Der Erfolg neuer Strategien in der Regenerativen Medizin und im Tissue Engineering hängt maßgeblich von einem gut entwickeltem vaskulären Netzwerk ab, welches die auf den Implantaten wachsenden Zellen und Gewebe versorgen. Oberflächeneigenschaften der Implantate sowie die Präsentation verschiedener Liganden für extrazelluläre Matrixproteine spielen bei der Besiedlung der Implantate, als auch bei der Bildung versorgender Blutgefäße durch die Endothelzellen eine wesentliche Rolle. In dieser Arbeit konnte durch Variation der Anbindungsstärke (kovalent oder physisorptiv) des extrazellulären Matrixproteins Fibronektins an die MSA-Copolymere der Einfluss des Aufbaus der extrazellulären Matrix auf das Differenzierungsverhalten der Endothelzellen gezeigt werden. Auch die initiale Konzentration von Adhäsionsproteinen an der Substratoberfläche zeigte sich bedeutend für das Verhalten der Zellen. Optimal für eine gute Adhäsion, native Entwicklung und Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen war die stabile (kovalente) Anbindung weniger Adhäsionsproteine (hier Fibronektin) an die Substratoberfläche, so dass die Zellen problemlos adhärieren konnten. Erfolgte die weiter Proteinadsorption an die Oberflächen in einem nativen Zustand (hier auf den hydrophilen Oberflächen) so waren die Endothelzellen in der Lage, die extrazelluläre Matrix zu reorganisieren und ein dem in vivo Zustand ähnlicher Aufbau der extrazellulären Matrix konnte realisiert werden. Dies ermöglichte den Zellen wiederum ein natürliches Verhalten. Die Ausbildung einer moderaten Anzahl von Adhäsionsstellen der Zellen, sowie der in vivo ähnliche Aufbau der Adhäsionspunkte ermöglichte den Zellen einen eher lockeren Kontakt zum Substrat. Daher waren sie sehr flexibel in ihrer Morphologieanpassung. Unter diesen Bedingungen war es möglich, dass die Endothelzellen bei Stimulierung der Angiogenese kapillarähnliche Strukturen ausbildeten. Die Verwendung dreidimensionaler Zellkulturträger zeigte eine Unterstützung der Kapillarbildung der Endothelzellen in Abhängigkeit unter den beschrieben Bedingungen. / The success of tissue engineering strategies using artificial scaffolds crucially depends on a controlled formation of well-developed vascular networks in growing tissues. The presentation of extracellular matrix ligands on scaffolds is often envisioned as an appropriate strategy to support capillary formation. We show that the control of primary coupling mode — covalent versus physisorbed — as well as of secondary interactions of cell-secreted extracellular matrix proteins have a strong impact on endothelial cell development. A set of maleic anhydride copolymer thin films was used as planar model substrates. They exhibit a switchable mode of primary matrix coupling combined with a gradation of secondary matrix–substrate interactions due to a variation of surface hydrophobicity and polarity. We found that the cells adhere in a more native state at a low amount of covalent primary coupled fibronectin ligands in conjunction with weak interactions of secondarily adsorbed adhesion ligands on hydrophilic surfaces. These substrates allow for a formation of capillary-like networks of endothelial cells. High ligand densities and strong secondary hydrophobic interactions inhibit a pronounced capillary formation. The composition and structure of the formed extracellular matrix correlates well with the specific integrin expression pattern. From these results it is concluded that the formation of blood capillaries in artificial scaffolds can be triggered by controlling primary and secondary coupling of cell adhesion ligands to implant materials. 2

The colonization of immersed surfaces by a myriad of marine organisms is a complex, multi-stage, species-specific process giving rise to economic and environmental costs. This unwanted accumulation of organisms in the marine environment, called biofouling, has been attacked from different fronts, going from the ‘problem-elimination-as-problem-solving’ strategy (essentially through the use of biocides) to more elaborated and environmentally-friendly options based on the principle of ‘non-stick’ or ‘easy foul-release’ surfaces, which do not jeopardize marine life viability. Several marine organisms rely on proteinaceous adhesives to secure a holdfast to surfaces. Proteolytic enzymes have been demonstrated to be effective agents against settlement and settlement consolidation onto surfaces of marine bacteria, algae, and invertebrates, their proposed mode-of-action being the enzymatic degradation of the proteinaceous components of the adhesives. So far, however, the evidence remains inconclusive since most of the published investigations refer to commercial preparations where the enzyme is mixed with other components, like additives, which obviously act as additional experimental variables. This work aims at providing clear, conclusive