The aim of this thesis is to comprehensively analyse presolar silicon carbide (SiC) grains from several primitive meteorites in order to investigate their complicated history. During their residence in the interstellar medium, presolar grains are predicted to be affected by many processes which may modify their original elemental and isotopic composition. Presolar SiC grains from three acid residues and two polished meteorite sections were analysed for their carbon, nitrogen and silicon isotope ratios with high spatial resolution, in order to compare the distribution of 14N/15N ratios compared to those found in the literature. As a result of this work, isotopic fractionation effects caused by the distortion of the electric field around the grain topography were identified. These effects have the potential to cause differential transmission of atomic and molecular secondary ions, particularly when small slits and apertures are selected during NanoSIMS analyses. The measured 14N/15N ratios of the presolar SiC grains analysed in this work match well with existing literature data, although many grains cluster at relatively low 14N/15N values. These low ratios do not appear to be the result of either terrestrial contamination or isotopic dilution, and may instead represent real differences between the SiC grain populations of different meteorites. The majority of mainstream SiC grains analysed in this work lie on a slope with a gradient of ~1.3 on a Si 3-isotope plot, in agreement with literature data. SiC grains from the JAMM and JA-MM2 acid residues appear to lie on shallower slopes, although these samples show significant scatter in the data. Neither terrestrial contamination nor isotopic dilution can explain the apparent fractionation of silicon isotopes in these samples. It is possible that these ratios may represent a difference in the Si ratios of grain populations of different meteorites, although fractionation during the sample preparation phase cannot be excluded. Ten presolar SiC grains from the KJG and JA-MM2 acid residues are comprehensively analysed for their trace element compositions using Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. The majority of analyses are significantly affected by the proximity of neighbouring grains, leading to high background counts which prevent the reliable determination of elemental abundances for many elements. Depth profiles of several elements are determined for two grains from the KJG residue. Each of the measured elements displays approximately homogeneous profiles through the grains, with abundances in agreement with existing literature data. The uniform depth profiles may represent formation in a stellar envelope with a stable composition, although homogenisation by secondary alteration processes cannot be ruled out.

Introduction: Hypoxia is found in solid cancerous tumours. The presence of hypoxia within tumours inhibits anti-cancer treatment strategies such as chemotherapy from being completely effective and it is suspected that multiple mechanisms contribute to the resistance. Methods: In this project a systems biology approach was applied to determine how the toxicity of doxorubicin is affected by hypoxia at the metabolome level. A multitude of analytical techniques were applied to analyse the intracellular metabolism of a monolayer of cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). Metabolic profiling was used to determine metabolite markers related to hypoxia-induced chemoresistance. For this gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) were used. Furthermore, network-based correlation analysis was developed as a novel tool to bridge the gap between metabolomics dataset and systems biology modelling. This methodology was applied to elucidate novel metabolic pathways as potential therapeutic targets to overcome hypoxia-induced chemoresistance. This algorithm determines significant correlation differences between different physiological states, and through applying graph-theory on large genome scale models; it is possible to construct a metabolic network of the pathways connecting the pair-wise correlation. Finally, imaging mass spectrometry using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) was developed as a tool for in situ metabolite analysis to investigate the metabolic response to chemotherapy in multi-tumour spheroids (MTSs). Results: Metabolic fingerprinting analysis characterised a snapshot of cells exposed to various environmental perturbations. Metabolite markers associated with hypoxia-induced chemoresistance were related to metabolic pathways including gluconeogenesis, DNA synthesis and fatty acid synthesis. Furthermore, network-based correlation analysis revealed specific metabolites in the fatty acid synthesis pathways were contributing to drug resistance, which included malonyl-CoA, 3-oxoeicosanoyl-CoA, stearoyl-CoA and octadecanoic acid. To facilitate the detection of metabolites in ToF SIMS datasets, a series of metabolites standard spectra were acquired. Hypoxic metabolite markers detected in ToF-SIMS data of cell lysates included glycine, lactic acid and succinic acid, which were also shown to be metabolite markers in GC-MS metabolic data. Furthermore, MTS sections were imaged using ToF-SIMS to profile the chemical response to chemotherapy treatment within the oxygen gradient. Loadings from image PCA were explored to determine the metabolic response in the highly oxygenated outer region and hypoxic inner region of the MTS. Conclusion: A multitude of analytical techniques were able to contribute to elucidating the metabolic mechanisms associated with hypoxia-induced chemoresistance. Metabolic profiling combined with a systems biology approach was further able to identify potential underlying metabolic regulation of resistance. Finally ToF-SIMS was developed as a tool for metabolite analysis in complex biological systems in situ.

