<p>Methylmercury is a bioaccumulative neurotoxin that severely endangers human health. Humans are exposed to methylmercury through consumption of contaminated aquatic fish. To date, effective strategies for preventing and remediating methylmercury contamination have remained elusive, mainly due to the lack of knowledge in regard to how methylmercury is generated and degraded in the aquatic environment. The goal of this dissertation was to study the mechanisms of two transformation processes that govern the fate of methylmercury in natural settings: microbial mercury methylation and methylmercury photodegradation. The role of mercury speciation (influenced by environmental conditions) in determining the reactivity of mercury in these biological and photochemical reactions was the focus of this research.</p><p>Methylmercury production in the aquatic environment is primarily mediated by anaerobic bacteria in surface sediments, particularly sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB). The efficiency of this process is dependent on the activity of the methylating bacteria and the availability of inorganic divalent mercury (Hg(II)). In sediment pore waters, Hg(II) associates with sulfides and dissolved organic matter (DOM) to form a continuum of chemical species that include dissolved molecules, polynuclear clusters, amorphous nanoparticles and after long term aging, bulk-scale crystalline particles. The methylation potential of these mercury species were examined using both pure cultures of SRB and sediment slurry microcosms. The results of these experiments indicated that the activity of SRB was largely determined by the supply of sulfate and labile carbon, which significantly influenced the net methylmercury production in sediment slurries. The availability of mercury for methylation decreased during aging. Dissolved Hg-sulfide (added as Hg(NO3)2 and Na2S) resulted in the highest methylmercury production. Although the methylation potential of humic-coated HgS nanoparticles decreased with an increase in the age of nanoparticle stock solutions, nano-HgS was substantially more available for microbial methylation relative to microparticulate HgS, possibly due to the smaller size, larger specific surface area and more disordered structure of the nanoparticles. Moreover, the methylation of mercury derived from nanoparticles cannot be explained by equilibrium speciation of mercury in the aqueous phase (<0.2 <em>f</em>Ým, the currently-accepted approach for assessing mercury bioavailability for methylation). Instead, the methylation potential of mercury sulfides appeared to correlate with the extent of dissolution and their reactivity in thiol ligand exchange. Additionally, partitioning of mercury to a diverse group of bulk-scale mineral particles and colloids (especially FeS) may be an important process controlling the mercury speciation and subsequent methylmercury production in natural sediments.</p><p>In surface waters, sunlight degradation is believed to be the predominant pathway for the decomposition of methylmercury. The mechanism of this process was investigated in a series of photodegradation experiments under natural sunlight and UV-A radiation, and in the presence of DOM and selective quenchers for photo-generated reactive intermediates. The results suggested that singlet oxygen generated from photosensitization of DOM drove the photodecomposition of methylmercury. The rate of methylmercury degradation depended on the type of methylmercury (CH3Hg+) binding ligand present in the water. CH3Hg -thiol (e.g., glutathione, mercaptoacetate, DOM) complexes were significantly more reactive in photodegradation compared to other methylmercury complexes (CH3HgCl or CH3HgOH), which may be because thiol-binding can effectively decrease the activation energy and thus enhance the reactivity of methylmercury molecules toward the Hg-C bond breaking process. These findings challenge the long-accepted view that water chemistry characteristics do not affect the kinetics of methylmercury sunlight degradation, and help explain recent field observation that methylmercury photodegradation occurred rapidly in freshwater lakes (where CH3Hg-DOM dominate methylmercury speciation) but relatively slowly in sea water (where CH3Hg-Cl control methylmercury speciation).</p><p>Overall, this dissertation has demonstrated that chemical speciation of inorganic mercury and methylmercury determines their availability for microbial methylation and sunlight degradation, respectively. The abundance of these available mercury species is influenced by a variety of environmental parameters (e.g., DOM). This dissertation work contributes mechanistic knowledge toward understanding the occurrence of methylmercury in the aquatic environment. This information will ultimately help construct quantitative models for accurately predicting and assessing the risks of mercury contamination.</p> / Dissertation