evidence about the potential of serine proteases to target the adhesives produced by a group of model marine biofoulers. The strategy towards the goal consisted in the preparation and characterization of maleic anhydride copolymer nanocoatings modified by a surface-bound enzyme, Subtilisin A, the active constituent of the commercial preparations reported as effective against biofouling. The enzyme-containing maleic anhydride copolymer films were characterized (enzyme surface concentration, activity, stability, roughness and wettability) and thereafter tested in biological assays with three major biofoulers: spores of the green alga Ulva linza, cells of the pennate diatom Navicula perminuta, and cyprid larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. The purpose of the biological assays was to elucidate the efficacy of the immobilized catalyst to discourage settlement and/or to facilitate removal of these organisms from the bioactive layers. Results confirmed the initial hypotheses related to the enzymatic degradation of the biological adhesives: the immobilized protease was effective at reducing the adhesion strength of Ulva spores and Navicula diatoms in a manner that correlated with the enzyme activity and surface concentration, and deterred settlement of Balanus amphitrite barnacle cyprids even at the lowest surface activity tested. By facilitating the removal of biofilm-forming diatoms and of spores of the troublesome alga Ulva linza, as well as by interfering with the consolidation of adhesion of the calcareous Balanus amphitrite macrofouler, the enzyme-containing coatings here disclosed are considered to constitute an appealing and promising alternative to control marine biofouling without jeopardizing marine life.

L’étude de la structure de l’ARN est reconnue un sujet d’actualité qui permet de connaître sa fonction. Il existe différentes techniques enzymatiques ou chimiques classiques et récentes couplées au séquençage à haut débit pour étudier la structure de l’ARN. Le projet de thèse vise l’optimisation de deux techniques de cartographie déjà existantes et se divise en deux parties. La première partie concerne l’optimisation de la technique de hSHAPE et ceci en synthétisant de nouvelles sondes fluorescentes à transfert d’énergie capables d’étudier de faibles quantités d’ARN et adaptées au séquenceur d’ADN. Mon travail a permis la synthèse de 5 molécules fluorescentes intermédiaires et l’obtention d’une sonde finale. L’étude de cette sonde a montrée que l’interaction entre les deux fluorophores est majoritairement due à un mécanisme de couplage excitonique causé par la flexibilité et la distance entre les deux entités fluorescentes. De plus, les propriétés de la molécule sont fortement dépendantes du solvant. Dans la deuxième partie, nous cherchons à optimiser la cartographie en solution afin d’étudier le génome entier du VIH-1 in virio. Pour cela, nous avons synthétisé 4 molécules dérivées de l’anhydride isatoïque et modifiées sur la fonction amine N1 par un groupement propyn-2-yle. Nous avons aussi préparé 8 molécules de référence. De plus, des études préliminaires réalisées sur l’ARN 1-311 du VIH-1 ont montré que nos composés modifient l’ARN et qu’il est possible de fixer la biotine-PEG3-azoture par click chemistry sur les ARN ainsi modifiés. / Understanding the function of RNA involved in biological processes requires a thorough knowledge of RNA structure. Traditional chemical and enzymatic reagents and backbonebased cleavage are useful for mapping RNA secondary structure, and on going advances in nucleotide resolution RNA structure probing have made possible increasingly rigorous and quantitative analysis. Although chemical and enzymatic probes are recently coupled to high throughput sequencing, these techniques still suffer from some disadvantages. This project aims the optimization of two existing techniques and is divided into two major topics. The first part aims the optimization of “hSHAPE chemistry”. A practical method is the synthesis of energy transfer dyes from the “BigDyes” family that are useful to study small amount of RNA and are compatible with DNA sequencing. We have done the synthesis of 5 modified dyes and one BigDye. The characterization of this BigDye shows that it exists excitoncoupling mechanism due to the strong interaction between the two transition dipoles. In addition, the solvent influences strongly the photophysical properties of this BigDye. The purpose of the second part is to develop and synthesize new class of isatoic anhydride derivatives useful to map the entire genome of HIV-1 in virio. We have done the synthesis of 4 N-substituted molecules with a propyn-2-yl function and 8 reference molecules. In addition, preliminary results on HIV-1 1-311 RNA showed that these compounds are able to modify RNA and that it is possible to fix a biotin-azide by click chemistry.