Yes / The thermally triggered release of up to 96% of attached uropathogenic E. coli is achieved on two polymers with opposite changes in surface wettability upon reduction in temperature. This demonstrates that the bacterial attachment to a surface cannot be explained in terms of water contact angle alone; rather, the surface composition of the polymer plays the key role. / Wellcome Trust (grant number 085245) and the NIH (grant number R01 DE016516)

Les dispositifs avancés pour la microélectronique intègrent divers matériaux et sont de dimensions nanométriques. Une connaissance précise de leur composition est requise pour améliorer leurs procédés de fabrication et comprendre leur comportement électrique. Le ToF-SIMS est un candidat intéressant, qui souffre cependant des effets de matrice et ne possède pas toujours une résolution spatiale suffisante. Le but de ce travail est de permettre une analyse quantitative et résolue en profondeur de matériaux et structures pour la microélectronique avancée à l'aide d'un ToF-SIMS standard. Cette étude porte sur SiGe, sur des matériaux à haute permittivité, des implants basse énergie et des matériaux organiques. Elle se concentre sur la préparation d'échantillons, l'optimisation des conditions expérimentales et le traitement de données pour mettre au point des protocoles d'analyse originaux dont la précision est évaluée grâce à d'autres techniques de caractérisation de pointe. Ces protocoles permettent d'améliorer la qualité des analyses en termes de résolution en profondeur, de précision et de reproductibilité / Next generation devices for microelectronics feature nanometric dimensions and incorporate heterogeneous materials. Accurate knowledge is needed on their chemical composition to address elaboration processes and understand electrical properties. ToF-SIMS is an interesting candidate, but it suffers from matrix effects and insufficient depth resolution. The aim of this work is to enable quantitative, depth resolved analysis of materials and structures for advanced devices with a standard ToF-SIMS. Studies focus in SiGe and high-k based materials, ultra shallow implants and materials for organic electronics. We investigate sample preparation, experimental condition optimization and data treatment to setup original analysis protocols. Accuracy of the new protocols is tested with leading edge external characterization techniques in each of the materials of interest. These developments allowed enhanced analysis quality in terms of depth resolution, accuracy and reproducibility.

L’oxygénation d’un tissu ou d’une cellule résulte d’un équilibre entre la disponibilité en oxygène et sa consommation. Un arrêt de la circulation ou des variations de la pression partielle en oxygène sont responsables d’une réduction de l’apport en oxygène induisant une réponse adaptative.L’objectif de ce travail a été de caractériser l’hypoxie de l’échelle cellulaire à tissulaire par la complémentarité de deux techniques d’imagerie par spectrométrie de masse (ISM) : La spectrométrie de masse à ionisation secondaire (SIMS) et l’ionisation/désorption par laser assistée par matrice (MALDI). L’ISM fournit la détection, l’identification et la distribution d’une variété d’espèces moléculaires endogènes et exogènes directement sur tissu sans marquage. Afin de caractériser l’hypoxie, un modèle in vitro de culture cellulaire en trois dimensions (sphéroïde) et un modèle in vivo d’accident vasculaire cérébral ont été utilisés.L’imagerie TOF-SIMS nous a permis de voir que la disponibilité réduite de l’oxygène au centre des sphéroides induit de profonds changements métaboliques. L’imagerie MALDI-TOF, quant à elle, a permis de visualiser la pharmacocinétique de différents traitements dans des sphéroides traités.Concernant l’étude sur l’accident vasculaire cérébral, l’imagerie SIMS et MALDI nous ont fourni une signature moléculaire de l’hypoxie tissulaire, apportant de nouvelles connaissances sur les changements physiopathologiques induits par la lésion tissulaire.La complémentarité de ces deux techniques d’imagerie permet donc une réelle synergie pour l’étude de l’hypoxie dans différents modèles. / Tissue or cells oxygenation results from a balance between oxygen availability and consumption. This availability is determined by the amount of oxygen carried by the blood irrigating the tissue and its diffusion capacity through the cell membranes. The interruption of blood flow or variations in the oxygen partial pressure are responsible for a reduction of oxygen intake that induces an adaptive response.The aim of my work is to characterize the hypoxia from cellular to tissue-level via the complementarity of two mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) methods: the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionization (MALDI). MSI has the potential to provide detection, identification and distribution of a variety of different endogenous and exogenous molecular species directly from the tissue without labelling. Here we combine them to characterize hypoxia in vitro on a 3D cell culture system (spheroid) and in vivo using ischemic rat model.We have shown via TOF-SIMS imaging that reduced availability of oxygen to the center of spheroids induces profound metabolic changes. MALDI-TOF imaging helped to visualize the pharmacokinetics of different treatments in treated spheroids.Concerning the ischemic stroke, MSI provides a molecular signature of hypoxia in tissue, which could bring new insights into the pathological changes induced by the tissue injury.The complementarity of these two imaging techniques allows real synergy for the study of hypoxia in different models.

