples of syndiotactic PMLARs (R = allyl, benzyl and methyl). Similarly, catalytic engineering offers the synthesis of P(BL-b-MLABe) and P(BL-ran-MLABe) copolymers from the simultaneous and sequential copolymerization of the comonomers rac-BL/rac-MLABe. Finally, simultaneous copolymerization of the comonomers (R)-MLAAll/(S)-MLABe, in the presence of yttrium complexes, leads to the synthesis of alternating copolymers P(MLABe-alt-PMLAAll). Further post-polymerization modifications of these copolymers foresee a route towards a new class of functionalized alternating PHAs.

Ce mémoire de thèse a pour objectif l'élaboration de réseaux élastomères thermoreversibles. Ces réseaux à base de polycaprolactone (PCL), dont la plupart des constituants sont issus de la biomasse, auront la particularité d'être recyclables et biodégradables / The aim of this thesis is to elaboration of the thermoreversible elastomers networks. These polycaprolactone-based networks (PCL-based networks), most of which of the constituents from biomass, will have the particularity of being recyclable and biodegradable

Bearing in mind environmental concerns and global trends in ecology, biodegradable polyesters have gained enormous attention as alternative to non-biodegradable, commercial polymers used mainly in packaging industry contributing to the worldwide environment pollution. However, substitution of conventional polymers with biodegradable polyesters is limited due to their inferior mechanical and barrier properties, which can be improved by the introduction of relatively small content of non-toxic nanofillers. Nevertheless, environmental pollution is not only affected by material itself, but also manufacturing and processing sector in terms of energy sustainability. In case of the latter, low energetic processes are nowadays preferential. Thus, using microwave irradiation as the more efficient energy source, which can lead to shortening of process time, has become currently investigated subject. In this thesis, microwave-assisted in-situ synthesis of biodegradable nanocomposites based on polycaprolactone and non-toxic clay nanoparticles (layered double hydroxides) was studied and described in detail in four subsections (4.1-4.4). The first subsection (4.1) describes one-pot synthesis of Mg2+ /Al3+ layered double hydroxides functionalized with highly microwave-absorbing ionic liquids. In order to improve...