A crescente demanda por produtos poliméricos com propriedades cada vez mais estritas tem forçado o desenvolvimento de técnicas de monitoramento em linha cada vez mais precisas e robustas. Infelizmente, grande parte das principais propriedades poliméricas não são quantificáveis em linha a partir das metodologias analíticas atualmente disponíveis e, portanto, na prática, as propriedades finais dos látices poliméricos são obtidas através da caracterização off line de amostras discretas coletadas do processo, resultando em um tempo de análise longo e indesejado para qualquer algoritmo de controle em tempo real. Por outro lado, como as reações de polimerização são altamente exotérmicas é possível quantificar continuamente a taxa de calor gerado pela reação a partir das medidas de temperatura e do balanço de energia que, por sua vez, pode ser usada para obter importantes informações acerca do estado do processo. Entretanto, esta técnica requer a atualização contínua do coeficiente global de troca térmica ao longo da reação, uma vez que este parâmetro está sujeito a variações temporais significativas. Portanto, o presente trabalho tem por objetivo analisar a viabilidade da aplicação conjunta dos conceitos da calorimetria e dos observadores não-lineares para a estimação dos estados de um processo químico. Para isso, serão analisadas duas reações químicas distintas: a) uma reação de hidrólise de anidrido acético, b) uma reação copolimerização em emulsão. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que essa metodologia é extremamente dependente dos parâmetros de sintonia do observador de estado, inviabilizando o seu uso para o monitoramento em linha de um processo químico. Por outro lado, a aplicação direta do balanço de energia para estimação do calor gerado pela reação, mostrou-se uma forma alternativa simples e viável para a estimação em tempo real dos estados de uma reação de polimerização. / The increasing demand for the production of polymers with more tight properties has placed great emphasis on the development of accurate and robust online monitoring techniques of polymerization reactions. Unfortunately, most of the main characteristics are not measurable online from analytical methodologies currently available and, therefore, in practice, the final properties of polymer latexes are obtained through off line characterization of discrete samples collected from the process, resulting in measurement delay which is undesirable for real-time control. On the other hand, since most of the polymerization reactions are highly exothermic, it is possible to quantify continuously the heat release rate based on temperature measurements and energy balance equations that, in turn, can be used to infer valuable information about the state of process. However, this approach requires up-dating the value of the global heat exchange coefficient through reaction, once this parameter is subject to significant time variations. Therefore, this work aims to examine the feasibility of joint implementation of the concepts of reaction calorimetry and nonlinear state observers for estimation of the states of a chemical process. In order to do that, two distinct chemical reactions will be considered: a) a hydrolysis of acetic anhydride reaction, b) an emulsion copolymerization reaction. The results showed that this approach shows a strong dependence of the tuning parameters, preventing its use for online monitoring of a chemical process. On the other hand, applying the heat balance it is possible to infer continuously the heat release rate and the states of polymerization reactions.

Neste trabalho são apresentadas estratégias para a estimação, em processos químicos, de estados, parâmetros e covariâncias do ruído de processo e das medidas que são testadas com dados experimentais. Para a estimação de estados e parâmetros foram implementadas desde a técnica mais tradicional, o filtro estendido de Kalman (EKF) até as mais modernas da literatura, como o filtro de Kalman Unscented (UKF) e o Moving Horizon Estimator (MHE). A técnica Autocovariance Least-Squares (ALS) permite a estimação das matrizes de covariância do processo e das medidas a partir dos estados medidos dos processos analisados. Três processos foram analisados com as técnicas citadas: a reação de hidrólise de anidrido acético, o aquecimento de um reator de polimerização completamente carregado (sem iniciador) e por fim oito reações diferentes de polimerização em emulsão. Os resultados mostraram que uma sintonia por tentativa e erro para as matrizes de covariância não apresenta um desempenho adequado. Adicionalmente, o UKF mostra um melhor desempenho, quando comparado com o EKF para o monitoramento de processos de polimerização regime em batelada com covariâncias obtidas através de otimização direta. Quando a estimação da covariância com a técnica ALS é implementada e os resultados utilizados em estimadores estocásticos, o desempenho dos estimadores recursivos melhora consideravelmente. Além disso, o MHE mostrou ser uma ferramenta robusta para o monitoramento do coeficiente global de troca térmica (UA) e do calor gerado pela reação para a polimerização em emulsão em regime semi-contínuo. Finalmente, duas características vantajosas da metodologia proposta devem ser destacadas: a independência em relação ao valor inicial para o estado UA e o fato de um único conjunto de matrizes de covariância (quando obtida pela técnica ALS) poder ser utilizado em reações diferentes, sem necessidade de sintonizar novamente as matrizes para cada reação. / In this work, strategies for state, parameter and covariance estimation in chemical processes are presented and tested with experimental data. For state and parameter estimation techniques have been implemented that spread from the traditional Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) to the most modern techniques from literature, such as the Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF) and the Moving Horizon Estimator (MHE). The Autocovariance Least-Squares technique (ALS) allows the covariance matrices of the process and measurement noise to be estimated based on the measured states of the processes analyzed. Three cases were studied using these techniques: the hydrolysis of acetic anhydride, the warming-up stage of a fully charged polymerization reactor (without initiator) to the desired temperature and finally, eight different emulsion polymerization reaction runs. Results showed that determining covariance matrices by trial and error does not lead to an adequate performance. Additionally, the UKF presents a better performance than the EKF for batch polymerization processes with covariance matrices obtained by direct optimization. When the estimation of the covariance is performed by the ALS technique and they are used in a stochastic estimator, the performance of the recursive estimators is considerably improved. Furthermore, the MHE proved to be a robust tool for monitoring the overall heat transfer coefficient (UA) and the heat of reaction for fedbatch emulsion polymerization. Finally, two positive features of the proposed methodology must be highlighted, its low dependency on the initial state condition of UA and the fact that a unique set of covariance matrices (when obtained by the ALS technique) can be used for different reaction runs, without the necessity of tuning the matrices again for each reaction.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Chemical Engineering / Keith L. Hohn / Vanadium phosphorous oxide (VPO) is traditionally manufactured from solid vanadium oxides by synthesizing VOHPO[4subscript][dot in middle of line]0.5H[2subscript]O (the precursor) followed by in-situ activation to produce (VO)[2subscript]P[2subscript]O[subscript]7 (the active phase). These catalysts considerably improve their performance when prepared as nanostructured materials and this study discusses an alternative synthesis method based on sol-gel techniques capable of producing nanostructured VPO. Vanadium(V) triisopropoxide oxide was reacted with ortho-phosphoric acid in tetrahydrofuran (THF). This procedure yielded a gel of VOPO[4subscript] with interlayer entrapped molecules. The gels were dried at high pressure in an autoclave with controlled excess and composition of THF-2-propanol mixtures. The surface area of the obtained materials was between 50 and 120 m[2superscript]/g. Alcohol produced by the alkoxide hydrolysis and incorporated along with the excess solvent reduced the vanadium during the drying step. Therefore, after the autoclave drying, the solid VOPO[4subscript] was converted to the precursor; and, non-agglomerated platelets were observed. Use of additional 2-propanol increased the amount of precursor in the powder but reduced its surface area and increased its crystallite size. In general, sol-gel prepared catalysts were significantly more selective than the traditionally prepared materials, and it is suggested that the small crystallite size obtained in the precursor influenced the crystallite size of the active phase increasing their selectivity towards maleic anhydride. The evaluation of these materials as catalysts for the partial oxidation of n-butane at 673 K under mixtures of 1.5% n-butane in air yielded selectivity of 40% at 50% conversion compared to 25% selectivity at similar level of conversion produced by the traditionally prepared catalysts. Variations in the catalytic performance are attributed to observed polymorphism in the activated materials, which is evidenced by remarkable differences in the intrinsic activity. All precursors and catalysts were characterized by IR, XRD, SEM and BET, and the products of the catalytic tests were analyzed by GC.

No description available.