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive method of treating malignant tumors and age-related macular degeneration. Current practice of PDT is limited to a few functionalized porphyrins, however these compounds are not considered to be ideal drugs for use in PDT. Among the limitations, the most prominent is the low extinction coefficient of porphyrins in the body&amp / #8217 / s therapeutic window. Therefore, there is a significant impetus to develop novel and better efficiency sensitizers for use in PDT. Boradiazaindacenes (BODIPY dyes or difluoroboradipyrrines) are well known fluorescent dyes. We discovered novel distyryl-derivatized boradiazaindacene dyes. These dyes have strong absorptions beyond 650nm. In order to transform these novel dyes into potential PDT reagents, bromine substituents were placed and then heavy atom effect was showed. We also demonstrated that on red-light excitation, singlet oxygen trap 1,3-diphenyl-iso-benzofuran is rapidly degraded.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging treatment modality for a range of disease classes, both cancerous and noncancerous. This has brought about an active pursiut of new PDT agents that can be optimized for the unique set of photophysical characteristics that are required for a succesful clinical agent. There are many reported or commercially available photosensitizers, but most have limitations, such as low photostability, or a limited usable range of solvent conditions. In this study, we introduced a novel class of extended conjugation water soluble boradiazaindacene dyes which are efficient singlet oxygen generators. These sensitizers have strong absorptions in the therapeutic window and have spectacular photoinduced cytotoxicity. In addition, they display no dark toxicity at the active concentrations. With these remarkable properties, they are likely to find applications as promising new reagents for photodynamic therapy.

ABSTRACT TOWARDS PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR MOLECULAR LOGIC GATES: &ldquo / AND&rdquo / LOGIC AS AN ADDITIONAL LAYER OF SELECTIVITY IN SINGLET OXYGEN RELEASE FOR PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY &Ouml / zlem, Suriye M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Engin Umut Akkaya June 2008, 54 pages There have been many examples of individual molecular logic gates and molecular equivalents of more complex digital designs in recent years such as half adder, half subtractor, multiplexer. Neverethless, the unresolved issues of addressability and lack of communication between logic gates remain to be the Achille&rsquo / s heel for molecular logic gates. A few years ago we have demonstrated that appropriately decorated bodipy dyes can be very efficient generators for singlet oxygen, thus act as a satisfactory photodynamic agents. As a bonus, these dyes absorb very strongly at 660 nm which is considered to be within the therapeutic window of mammalian tissue. So, combining our earlier experience in molecular logic gates and rational design of photodynamic agents, we proposed a photodynamic therapy agent that would release singlet oxygen at a much larger rate when the cancer related cellular parameters are above a threshold value at the same location. Following the survey of the relevant literature for cancer related parameters, we decided that sodium ion concentration and pH (H+ concentration) could be very promising targets. In the tumor regions the pH can drop below 6 and the Na+ concentration is also significantly higher then normal tissues. As a result, in the proposed logic system the chemical inputs could be Na+ and H+. The system in fact is an automaton which is to seek higher concentration of both hydrogen and sodium ions, and release the toxic agent (singlet oxygen) only when both concentrations are high. Thus, the proposed logic gate is an AND logic gate, the output of which is singlet oxygen. Keywords: Photodynamic therapy, singlet oxygen, molecular logic gates, AND logic operation

ABSTRACT ADDITION OF CARBONYL COMPOUNDS TO THE CYCLIC OLEFINS: SYNTHESIS OF CYCLITOLS Altun, Yasemin M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Metin Balci October 2008, 160 pages Cyclitols have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years owing to biological activities exhibited by them and also their usefulness in the synthesis of other natural products and pharmaceuticals. Carbasugars are also a derivative of cyclitols and they are cyclic monosaccharide analogues which posses &amp / #8211 / CH2OH group in their structure. In this study, novel synthetic strategies leading to cyclitol derivatives were investigated and the synthesis of tetraol (72) and pentaol (73) derivatives containing &amp / #8211 / CH2OH group were achieved successfully. Moreover, by the use of manganese(III) acetate oxidation reactions having considerable synthetic utilities in organic chemistry we developed new synthetic methodologies for the cyclitol derivatives. 1,3- and 1,4-Cyclohexadiene (71 and 10) were synthesized from easily available starting materials in order to be used as key compounds. The use of manganese(III) acetate oxidation reaction provides the creation of &amp / #8211 / CH2OH group and one of the hydroxyl groups and the remaining hydroxyl groups were introduced into the key compounds by the use of singlet oxygen reaction. As a result of this, we had considerable advance in the synthesis of cyclitol derivatives.

Although the chemistry of benzenoid and nonbenzenoid quinones have been the subject of extensive theoretical and experimental studies, the extent of our present understanding regarding the geometries and stabilities of quinones of pentalene is meager. After studying the existence of cyclopentadienone and its reactivity as a diene and dienophile in the literature, the study of some related species, particularly the ones with fully unsaturated pentalenic structures were started. In this thesis, the elusive compound bicyclo[3.3.0]octa-3,5,8-triene-2,7-dione was tried to synthesize by using the synthetic strategy which was developed by us. We used cycloheptatriene as the starting material. The bicyclic endoperoxiedes mixture obtained by the photooxygenation of cycloheptatriene was v treated with triethylamine to give tropone in high yield. Selective reduction of tropone afforded cyclohepta-3,5-dione which was converted by the way of photochemistry to the bicyclo[3.2.0]hept-6-en-3-one. After protection of the carbonyl group, dibromocarbene was added to the double bond to give desired bicyclic compound with pentalene skeleton. Substitution of the allylic bromide with hydroxyl group followed by PCC oxidation resulted in the formation of a diketone. All efforts to convert this diketone into fully conjugated system failed.

Photodynamic therapy has been established as one of the approaches for the treatment of various malignant tumors. While most of the reagents used for this purpose are porphyrin derivatives, there is a strong motivation for finding novel and better sensitizers. Perylenediimides are known for their photo- and chemical stability, but they do not have absorptions in the red end of the visible spectrum. However, recently reported green perylenediimides which have dialkylamino substituents on the perylene core, provide an alternative. To that end, we have designed and synthesized novel green perylenediimides with remarkable water solubility at neutral pH and absorption peaks beyond 650 nm. We demonstrated that on red-light excitation, singlet oxygen trap 1,3-diphenyl-iso-benzofuran is rapidly degraded. We also carried out cell culture experiments / an important parameter to be optimized for practical application as a novel photodynamic therapy agent was the excited dye toxicity to dark toxicity. Our results confirmed that these novel perylenediimides acted as sensitizers generating singlet oxygen and the initial in vitro biological experiments demonstrated their potential utility in photodynamic therapy.

La thérapie photodynamique (PDT) est une technique thérapeutique qui permet un traitement localisé par irradiation lumineuse d’un photosensibilisateur (PS) grâce à la génération d’une espèce cytotoxique, généralement de l’oxygène singulet. Cependant, de nombreux PS sont également luminescents et les deux processus sont compétitifs. L’emploi de métaux de transition est connu pour améliorer le processus de PDT mais l’impact des ions lanthanides(III) en PDT est encore peu connu. Par ailleurs, l’utilisation de l’absorption biphotonique a de nombreux avantages parmi lesquels la possibilité d’exciter le PS dans la fenêtre de transparence biologique pour des applications en milieux biologiques.Les travaux de cette thèse visent à étudier quel est l’influence de la complexation d’un atome de lanthanide(III) à un PS sur la photophysique de désexcitation de ce dernier. Les complexes synthétisés et ceux étudiés ont montré que l’effet dépend du lanthanide(III). Il est ainsi possible, avec un choix judicieux du métal, de favoriser une voie de désexcitation par rapport à une autre. En particulier, l’ion Gd(III) se révèle avoir un effet bénéfique important pour la génération d’oxygène singulet et cet effet s’ajoute à celui que des atomes lourds comme le brome peuvent avoir. L’ion Yb(III) en revanche, favorise de manière générale le transfert d’énergie par effet d’antenne et la luminescence du lanthanide est alors le processus majoritaire. Enfin, l’emploi de Gd(III) complexé à un PS excitable à deux photons ouvre la voie à des agents théranostiques moléculaires combinant l’IRM en tant que fonction d’imagerie et la PDT pour la thérapie. / Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a therapeutic technique which consists in generating a highly reactive species, generally singlet oxygen, by shining light on a photosensitizer (PS). However, many PS are also luminescent and both processes are competitive. The use of transition metals is well known to enhance the PDT effect, but little is known about the effect of lanthanide(III) metals.On the other hand biphotonic absorption has numerous advantages, among them the possibility to excite the PS in the so-called biological transparency window for biological applications.The aim of this PhD is to get a better comprehension of the effect of complexation of a lanthanide(III) atom with a PS on the photophysics and deactivation pathways of the latter. The synthesis and conducted studies of lanthanide complexes showed that the effect is dependent on which lanthanide(III) metal is used. Thus by choosing carefully the lanthanide metal, one can favor one deactivation pathway over another. In particular, the Gd(III) ion turns out to be very efficient in promoting singlet oxygen generation and its effect is additive to the already known positive effect of heavy atoms such as bromine. On the opposite, the Yb(III) ion mainly favors the energy transfer through the antenna effect and the complex preferentially emits light.Finally, using Gd(III) linked to a two-photon excited PS opens the path to molecular theranostic probes combining MRI as a imagery technique and PDT as a therapeutic one.

A enzima mieloperoxidase (MPO), presente em leucócitos da linhagem granulocítica e monocítica, tem papel fundamental na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO). Existem fortes evidências que alguns produtos gerados a partir de reações catalisadas por mieloperoxidase (MPO) tenham papel na sinalização celular. Dentre estes produtos, chama atenção o oxigênio singlete (1O2). Em fagócitos, esta ERO poderia participar tanto do processo de morte de patógenos, quanto da sinalização de eventos da inflamação. O nosso grupo de pesquisa trabalha com a hipótese de que a localização da MPO, e consequentemente, os sítios de produção de 1O2 definem a função da enzima e do 1O2. O interesse particular no 1O2 deve-se também ao fato de que sua detecção não é trivial e relativamente pouco é conhecido sobre sua produção por sistemas biológicos se comparado a outras EROs. Neste estudo trabalhamos com a questão da localização de MPO em neutrófilos e monócitos humanos e com a detecção de 1O2 através da utilização de sondas específicas. Nos experimentos realizados avaliamos a produção de 1O2 pela utilização da sonda 9,10 difenilantraceno (DPA) e também empregando o éster 9,10-antracenil-3-bispropionato de etila (ABPE) como captador de 1O2. Apesar da proposta de uso do DPA revestindo partículas a serem fagocitadas ter sido feita anteriormente (Garcia F., mestrado concluído em 2006) houve dificuldades na utilização desta técnica que foram reconsideradas neste trabalho. Com esta sonda também obtivemos imagens em microscopia confocal, através da fluorescência do DPA e perda desta fluorescência após reação com 1O2. As análises dos resultados com a microscopia confocal em neutrófilos confirmam que 1O2 está sendo realmente formado no fagolissosomo, quando as células são ativadas por partículas opsonizadas. Em monócitos também houve a possibilidade de utilizar DPA como sonda para 1O2. Neste caso observamos um decréscimo mais lento da fluorescência quando comparado com neutrófilos e também um apagamento mais difuso da sonda. Acreditamos que as diferenças observadas, na formação de 1O2, para neutrófilos e mononucleares em microscopia confocal podem ser devido a diferentes formas de compartimentalização da enzima nestes dois tipos celulares. É possível que isto tenha uma função biológica específica, uma vez que, 1O2 parece ser um importante sinalizador no processo inflamatório. Dado o interesse na detecção de 1O2 em células do sistema imune, também utilizamos uma nova sonda, o éster 9,10-antracenil-3-bispropionato de etila (ABPE). A detecção neste caso é feita pelo monitoramento de um endoperóxido por HPLC. Os resultados obtidos com essa nova sonda demonstram-se mais satisfatórios quando comparados ao DPA, permitindo uma melhor detecção da produção de 1O2 por fagócitos. / The enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO), present in leukocytes of granulocytic and monocytic lineage, plays a fundamental role in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). There is strong evidence that some products generated from reactions catalyzed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) have a role in cell signaling. Among these products, calls attention singlet oxygen (1O2). In phagocytes, ROS could participate in this process both the death of pathogens, the signaling events of inflammation. Our research group works on the assumption that the location of the MPO, and consequently, the production sites to define the role of 1O2 and 1O2 enzyme. The particular interest in the 1O2 is also due to the fact that its detection is not trivial and relatively little is known about its production by biological systems compared to other ROS. In this study we worked with the question of localization of MPO in human neutrophils and monocytes and the detection of 1O2 by using specific probes. In the experiments we evaluated the production of 1O2 by use of a probe 9.10 difenilantraceno (DPA) and also using the 9.10-ester antracenil bispropionato-3-acid ethyl esters (ABPE) 1O2 as a pickup. Although the proposed use of the DPA coating particles to be phagocytized have been made previously (F. Garcia, MA completed in 2006) hove difficulties in using this technique have been reconsidered in this work. With this probe also obtained images in confocal microscopy, by fluorescence of DPA and loss of fluorescence after reaction with 1O2. The analysis of results with confocal microscopy confirmed that in neutrophils 1O2 is actually being formed in fagolissosomo, when cells are activated by opsonized particles. Monocytes were also able to use DPA as a probe to 1O2. In this case we observe a slower decrease in fluorescence when compared with neutrophils and also a more diffuse effacement of the probe. We believe that the observed differences in the formation of 1O2 for neutrophils and mononuclear cells in confocal microscopy may be due to different forms of compartmentalization of the enzyme in these two cell types. It is possible that this has a specific biological function, since, 1O2 seems to be an important sign in the inflammatory process. Given the interest in the detection of 1O2 cells of the immune system, also used a new probe, the 9.10-ester antracenil bispropionato-3-acid ethyl esters (ABPE). The detection in this case is made by an endoperoxide monitoring by HPLC. The results obtained with this new probe show is more satisfactory when compared to the DPA, allowing better detection of 1O2 production by phagocytes.

The presence of trace organic compounds (TOrCs) in wastewater effluent and surface waters has raised attention due to their health and environmental effects. Some TOrCs are naturally attenuated via biodegradation, photo-degradation and/or adsorption, but some persist in the environment as contaminants in surface and ground waters. Thus, it is crucially important to understand their transformation pathways and their mechanisms following their discharge into the environment. This work presents research in three parts: • The first part represents an investigation of photo-transformation of TOrCs (e.g., furfuryl alcohol, p-cresol, gemfibrozil) under UV254, UVA and natural sunlight, and involving reactive oxygen species including singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, triplet excited states, and specific inorganic radicals that are created by effluent organic matter (EfOM). Singlet oxygen was the only ROS, generated from effluent organic matter (EfOM) that mainly contributed to the photo-transformation of these selected TOrCs. A comprehensive mechanism and complementary kinetic model were proposed to predict the trajectories of TOrC removals via reaction with singlet oxygen. Simulations built on predicted quantum efficiencies accounted for light shading and competitive effects. Agreement between measurements and simulations was excellent. • The second part of the dissertation summarizes expected removal efficiencies for fifty-five TOrCs in alternative engineered and natural treatment processes including conventional biological treatment, advanced oxidation processes (AOP), reverse osmosis (RO), granular activated carbon (GAC), and sunlight photolysis. • The last section of the dissertation follows the trajectories of a series of TOrCs and total estrogenic activity in the Santa Cruz River, following their discharge from a wastewater treatment plant in the Tucson area. The study suggests that some TOrCs tend to persist in the environment while others experience photo (or other) transformations that diminish their concentrations or activities with distance and time of travel in the river. The attenuation of estrogenic activity was dependent on sunlight and the presence of specific (unidentified) wastewater components.