Cancer remains one of the world’s most devastating diseases, with more than 10 million new cases every year. However, traditional treatments have proven insufficient for successful medical management of cancer due to the chemotherapeutics’ difficulty in achieving therapeutic concentrations at the target site, non-specific cytotoxicity to normal tissues, and limited systemic circulation lifetime. Although, a concerted effort has been placed in developing and successfully employing nanoparticle(NP)-based drug delivery vehicles successfully mitigate the physiochemical and pharmacological limitations of chemotherapeutics, work towards controlling the subcellular fate of the carrier, and ultimately its payload, has been limited. Because efficient therapeutic action requires drug delivery to specific organelles, the subcellular barrier remains critical obstacle to maximize the full potential of NP-based delivery vehicles. The aim of my dissertation work is to better understand how NP-delivery vehicles’ structural, chemical, and physical properties affect the internalization method and subcellular localization of the nanocarrier. In this work we explored how side-chain and backbone modifications affect the conjugated polymer nanoparticle (CPN) toxicity and subcellular localization. We discovered how subtle chemical modifications had profound consequences on the polymer’s accumulation inside the cell and cellular retention. We also examined how complexation of CPN with polysaccharides affects uptake efficiency and subcellular localization. This work also presents how changes to CPN backbone biodegradability can significantly affect the subcellular localization of the material. A series of triphenyl phosphonium-containing CPNs were synthesized and the effect of backbone modifications have on the cellular toxicity and intracellular fate of the material. A mitochondrial-specific polymer exhibiting time-dependent release is reported. Finally, we present a novel polymerization technique which allows for the controlled incorporation of electron-accepting benzothiadiazole units onto the polymer chain. This facilitates tuning CPN emission towards red emission. The work presented here, specifically, the effect that side-chain and structure, polysaccharide formulation and CPN degradability have on material’s uptake behavior, can help maximize the full potential of NP-based delivery vehicles for improved chemotherapeutic drug delivery.

Recentemente tem sido observado grande avanço na área de fotovoltaicos orgânicos e híbridos. Esses dispositivos baseiam-se em diferenças de energia eletrônica nas interfaces dos componentes de uma heterojunção, onde as heterojunções dispersas obtidas via arranjos interpenetrantes com estes dois compostos, em dimensões sub-20-nm, permite coleção efetiva dos portadores de carga fotogerados, mesmo com pequeno comprimento de difusão do éxciton e baixa mobilidade dos portadores de carga. Desta maneira, o estudo e a modificação da interface entre as duas fases é essencial para melhorar a eficiência de conversão desses dispositivos. Este trabalho tem como objetivo investigar heterojunções de dióxido de titânio (TiO2)/poli(3-hexil tiofeno) (P3HT) como camadas ativas em dispositivos fotovoltaicos híbridos. Essas heterojunções são atraentes para fotovoltaicos híbridos por permitir a nanoestruturação do metalóxido antes da incorporação do polímero, levando à obtenção de elevada área interfacial e com a possibilidade de ajustar as propriedades interfaciais mantendo o caráter aceitador/doador desta heterojunção. Os filmes de TiO2 foram obtidos a partir de dispersões coloidais de nanopartículas de anatase, enquanto aqueles de P3HT foram obtidos a partir de sua solução de 1,2-diclorobenzeno. Como eletrodos foram utilizados o óxido de índio dopado com óxido de estanho (ITO) e ouro (Au). A caracterização elétrica e espectroscópica indicou que os parâmetros fotovoltaicos, bem como absorção e fotoluminescência, dependem da submissão dos dispositivos a tratamentos térmicos post-production, evidenciando que o aquecimento induz a mudanças conformacionais no polímero, alterando a interface óxido/polímero. A introdução de grupos carboxilato nas ramificações 3-hexil do P3HT permite melhor contato entre óxido/polímero, sendo favorecido por tratamento térmico. Mais ainda, a infiltração do polímero em filmes de TiO2 nanocristalino levou à obtenção de dispositivos fotovoltaicos de considerável estabilidade, apresentando atividade mesmo após 6 meses após a elaboração destes. Finalmente, neste trabalho também é proposta a utilização de um complexo a base de ftalocianina de zinco como modificador de interface do TiO2, cuja absorção estende a janela espectral do dispositivo até o vermelho e infravermelho próximo. Estudos de fenômenos de transporte, levando-se em conta a fotogeração de portadores e sua recombinação, foram realizados por medidas do espectro de fotocondução no dispositivo / Recently a fast development in organic and hybrid photovoltaic field has been observed. Such devices are fabricated by organic semiconductors within components of a heterojunction, in