This thesis deals with a preparation of modified polypropylene. Modified polypropylene was prepared by reaction itaconic anhydride and compounds contain primary and secondary amino group (diaminododecane, aminoethylethanolamine and aminoethylpiperazine). Knowledge of radical and condensation modification of polypropylene were summarized in the theoretical part. New application of modified polypropylene ware summarized at the theoretical part as well. In the experimental part polypropylene was functionalized by grafting with itaconic anhydride during reactive extrusion. Extrusion was carried on the co-rotating twin-screw extruder (Brabender 25 DSE L/D = 34) at 230 °C and 30 RPM. Residence time of reactive blend was 3 minutes. The modified polypropylene PP-g-IAH) contained 0.5 wt% of itaconic anhydride. 2,5 dimethyl 2,5bis(tert buthyl-peroxy)hexane (Luperox 101) was used as a radical initiator. A ratio initiator/monomer was 1:0.6 (mol/mol). PP-g-IAH was used for condensation reaction with amino compounds in molar ratios IAH/amine from 1:0,3 to 1:1. This reaction carried out in single screw extruder (Betol 1825 L/D = 39) at 210 °C and 30 RPM. Residence time of reactive blend was 3 minutes. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used for a calculation of reaction conversion and for description of new functional groups in the materials. This analysis confirmed the presence of amide and imide groups in the samples. Influence of amino compounds to polymer crystallinity was studied by differential scanning calorimetry. Termogravimetric analysis focused on thermal stability of prepared samples and changes of thermal stability was observed in dependence of additives amount. The rheological behaviors of modified PP were analyzed by measuring the complex viscosity.

The theoretical part of the diploma thesis is focused on the funcionalization of polyolefins in order to accelerate their degradation and to increase their carbon content from renewable resources with focus on hydroxyacids. The experimental part is focused on preparing samples and studying the properties of the polypropylene and polyethylene blends with the polylactide with different contents of the initiator and the maleic anhydride. Samples were evaluated by determining the degree of conversion maleic anhydride, differential scanning calorimetry, infrared spectroscopy, melt flow index and mechanical properties.

The colonization of immersed surfaces by a myriad of marine organisms is a complex, multi-stage, species-specific process giving rise to economic and environmental costs. This unwanted accumulation of organisms in the marine environment, called biofouling, has been attacked from different fronts, going from the ‘problem-elimination-as-problem-solving’ strategy (essentially through the use of biocides) to more elaborated and environmentally-friendly options based on the principle of ‘non-stick’ or ‘easy foul-release’ surfaces, which do not jeopardize marine life viability. Several marine organisms rely on proteinaceous adhesives to secure a holdfast to surfaces. Proteolytic enzymes have been demonstrated to be effective agents against settlement and settlement consolidation onto surfaces of marine bacteria, algae, and invertebrates, their proposed mode-of-action being the enzymatic degradation of the proteinaceous components of the adhesives. So far, however, the evidence remains inconclusive since most of the published investigations refer to commercial preparations where the enzyme is mixed with other components, like additives, which obviously act as additional experimental variables. This work aims at providing clear, conclusive evidence about the potential of serine proteases to target the adhesives produced by a group of model marine biofoulers. The strategy towards the goal consisted in the preparation and characterization of maleic anhydride copolymer nanocoatings modified by a surface-bound enzyme, Subtilisin A, the active constituent of the commercial preparations reported as effective against biofouling. The enzyme-containing maleic anhydride copolymer films were characterized (enzyme surface concentration, activity, stability, roughness and wettability) and thereafter tested in biological assays with three major biofoulers: spores of the green alga Ulva linza, cells of the pennate diatom Navicula perminuta, and cyprid larvae of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite. The purpose of the biological assays was to elucidate the efficacy of the immobilized catalyst to discourage settlement and/or to facilitate removal of these organisms from the bioactive layers. Results confirmed the initial hypotheses related to the enzymatic degradation of the biological adhesives: the immobilized protease was effective at reducing the adhesion strength of Ulva spores and Navicula diatoms in a manner that correlated with the enzyme activity and surface concentration, and deterred settlement of Balanus amphitrite barnacle cyprids even at the lowest surface activity tested. By facilitating the removal of biofilm-forming diatoms and of spores of the troublesome alga Ulva linza, as well as by interfering with the consolidation of adhesion of the calcareous Balanus amphitrite macrofouler, the enzyme-containing coatings here disclosed are considered to constitute an appealing and promising alternative to control marine biofouling without jeopardizing marine life.