ToF-SIMS imaging has been drawing attention due to the wide range of applications in the biological and biomedical fields. These applications include the acquisition of quantitative and qualitative data that ranges in scale from single cells to organs, image visualisation and interpretation of biomarkers for diagnosis and development of pharmaceutics. This study focused on molecular imaging of mouse brain tissue sections using cluster primary ion beams. First, cluster ion beams were applied to comparative background studies of biomolecules and brain total lipid extract. Enhancement of the secondary ion signal was observed using water-containing cluster primary ion beams, especially for [M+H]+ type secondary ions. Water-containing clusters were then used to acquire ToF-SIMS images from the cerebellar area of serial mouse brain tissue sections. Again, water-containing cluster beams produced the highest secondary ion yields in both grey and white matter, gaining a new level of insight into the lipid compositions of both types of tissue in the brain. A clinical case was also evaluated with ToF-SIMS imaging, using cluster beams for the analysis of 3xTg-AD mouse brain tissue. SIMS images were registered with fluorescence microscopy images for the in situ identification and co-localisation of the Amyloid-β plaques on the SIMS images. Spectra from regions of interest were analysed to identify possible ion fragments derived from the Aβ protein. The co-localisation of cholesterol was also studied from images obtained with different primary ion beams. The results presented show that cluster ToF-SIMS can be successfully applied to brain tissue imaging. New primary ion beam technologies allow us to acquire data with more useful secondary ion yield for clinical applications and biological research. Nevertheless, future technological improvements are required for specialised applications e.g. cellular imaging. Moreover, processing the data obtained is still challenging and more data processing tools are also needed for interpretation.

Cette thèse a été consacrée à l’amélioration de méthodes en imagerie par spectrométrie de masse, et à leur utilisation pour l’analyse in situ de substances naturelles. Une première partie a été consacrée à développer une nouvelle méthode permettant d’acquérir en imagerie TOF-SIMS des images avec une résolution de 400 nm tout en préservant la résolution en masse. Pour cela, une extraction retardée des ions secondaires a été caractérisée et optimisée. Une seconde partie a eu pour objectif d’étudier le phénomène de duraminisation d’un arbre tropical de l’espèce Dicorynia guianensis, qui est l’un des plus exploités en Guyane française et dont le duramen est réputé être imputrescible. Les images par spectrométrie de masse TOF-SIMS enregistrées avec la méthode développée ont montré à l’échelle sub-micrométrique les changements métaboliques s’opérant autour de la zone de transition, où s’opère la duraminisation. Les techniques TOF-SIMS et MALDI-TOF ont ensuite été utilisées pour l’analyse d’une surface sur laquelle ont crû deux souches microbiennes en compétition. Les deux souches ont été extraites d’un if japonais (Cephalotaxus harringtonia), l’une étant un champignon endophyte (Paraconiothyrium variabile) et l’autre une bactérie pathogène à ce conifère (Bacillus subtilis). Les résultats ont montré que le champignon était capable d’hydrolyser les surfactines produites par la bactérie. Enfin, les imageries par spectrométrie de masse MALDI-TOF et TOF-SIMS sont deux méthodes de choix pour l’étude de modèle in vitro de ce qui pourrait se produire in vivo. / This thesis was devoted to the improvement of mass spectrometry imaging methods, and to their use for in situ analysis of natural substances. The first part of this thesis has been dedicated to the development of a new acquisition mode in TOF-SIMS imaging able to acquire images with a high spatial resolution of 400 nm while keeping a good mass resolution. For that, a delayed extraction of the secondary ions has been characterized and optimized. Then, a second part has been dedicated to the study of heartwood production in a tropical species named Dicorynia guianensis. This species is one of the most exploited in French Guiana for its heartwood which exhibits a good durability. Metabolic changes are shown by sub-micrometric resolution ion images recorded in and around the transition zone, where the heartwood formation occurs. Then, TOF-SIMS and MALDI-TOF have both been used to analyse the surface of a bacterial competition. Species have been isolated from a Japanese conifer (Cephalotaxus harringtonia), from which the stains are an endophitic fungi (Paraconiothyrium variabile) and a pathogenic bacteria of the conifer (Bacillus subtilis). The results have shown that the fungus is able to hydrolyze surfactines produced by the bacteria during the competition. Furthermore, both the MALDI-TOF and the TOF-SIMS mass spectrometry imaging are methods of choice to study in vitro models of what could happen in vivo.

L'imagerie par spectrométrie de masse est d’un grand intérêt pour aborder les questions biologiques en fournissant simultanément des informations chimiques et spatiales. En particulier, la spectrométrie de masse baptisée TOF-SIMS est bien reconnue par sa haute résolution spatiale (< 1 μm), qui est essentielle pour révéler l'information chimique dans une zone submicronique. L'emploi croissant de cette technique dans la caractérisation des échantillons biologiques a bénéficié du développement de nouvelles sources d'ions d’agrégats. Cependant, les processus d'ionisation/désorption des analytes sous les impacts d’agrégats lourds sont encore mal compris. D'un autre côté, techniquement, les instruments TOF-SIMS commerciaux actuels ne peuvent pas fournir une résolution en masse suffisante ni une précision sur la détermination de la masse pour l'identification moléculaire, ce qui rend les analyses de systèmes biologiques complexes très difficiles, et nécessite le recours à la fragmentation MS/MS. Cette thèse vise à mieux comprendre la production d'ions sous l’impact d’agrégats lourds et à explorer la capacité MS/MS du spectromètre de masse par temps de vol combiné à l’imagerie ionique en utilisant le spectromètre de masse PHI nanoTOF II. Ce dernier point a été réalisé en cartographiant en haute résolution spatiale des métabolites importants de bois. Pour comprendre la production d'ions sous les impacts d’agrégats d'argon massifs, l'énergie interne des ions secondaires a été mesurée en utilisant la mesure du taux de survie d'une série d'ions benzylpyridinium. L'étude de diverses conditions d'impact (énergie, vitesse, taille des agrégats) a montré que la vitesse joue le rôle majeur dans la distribution d'énergie interne et la fragmentation moléculaire dans le régime à faible énergie par atome (E/n < 10 eV).Les capacités de la fragmentation MS/MS et d'imagerie en parallèle du spectromètre PHI nanoTOF II nouvellement conçu ont été évalués par cartographie MS/MS in situ des métabolites bioactifs rubrynolide et rubrenolide dans les espèces amazoniennes de bois Sextonia rubra, ainsi qu’une identification in situ des métabolites précurseurs. L'imagerie TOF-SIMS 2D et 3D a permis de localiser les cellules où cette biosynthèse s’effectue. Les résultats ont conduit à la proposition d'une voie possible de biosynthèse des deux métabolites. Pour étendre l'application de l'imagerie TOF-SIMS dans l'analyse chimique du bois, la distribution radiale des extraits de bois dans le duramen du bois du mélèze européen a également été étudiée. / Mass spectrometry imaging has been shown of great interest in addressing biological questions by providing simultaneously chemical and spatial information. Particularly, TOF-SIMS is well recognized for its high spatial resolution (< 1 µm) which is essential in disclosing chemical information within a submicron area. The increasing use of TOF-SIMS in characterizing biological samples has greatly benefited from the introduction of new cluster ion sources. However, the ionization/desorption of the analytes under impacts of large clusters is still poorly understood. On the other hand, technically, current commercial TOF-SIMS instruments generally cannot provide sufficient mass resolution or mass accuracy for molecular identification, making analyses of complex biological systems especially challenging when no MS/MS fragmentation is available. Thus this thesis is aimed to get a better understanding of ion production under cluster impacts, to explore the MS/MS capability of the parallel imaging MS/MS Spectrometer (PHI nanoTOF II), as well as to apply TOF-SIMS to map important wood metabolites with high spatial resolution.In order to understand ion production under impacts of massive argon clusters, internal energy distributions of secondary ions were measured using survival yield method which involves the analyses of a series of benzylpyridinium ions. Investigation of various impacting conditions (energy, velocity, cluster size) suggested that velocity of the clusters play a major role in internal energy distribution and molecular fragmentation in the low energy per atom regime (E/n < 10 eV). The MS/MS fragmentation and parallel imaging capabilities of the newly designed PHI nanoTOF II spectrometer were evaluated by in situ MS/MS mapping of bioactive metabolites rubrynolide and rubrenolide in Amazonia wood species Sextonia rubra. Then this parallel imaging MS/MS technique was applied to perform in situ identification of related precursor metabolites in the same tree species. 2D and 3D TOF-SIMS imaging were carried out to target the plant cells that biosynthesize rubrynolide and rubrenolide. The results led to the proposal of a possible biosynthesis pathway of these two metabolites. In addition, to expand the application of TOF-SIMS imaging in wood chemistry analysis, radial distribution of wood extractives in the heartwood of European larch was also investigated.

O presente trabalho visou à valorização da fibra lignocelulósica de sisal, focando principalmente em seu componente majoritário, a celulose, através da síntese de ésteres de celulose e também na preparação de diferentes materiais. A escolha dessa fonte lignocelulósica deveu-se a sua disponibilidade no país, sendo o Brasil o maior produtor e exportador mundial, e por se tratar de uma fonte de fibras com alto teor de celulose e de curto ciclo de crescimento. A síntese de ésteres de celulose com diferentes tamanhos de cadeia (acetatos, butanoatos e hexanoatos) e grau de substituição (GS) foi explorada, em meios homogêneo e heterogêneo, visando à identificação de condições que levassem aos melhores rendimentos. Em meio homogêneo, utilizando DMAc/LiCl como sistema de solvente e anidridos ácidos como agentes esterificantes, a síntese de ésteres de celulose com diferentes tamanhos de cadeia e GS (0,2-3,0) foi possível, apenas ajustando-se a razão MolAnidrido/MolCelulose. Em meio heterogêneo, diferentes rotas de síntese foram exploradas. Com o uso do sistema anidrido ácido/iodo metálico (catalisador), apenas ésteres de cadeia curta (acetatos) puderam ser obtidos com alta eficiência. Na busca de rotas alternativas para a obtenção de ésteres de cadeias mais longas, o uso de cloreto ácido e piridina (como meio reacional e como catalisador nucleofílico, respectivamente) levou à obtenção de butanoatos de celulose completamente substituídos, em apenas 30 minutos. Posteriormente, os ésteres de celulose, preparados em meio homogêneo, foram considerados como materiais de partida na preparação de filmes e biocompósitos [ésteres de celulose/celulose (0-20%)], também utilizando DMAc/LiCl como sistema de solvente. Os resultados de análise dinâmico- mecânica (DMA) e ensaios de tração revelaram que, de modo geral, a introdução de celulose levou a biocompósitos com propriedades superiores em relação aos filmes sem celulose. Resultados superiores de módulo de armazenamento e resistência à tração foram obtidos com a consequente geração de materiais que apresentaram valores superiores de Módulo de Tração e menor alongamento na ruptura. Por exemplo, biocompósitos a partir de butanoato de celulose (GS 1,8) com 20% de celulose mostraram valor de módulo de armazenamento (675 MPa) quase 4x maior que o mesmo filme sem reforço (195 MPa). Para os filmes a partir de hexanoatos de celulose (GS 1,8), a adição de celulose aumentou a resistência à tração em até 1 unidade (15% de celulose), em relação ao filme sem reforço. Por meio do uso de técnicas avançadas de caracterização de superfície (XPS e ToF-SIMS), pôde-se estudar a distribuição dos grupos ésteres nas superfícies dos filmes, assim como a influência da variação do tamanho da cadeia do éster, GS e da presença da celulose nesta distribuição. Em linhas gerais, quando a cadeia lateral manteve-se constante (butanoatos), os resultados de XPS revelaram um aumento na contribuição do carbono alifático com o aumento do GS. Em relação à cobertura superficial por cadeias alifáticas dos grupos ésteres, os resultados de XPS indicaram uma maior concentração de celulose na superfície da matriz do biocompósito preparado a partir de acetato de celulose. Por outro lado, para os ésteres de cadeias maiores (butanoatos e hexanoatos de celulose), os resultados de XPS apontaram que a celulose estaria majoritariamente presente nas camadas mais internas, gerando um maior recobrimento da superfície dos biocompósitos pelos grupos ésteres da matriz. De acordo com os dados de ToF-SIMS, os grupos ésteres se distribuíram de maneira uniforme ao longo das superfícies dos filmes e biocompósitos. Posteriormente, após uma exploração de diversas condições de pré-tratamento na massa celulósica, as quais visaram condições ótimas para a dissolução da celulose em sistema aquoso de NaOH/Uréia e posterior coagulação em meio ácido, microesferas de celulose de sisal foram preparadas com sucesso. Essas microesferas de celulose apresentam potencialidade de aplicação em diversas áreas, como na liberação controlada de fármacos e cromatografia. Na etapa final, a fibra lignocelulósica e a celulose de sisal foram consideradas como materiais de partida em um estudo envolvendo a técnica de eletrofiação a temperatura ambiente, utilizando ácido trifluoroacético (TFA) como solvente. A partir do uso dessa técnica, a dissolução da fibra lignocelulósica e sua posterior reconstrução levou a formação de fibras ultrafinas (120 a 510 nm). A eletrofiação da celulose de sisal levou a formação de fibras ultrafinas e nanofibras (&lt;100 nm), em um amplo intervalo de diâmetros, apenas ajustando-se a vazão da solução. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho abrem uma vasta gama de possíveis aplicações, nas quais as fibras ultrafinas e nanofibras, preparadas a partir da biomassa lignocelulósica, podem ser empregadas, tais como membranas, filmes em estruturas do tipo sanduíche ou mesmo como reforço em compósitos. Através do presente trabalho, diferentes tipos de materiais foram preparados, a partir da fibra lignocelulósica e da celulose de sisal, ampliando as possibilidades de aplicação destes materiais em diversas áreas. / The present investigation aimed at the valorization of the lignocellulosic sisal fiber, mainly focusing on its main component, i.e. cellulose, through the synthesis of cellulose esters and preparation of different materials. This lignocellulosic source was chosen due to its availability in the country since Brazil is the largest producer and exporter worldwide and also because this lignocellulosic source has a high cellulose content and a short life cycle. The synthesis of cellulose esters with varied chain lengths (acetates, butanoatos and hexanoates) and degree of substitution (DS) was explored in homogeneous and heterogeneous media in order to identify the conditions that led to better yields. In the homogeneous medium, by using DMAc/LiCl as the solvent system and acid anhydrides as the esterifying agents, the synthesis of cellulose esters with varied chain lengths and DS (0.2-3.0) was possible by only adjusting the MolAnhydride/MolCellulose ratio. In the heterogeneous medium, different synthesis routes were explored. By using acid anhydride/metallic iodine (catalyst) as the system, only short-chain cellulose esters (acetates) could be obtained with high efficiency. In the search for new routes to obtain cellulose esters with longer chains, completely substituted esters (GS 3.0) were obtained by using acid chloride and pyridine (as the reaction medium and nucleophilic catalyst) in just 30 minutes. Afterwards, by using the same solvent system (DMAc/LiCl), cellulose esters prepared in a homogeneous medium were used as starting materials in the preparation of films and biocomposites [cellulose ester/cellulose (0-20 wt%)]. The results of dynamic-mechanical analysis (DMA) and tensile tests revealed that, in general, the cellulose loading led to biocomposites with superior properties than the films without cellulose. Thus, higher values of storage modulus and tensile strength were obtained, which consequently led to materials with higher Young Modulus and lower elongation at break. For example, biocomposites from cellulose butanoate (GS 1.8) with 20 wt% of cellulose showed a storage module value (675 MPa) almost 4 times higher than the film without cellulose (195 MPa). For the cellulose biocomposites from cellulose hexanoate (GS 1.8), the cellulose loading increased the tensile strength up to 1 unit (15 wt% cellulose) comparatively to the film without cellulose. By means of advanced techniques of surface characterization (XPS and ToF-SIMS), the distribution of the cellulose ester groups along the films/biocomposites surfaces were studied as well as the influence of the different cellulose esters chain lengths, DS and presence of cellulose on that distribution. XPS results revealed an increase in the contribution of the aliphatic carbon as the DS increased when the side chain remained constant (butanoates). Regarding the surface coverage by aliphatic chains of the ester groups, XPS results indicated a higher concentration of cellulose on the surface of the biocomposite prepared from cellulose acetate as its matrix. Conversely, for the cellulose esters with longer chains (butanoates and hexanoates), XPS results pointed that the cellulose was mostly present in the inner layers, which generated a higher surface coverage of these biocomposites\' surfaces by the aliphatic chains of the ester groups. According to the ToF- SIMS results, the esters groups were evenly distributed on the surface of the films and biocomposites. Thereafter, beads from sisal cellulose were successfully prepared after an exploration of various pre-treatment conditions on the cellulosic mass, where optimal conditions were found to lead to complete cellulose dissolution in NaOH/Urea aqueous system followed by coagulation in acid medium. Cellulose beads present a high potential of application in several areas, for example in controlled drug delivery and chromatography. At the final stage of this work, the lignocellulosic sisal and sisal cellulose fibers were used as starting materials in a study involving the electrospinning technique at room temperature, by using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as solvent. Through this technique, the lignocellulosic fiber dissolution and later reconstruction led to ultrathin fibers (120 to 510 nm). The electrospinning of sisal cellulose led to ultrathin fibers and nanofibers (&lt;100 nm) in a wide interval of diameters, by only varying the solution flow rate. The results obtained in this investigation open a wide range of possible applications, in which the ultrathin and nanofibers prepared from the lignocellulosic biomass can be used, such as membranes, sandwich-type structure of films or as reinforcement in composite materials. Through the present work, different materials were prepared from the lignocellulosic sisal and sisal cellulose fibers, which contributed to expand the possibilities of application of these materials in diverse areas.

Dans le domaine des polymères, l'auto-organisation de la matière a été largement étudiée dans les dernières années et beaucoup de progrès dans le domaine des films ordonnés, générés par l'auto-assemblage de copolymères à blocs, ont été réalisés. Ce progrès est motivé par le fait que les films auto-assemblés possèdent des applications en biologie, photonique, adhésion. Le sujet initial de thèse est la fabrication des films structurés en nid d’abeilles formés par un bloc de copolymère contenant une partie hydrophobe ( à peu près 90%) et une partie hydrophile (10%) qui peuvent s’auto-organiser en nid d’abeilles. Les films de polymères préparés seront ultérieurement à la base d’une étude de complexation avec des métaux. Ceci sert à décontaminer les eaux usées des métaux ou pesticides. Durant ces années de thèse, une méthodologie d’analyse de surface est détaillée pour comprendre la topographie de ces films ainsi que la chimie de surface de ces derniers. Pour cette raison, divers techniques d’analyses sont utilisées pour décrire vigoureusement la surface de ces films afin d’optimiser ces films pour complexer les contaminants à origine industrielle.Une des techniques d’analyse de surface, i.e. TOF-SIMS (Time Of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy), a prouvé être un outil efficace pour caractériser chimiquement la composition élémentaire et moléculaire de l’extrême surface et en profondeur. Cette technique était la technique de base de ces études. Elle la permis de décrire les empreintes spectrales ainsi que la distribution en surface et en profondeur de chaque polymère dans les films élaborés en nid d’abeilles. / Since its introduction in 1994, the preparation of ordered porous polymer films by the breath figure “BF” method has received a considerable interest. Self-organized porous polymer films, with pores ordered into a hexagonal pattern, can be elaborated by a fast solvent evaporation method under a humid atmosphere, also called “Breath Figure” approach. The honeycomb films have found a panel of perspective applications ranging from materials with optical properties, biomaterial sensors, and scaffold for tissue engineering or highly hydrophobic surfaces. The main objective of this PhD thesis project is the fabrication of sensitive hierarchically self-organized bio inspired films based on organic compound trapping block copolymers. It is worth noting that one of the advantages of using block copolymer structure is that the first block confers the hydrophobic character, required for the elaboration and stability of HC structure, and the second block could provide an additional functionality such as hydrophilicity, stimuli-responsive character or trapping of targeted molecules (especially metals).During this thesis, a methodology of surface analysis is performed in order to understand the topography of these films as well as its surface chemistry. For this reason, various analytical techniques are used to describe the surface of these films vigorously in order to optimize these films to complex industrial contaminants.One of the techniques of surface analysis, i.e. TOF-SIMS (Time of Flight-Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy), has proved to be an effective tool for chemical characterization of the surface and in depth. This technique was the basic technique of our studies. It allowed the description of spectral finger prints as well as the distribution on the surface and in depth of each polymer in the structured films.