which bulk heterojunctions obtained via interpenetrating networks at the sub-20-nm length scale. It permits the effective collection of photogenerated charge carriers even with low exciton diffusion length and low charge carrier mobilities. Therefore, the study of material properties and the interface modification are essential to improve the power efficiency of such devices. The goal of this work is to investigate heterojunctions of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) as active layers in hybrid photovoltaic devices. Such heterojunctions are attractive since the metaloxide can be nanostructured previous the infiltration of the polymer within the nanocrystalline phase, leading on large interfacial area with the possibility to tune the interfacial properties keeping the acceptor/donor character of the two components. Titania films were obtained from colloidal dispersions of anatase nanoparticles, while P3HT from its solution in 1,2-dichlorobenzene. The electrodes were indium-tin oxide (ITO) and gold (Au). Electrical and spectroscopic characterization shows the photovoltaic parameters, as well as absorption and photoluminescence, depends on post-production treatments, evidencing that heating induces conformational changes in the polymeric phase, changing the oxide/polymer interface. The introduction of carboxyl groups at 3-hexyl ramifications in P3HT permits better contacts between oxide and polymer by chemisorption, being favored by thermal treatment. Furthermore, the infiltration of the polymer within the nanocrystalline TiO2 leads on enhanced stability of the devices, working even six months after their preparation. Finally, in this work is also proposed the utilization of a interface modifier based on zinc phtalocyanine complex, which has extended the device absorption window up to the red/ near infrared, increasing light harvesting, and a transport study related to photocarriers generation and recombination process was carried out by photoconductivity action spectra

Esta tese de doutorado é resultado do estudo da fotocondutividade em materiais poliméricos, com particular enfoque em diodos poliméricos com camada ativa de derivados do poli (p-fenileno vinileno) (PPV): OC10-PPV, SY e MEH-PPV, em estrutura tipo sanduíche (ITO/polimérico/Metal) de camada única, utilizando eletrodos metálicos com diferentes funções trabalho depositados sobre o mesmo filme. Para isso, foi necessária a realização de todas as etapas de fabricação de dispositivos orgânicos, como descritas neste trabalho, para obter resultados com o máximo de reprodutibilidade, bem como o domínio das técnicas de caracterização. As propriedades ópticas dos filmes poliméricos foram analisadas através dos espetros de absorção e de fluorescência estacionária na região do visível. O comportamento fotocondutivo dos dispositivos foi realizado através de medidas de corrente-tensão (I-V) e da espectroscopia de fotocorrente no estado estacionário em regime dc sob incidência de luz com diferentes comprimentos de onda, ora através do ITO, ora através dos eletrodos metálicos semitransparente, para o dispositivo sob diferentes valores de tensões aplicadas. A variação desses parâmetros permitiu verificar como estes influenciam na fotogeração e no transporte de portadores de cargas e assim adaptar e aplicar um modelo teórico que levasse em consideração o campo elétrico aplicado para ajustar a fotocorrente obtida experimentalmente, obtendo informações sobre as propriedades de fotocondutividade dos materiais estudos. / This thesis is a study about photoconductivity in polymeric materials, in particular diodes with single-layer sandwich structure derivates of poly(para-phenylene vinylene) (PPV): OC10-PPV, SY and MEH-PPV. Different metallic electrodes were deposited on the same polymeric layer. Therefore, it was necessary to realize the devices fabrication process step by step as well to dominate the characterization techniques. The optical properties of polymeric film were analyzed through the absorption and emission spectrum in the visible region. The photoconductivity behavior was studied by dc current-voltage (I-V) and photocurrent action spectra through the absorption and emission spectrum in the visible region. The photoconductivity behavior was studied by dc current-voltage (I-V) and photocurrent action spectra through the both side of device under applied voltages. The variation of these parameters allowed verifying how are influencing in the charge carrier photo-generation and the charge transport and then to adapt and apply a theoretical model wich considers the electric field applied to fit the photocurrent action spectra of devices. The values of the parameters allow to survey important about photoconductivity properties of the materials

Orientador: Lucas Fugikawa Santos / Banca: Marcelo Andres Fossey / Banca: Dante Luis Chinaglia / Resumo: Esta dissertação de mestrado apresenta um estudo sobre as propriedades de foto-geração de portadores de carga e sua condução em dispositivos optoeletrônicos orgânicos construídos em estruturas de diodo tipo sanduíche - ITO/Polímero/Metal - sendo empregados como sua camada ativa dois polímeros orgânicos conjugados distintos, o poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) ou MDMO-PPV, e o copolímero fenil substituído do poli(p-fenileno vinileno) conhecido como Super Yellow® ou SY-PPV. As características da foto-geração e de transporte de cargas dos dispositivos foram determinada através da análise de medidas de corrente-tensão (I-V) em regime d.c., e de espectroscopia de impedância/capacitância no regime da frequência (1Hz-1MHz). As propriedades elétricas dos dispositivos foram estudadas com os dispositivos iluminados em diferentes faixas de comprimentos de onda na região do visível, a diferentes intensidades, e comparadas com as propriedades dos dispositivos no escuro. Para iluminação através do eletrodo transparente (ITO), tanto um efeito fotovoltaico quanto fotocondutivo foram claramente observados. Em particular, o efeito da foto-geração no espectro de capacitância em função da frequência foi estudado em maiores detalhes. Um modelo semiempírico, levando em conta as distribuições de cargas espaciais devidas à foto-geração de portadores de carga e propriedades de transporte como, por exemplo... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: This dissertation presents a study on the properties of photo-generation and conduction of charge carriers in organic optoelectronic devices built in sandwich diode structures - ITO/Polymer/Metal - with the active layer comprised by two different organic conjugated polymers: poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene) MDMO-PPV, and a phenyl-substituted copolymer of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) known as Super Yellow®, SY-PPV. The photo-generation and charge transport properties have been determined from the analysis of current-voltage (I-V) measurements in the d.c. regime and impedance/capacitance spectroscopy in the regime of frequency (1Hz-1MHz). The electrical properties of the devices were studied with the devices under illumination, in different ranges of wavelength in the visible region, at different intensities and compared with the properties of devices in the dark. By illuminating the devices through the transparent electrode (ITO), both photovoltaic and photoconductive effects were clearly observed. Particularly, the photo-generation effect in the frequency-dependent capacitance spectrum was studied in detail. A semiempirical model taking into account the spatial distribution of charges due the photo-generation and material properties... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The study shows strong influence of the conformation of the main chains of polythiophenes in solutions on their spectroscopic properties. The conformational changes affect strength of interactions between neighboring chains and lead to the formation of aggregates of stacked polythiophene chains. Stacked chains show red shift of the optical absorption and lead to visible vibronic structure of absorption bands. Multilayered systems prepared by periodic adsorption of the cationic and anionic polythiophene polyelectrolytes on various substrates show proportionality of the overall layer thickness to the number of coatings, which allows a control of the layer thickness. Adsorption of the conjugated polyelectrolytes on the anatase form of titanium dioxide show better penetration of the anionic polythiophene to porous anatase. The adsorption of polymer into the mesoporous structure is not complete: maximum adsorption of PTTA (poly(thiophene-3-ylacetic acid)) adsorbed on anatase do not correspond to the inner surface of mesoporous anatase. Alternating adsorption from the solutions of polythiophene with anionic and cationic side groups on mesoporous anatase allows preparation of the Graetzel-like photovoltaic cell provided that the adsorption process starts with the anionic polythiophene and the layers are deposited...

This thesis targets the development of conjugated polymers with improved process ability from solutions. Two types of ionic polymers are addressed: (i) conjugated metallo-supramolecular polymers (MSPs) composed of conjugated heteroaromatic unimers (building blocks) linked to chains by various metal ions giving charged main chains, and (ii) polythiophene polyelectrolytes containing ionic pendants. Processing advantages of conjugated polyelectrolytes consist in the possibility of their processing from solutions in green solvents such as alcohols or even water. The advantages of MSPs consist in the thermodynamic control of the degree of polymerization (length) of their chains in solutions by the choice of solvent and temperature. As a result, MSPs reversibly provide systems of low viscosity that can be processed from solutions more easily than high-molar-mass polymers giving highly viscous solutions. Synthesis of appropriately designed unimer(s) is the key step of preparation of an MSP. Within this thesis, a series of novel unimers composed of linear oligothiophene type (mono-, bi-, ter- a thieno-thiophene- diyl) central blocks capped with 2,6-bis(oxazoline-2-yl)pyridine (pybox) or 2,6-bis(imidazole-2-...

<p>  </p> <p>Organic semiconductors have been considered a promising candidate to replace Silicon-based inorganic semiconductors in our electronics due to their lightweight, high flexibility, and solution processability. Recently, conjugated polymers were shown to be functional at up to 200°C, expanding organic semiconductors application territory into high-temperature electronics, which sorely depends on wide-bandgap semiconductors. To push the operational temperature boundary of polymer transistors even further than 200°C, our understanding of temperature impacts on the materials and charge transport mechanism in such harsh conditions needs to be improved. Here, we study the high temperature effect on polymer transistors from two main directions: via molecular design and via device engineering. First, via sidechain design, we explored the impact of close π-π packing on the thermal stability of semiconducting polymers. We discovered that maintaining close π-π packing can lead to lower chain distortion, thus improving the polymer transistors' operational stability at high temperatures. Then we study the impact from device factor, specifically contact resistance in device behavior at extreme conditions. We found that the contact area is more susceptible to high temperatures than other regions in the channels and is the main reason for the degraded performance. We then propose a facile method to minimize the contact problem, to achieve stable devices at above 200°C. And last, we proposed a simple method to attain quasi-temperature independent charge transport in polymer transistors from room temperature to 140°C by simply applying a prolonged bias gate voltage before heating. This research expands our knowledge on charge transport in conjugated polymers at high temperatures and provides a guide to make conjugated polymer transistors for extreme conditions in the future.</p>

The re-emergence of interest in organic semiconducting small molecules and polymers during past several decades can be attributed to their advantage of utility, flexibility, ease of access, and turnability over silicon based inorganic semiconductors. The library of organic semiconductors containing p-type (hole conducting) and n-type (electron conducting) materials have grown in numbers and efficiency. The p-type semiconducting materials hold an advantage over n-type materials owing to their stability and ease of synthesis. The widespread use of fullerenes (C60 and C70) as n-type materials in organic photovoltaics OPVs and their known downsides of poor absorption in visible and NIR region and limited charge carrier transport have triggered the development of non-fullerene based electron accepting (NFEA) materials . By taking advantage of the electron accepting behavior of cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylene fragment of C70, we have synthesized a new class of cyclopentafused polyaromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs). These new contorted CP-PAHs have been prepared utilizing the modified version of our previously developed palladium catalyzed cyclopentannulation strategy. The target molecules broaden the scope of annulation chemistry to 1,2-bis(5-hexylthiophen-3-yl)ethyne with aryl dibromo derivatives of anthracene, pyrene and perylene to yield 4,4',4'',4'''-(cyclopenta[hi]aceanthrylene-1,2,6,7-tetrayl)tetrakis(2-hexylthiophene), 4,4',4'',4'''-(dicyclopenta[cd,jk]pyrene-1,2,6,7-tetrayl)tetrakis(2-hexylthiophene) and 1,2,7,8-tetrakis(5-hexylthiophen-3-yl)-1,2,7,8-tetrahydrodicyclopenta[cd,lm]perylene. Scholl cyclodehydrogenation of the cyclopentafused thiophene units with suitably substituted hydrocarbons chains provided access to p-extended polyaromatic systems including 2,5,11,14-tetrahexylrubiceno[5,4-b:6,7-b':12,11-b'':13,14-b''']tetrathiophene, 2,5,11,14-tetrahexyldithieno-[4,5:6,7]indeno[1,2,3-cd]dithieno[4,5:6,7]indeno-[1,2,3-jk]pyrene, and 2,9,12,19-tetrahexyldithieno[4,5:6,7]indaceno[1,2,3-cd]dithieno[4,5:6,7]indaceno[1,2,3-lm]perylene. The fully conjugated p-electronic core of these small molecules provide low optical band gaps, decent mobilities and broad absorption. The HOMO and LUMO energies of these CP-PAHs were found to be in the range of -5.48 to -5.05 eV and -3.48 to -3.14 eV, respectively. Besides showing broad band absorption features, some derivative were found to operate as a p-type semiconductor when tested in organic field effect transistors. Anthradithiophene (ADT) is an isoelectronic analogue of pentacene and became a point of interest. A soluble, and functionalizable ADT derivative, 5,11-dibromoanthradithiophene was prepared and then polymerized utilizing Stille, Sonogashira and Yamamoto cross coupling strategies. The newly developed ADT polymers were found to operate in p-type regime when tested in organic field effect transistors. To explore the effects of solvent on growing polymer chains in step-growth polymerizations, we developed a library of Yamamoto and Glaser polymers. The hypothesis tested was that growing polymer chains can recruit further monomer units to create block character in the growing polymer chains. Our investigations reveals that the solvent conditions altering the polarity of the reaction mixture can cause up to 40% preference of blockiness in the growing polymer chains.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第18297号 / 工博第3889号 / 新制||工||1597(附属図書館) / 31155 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻 / (主査)教授 赤木 和夫, 教授 山子 茂, 教授 秋吉 一成 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第19011号 / 工博第4053号 / 新制||工||1624(附属図書館) / 31962 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科高分子化学専攻 / (主査)教授 赤木 和夫, 教授 秋吉 一成, 教授 金谷 利治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM