Ring-opening polymerization (ROP) is a promising approach to accessing well-defined polyesters with superior (bio)degradability and recyclability. However, the living/controlled polymerization of glycolide (GL), a well-known sustainable monomer derived from carbon mono/di-oxide, has never been reported due to the extremely low solubility of its polymer in common solvents. Herein, we report the first living/controlled anionic ROP of GL in strong protic fluoroalcohols (FAs), which are conventionally considered incompatible with anionic polymerization. Well-defined polyglycolide (PGA, Ð < 1.15, Mn up to 55.4 kg mol-1) and various PGA-based macromolecules are obtained at room temperature for the first time. NMR titration and computational studies revealed that FAs simultaneously activate the chain-end and monomer without being involved in initiation. Low boiling point FAs and PGA can be recycled through simple distillation and sublimation at 220 oC in vacuo, respectively, providing a promising sustainable alternative for tackling plastic pollution problems. Well-defined multicrystalline multiblock polymers are essential model polymers for advancing crystallization physics, phase separation, self-assembly, and improving the mechanical properties of materials. However, due to the different chain properties and incompatible synthetic methodology, multicrystalline multiblock polymers with more than two crystallites are rarely reported. Herein, by combining polyhomologation, ring-opening polymerization, and “catalyst switch” strategy, we synthesized the first pentacrystalline pentablock quintopolymer, polyethylene-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-polyglycolide (PE-b-PEO-b-PCL-b-PLLA-b-PGA). The novel “fluoroalcohol-assisted catalyst switch” enables the first successful incorporation of a high melting point polyglycolide into the complex multiblock polymer. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry revealed the existence of five different crystalline phases.

Residual value is defined as the price for which a used piece of equipment can be sold in the market at a particular time. It is an important element of the owning costs of equipment and needs to be estimated by equipment managers for making investment decisions. The purpose of this study is to gain insights into the residual value of selected groups of heavy construction equipment and to develop a mathematical model for its prediction. Auction sales data were collected from two online databases. Manufacturer publications and an online source provided size parameters and manufacturers suggested retail prices matching the auction records. Macroeconomic indicator values were collected from a variety of sources, including government agencies. The data were brought into the same electronic format and were matched by model name and calendar date, respectively. Data from auctions in the U.S. and in Canada were considered for this study. Equipment from four principal manufacturers of up to 15 years of age at the time of sale was included. A total of 35,542 entries were grouped into 11 different equipment types and 28 categories by size as measured by horse power, standard operating weight, or bucket volume. Equipment types considered were track and wheel excavators, wheel and track loaders, backhoe loaders, integrated toolcarriers, rigid frame and articulated trucks, track dozers, motor graders, and wheel tractor scrapers. Multiple linear regression analyses of the 28 datasets were carried out after outliers had been deleted. Explanatory variables for the regression model were age in years, the indicator variables manufacturer, condition rating, and geographic region, and selected macroeconomic indicators. The response variable was residual value percent, defined as auction price divided by manufacturers suggested retail price. Different first, second, and third-order polynomial models and exponential and logarithmic models of age were examined. A second-order polynomial was selected from these functional forms based on the adjusted coefficient of determination. Coefficients for the 28 models and related statistics were tabulated. A spreadsheet tool incorporating the final regression model and its coefficients was developed. It allows performing the residual value prediction in an interactive and intuitive manner. / Ph. D.

Utilization of DNA vaccines in aquaculture has been gaining interest and recent efforts have been focused on methods of delivering DNA vaccines to fish. In the present study, a methodology was sought that could protect DNA vaccines such that they could be orally administered. The main objective of the study was to determine if a DNA vaccine could be effectively compounded into an orally administrable formulation with chitosan or polylactide-co-glycolide (PLG). The immune response of hybrid striped bass (Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops) following oral delivery of a DNA vaccine containing Mycobacterium marinum Ag85A plasmid in either chitosan or PLG nanoparticle encapsulation was evaluated. Hybrid striped bass were divided into four experimental groups: IM immunization of the DNA vaccine as a positive control, oral delivery of uncomplexed DNA vaccine, oral delivery of chitosan or PLG alone as a negative control, and oral delivery of complexed chitosan or complexed PLG DNA vaccine. Fish were bled at regular intervals and an ELISA was used to evaluate antibody levels in individual fish. While the chitosan /plasmid DNA complex containing the Mycobacterium marinum Ag85A gene failed to produce a significant antibody response, the PLG/plasmid DNA matrix stimulated humoral immune response in the fish. / Master of Science

Yes / We report a technique for the fabrication of micropockets within electrospun membranes in which to study cell behavior. Specifically, we describe a combination of microstereolithography and electrospinning for the production of PLGA (Poly(lactide-co-glycolide)) corneal biomaterial devices equipped with microfeatures.

Yes / Our overall aim is to develop a synthetic off-the-shelf alternative to human amniotic membrane which is currently used for delivering cultured limbal stem cells to the cornea in patients who suffer scarring of the cornea because of the loss of limbal stem cells. We have recently reported that both cultured cells and limbal explants grow well on electrospun Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) (44 kg/mol) with a 50:50 ratio of lactide and glycolide and sterilized with γ-irradiation. Prior to undertaking a clinical study our immediate aim now is to achieve long term storage of the membranes in convenient to use packaging. Membranes were electrospun from Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (44 kg/mol) with a 50:50 ratio of lactide and glycolide and sterilized with γ-irradiation and then stored dry (with desiccant) for several months at -80°C and -20°C , Room temperature (UK and India), 37°C and 50°C. We explored the contribution of vacuum sealing and the use of a medical grade bag (PET/Foil/LDPE) to achieve a longer shelf life. Confirmation of membranes being suitable for clinical use was obtained by culturing tissue explants on membranes post storage. When scaffolds were stored dry the rate of breakdown was both temperature and time dependent. At -20°C and -80°C there was no change in fiber diameter over 18 months of storage, and membranes were stable for 12 months at 4°C while at 50°C (above the transition temperature for PLGA) scaffolds lost integrity after several weeks. The use of vacuum packaging and a medical grade bag both improved the storage shelf-life of the scaffolds. The impact of temperature on storage is summarized beneath. We report that this synthetic membrane can be used as an off-the-shelf or-out-of-the freezer alternative to the amniotic membrane for corneal regeneration.

Chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments for cancer. However, systemic toxicity, drug resistance and unstable kinetics of the drug in the blood are serious problems of chemotherapy. The use of biodegradable polymers for controlled release of anticancer drugs has gained popularity in recent years. Controlled release of drugs from polymeric carriers has some advantages such as improvement in the efficiency of treatment, reduction in systemic toxicity and prevention of the drug resistance that is developed by the cancer cells. In this study, poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles were used as carriers for the controlled release of all-trans-Retinoic acid, tamoxifen, tamoxifen citrate and idarubicin. It was aimed to prepare a drug carrier system for controlled release of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. The empty and drug loaded poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles were prepared by solvent extraction/evaporation technique with single emulsion (oil/water). Optimized microparticles were characterized by using inverted light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to examine their morphology and sizes. Drug content of microparticles and the amount of released drug were determined spectrophotometrically. In vitro toxicity of the microparticles on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells was investigated. It was revealed that the microparticles were smooth and spherical in shape. Their sizes differed in the range of 2-20 &micro / m. atRA-loaded microparticles showed approximately 90% encapsulation efficiency and it was confirmed that changing in drug/polymer ratio affected the extend of drug content. Increase in drug content caused a slower release pattern. Moreover, although the empty microparticles caused some toxicity, atRA-loaded PLGA microparticles showed slight cell growth inhibition.

Breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer seen in woman. Chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments for breast cancer. However, systemic toxicity, drug resistance and unstable kinetics of the drug in the blood are serious problems of chemotherapy. The use of biodegradable polymers for controlled release of anticancer drugs has gained popularity in recent years. Controlled release of anticancer drugs from polymeric carriers has some advantages such as improvement in the efficiency of treatment, reduction in systemic toxicity and prevention of the drug resistance that is developed by the cancer cells. In this study, it was aimed to prepare such a controlled release system for anticancer drugs which are used in breast cancer treatment by using biodegradable copolymer poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) and to characterize in terms of morphology, size, drug content and drug release rate. In the first part of this study / empty and drug loaded poly (D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared. Two sets of empty poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared by solvent evaporation technique with single emulsion (oil/water) to determine the effect of stirring rate on size of microspheres. Increase in stirring rate caused decrease in size of microspheres. Drug loaded poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres were prepared for controlled release of anticancer drugs which are used in breast cancer treatment namely / 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate and tamoxifen by using solvent evaporation technique either with double emulsion (water/oil/water) or single emulsion (oil/water). In the second part of this study / empty and drug loaded microspheres were characterized. Inverted light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine morphology and size of microspheres. Drug content of microspheres and amount of released drug were determined and drug release profile was obtained for each anticancer drug separetely.

The use of various biodegradable polymers for the improvement of different controlled and long-lasting drug release systems is an active research area in recent years. The application of different metal prostheses, especially titanium based ones, to the human body is also very common. A most important disadvantage of these prostheses is the risk of infection at the application areas that necessitates the removing of the prosthesis with a second surgical operation and reapplication of it after recovery. One of the best ways to solve this problem is to render metal prostheses infection free with controlled and sustainable drug (antibiotic) release systems. The long term sustained release of relevant antibiotics from the various biodegradable polymer coated metal implants is studied in this thesis. Virtual fatigue analysis and drug loading capacities of titanium and stainless steel samples with different surface pattern and modifications were studied. Various biodegradable polymer and drug combinations were examined and used for coating of metal prosthesis. The aim is to design polymer-drug coated metal implants that are capable of releasing a feasible amount of drug up to a period of at least 1 month. Various coating techniques and surface modifications were also employed to improve the adhesional properties of the drug containing polymers. Their adhesion abilities on the metal substrates were tested by Lap-shear and T-peel tests. Polymer degradation kinetics was followed by viscosity studies. Calibration lines for different drugs were obtained and drug releases on different systems were followed by using UV spectroscopy and microbial antibiotic sensitivity tests. Among the techniques applied to prevent fast release of drugs initially, the coatings of Vancomycin absorbed &amp / #946 / -TCP (&amp / #946 / -tricalcium phosphate) homogeneously distributed in poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) solution in chloroform followed by an inert coating with poly(L-lactide) system proved to be feasible. By this technique, initial burst release was minimized and drug release from implants lasted nearly 2 months. Multiple coatings on polymer plus drug coating layer also gave promising results. In vivo studies on dorsal muscles of native rabbits with antibiotic loaded implants gave no negative effect on the surrounding tissues with high compatibility free of infection.

Submitted by Biblioteca da Faculdade de Farmácia (bff@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-04-05T18:07:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Almeida, Kessiane Belshoff de [Dissertação, 2014].pdf: 1092616 bytes, checksum: ecf1d02bbd15139a6b65760edc3d1bb8 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-05T18:07:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Almeida, Kessiane Belshoff de [Dissertação, 2014].pdf: 1092616 bytes, checksum: ecf1d02bbd15139a6b65760edc3d1bb8 (MD5) / A nanoencapsulação de substâncias lipofílicas e sua posterior incorporação em formulações tópicas semissólidas oferece uma alternativa tecnologicamente viável para modular a permeação do ativo, melhorar sua distribuição na superfície da pele, reduzir sua toxicidade e conferir proteção frente a fatores extrínsecos. O polímero poli (ácido lático-co-glicolídeo) (PLGA) tem sido amplamente empregado na preparação de nanossistemas carreadores de fármacos em função de suas pronunciadas características de biocompatibilidade e biodegradabilidade. O presente estudo objetivou desenvolver um hidrogel para incorporação do óleo essencial de Cymbopogon citratus (OECc) encapsulado em nanopartículas poliméricas e avaliar sua atividade frente ao vírus Herpes simplex (HSV) tipos 1 e 2. Inicialmente, procedeu-se a extração de OECc por hidrodestilação, seguindo-se sua caracterização química por Cromatografia Gasosa de Alta Resolução acoplada ao Espectrômetro de Massas (CGAR-EM). Nanopartículas contendo OECc (NPOE) e nanopartículas branco (NP) foram preparadas pela técnica de emulsificação-difusão do solvente empregando PLGA, como polímero, e álcool polivinílico (PVA) como estabilizante. A distribuição de tamanho e o potencial zeta das partículas foram avaliados, respectivamente, pelas técnicas de espalhamento de luz dinâmico e mobilidade eletroforética, e sua eficiência de encapsulação determinada após extração com solvente, empregando metodologia analítica desenvolvida por espectrofotometria UV-Vis. Após preparo e caracterização, NPOE foram incorporadas a gel hidrofílico de Carbopol® Ultrez 10 NF (HNPOE), a fim de investigar a estabilidade da formulação nanoestruturada frente ao armazenamento e o perfil de liberação in vitro do óleo a partir da nanopartícula. Adicionalmente, hidrogel base (HB), hidrogel contendo o óleo livre (HOE) e o mesmo contendo nanopartículas branco (HNP) foram desenvolvidos como controles. A atividade inibitória das formulações frente HSV-1 e -2 sensíveis ao aciclovir foi avaliada por redução do título viral em placa, utilizando-se células Vero como sistema hospedeiro, após prévia determinação da citotoxicidade das amostras. O rendimento do processo extrativo foi de 0,37% e a análise qualitativa do óleo por CGAR-EM exibiu o citral como seu constituinte químico majoritário, correspondendo a 89,57 % da área relativa do cromatograma. Partículas em escala nanométrica e potencial zeta negativo foram obtidas, com um conteúdo de OECc de 58,59 ± 0,85 mg/g e eficiência de encapsulação de 28,48% ± 0,40%. Os hidrogéis desenvolvidos exibiram características apropriadas para aplicação cutânea, as quais se mantiveram inalteradas durante os 60 dias de armazenamento a 4 °C. Cabe salientar que as formulações HNPOE e HOE apresentaram redução significativa (p<0,05, t-Student) no conteúdo de óleo volátil em relação ao teor inicial, permanecendo subsequentemente constante durante o estudo de estabilidade. A análise do perfil de liberação in vitro de OECc a partir das formulações demonstrou padrão bifásico, com burst inicial e posterior fase de liberação sustentada, onde NPOE seguiu modelo cinético de Hixon-Crowell, e HNPOE e HOE modelo de Higuchi. Além disso, as mesmas exibiram comportamento anômalo, dependente dos mecanismos de difusão e erosão polimérica. Na avaliação da atividade antiviral, HNPOE foi capaz de inibir mais eficientemente ambas as estirpes virais em concentração não citotóxica de óleo, inferior às empregadas nas demais formulações. Estes resultados evidenciam o potencial do nanogel em proteger, modular a liberação e otimizar a atividade do óleo essencial frente ao vírus Herpes simplex / The nanoencapsulation of lipophilic substances and their subsequent incorporation into semisolid topical formulations offers a technologically feasible alternative to modulate the permeation of active, improve its distribution on the surface of the skin, reduce their toxicity and confer protection against extrinsic factors. The polymer poly (lactic acid-co-glycolide) (PLGA) has been widely employed in the preparation of drug carriers nanosystems due to their pronounced biocompatibility and biodegradability. The present study aimed to develop semisolid hydrogel incorporating of Cymbopogon citratus essential oil (CcEO) associated with polymeric nanoparticles and assess their activity against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2. Initially, it was proceeded to extract the CcEO by hydrodistillation, following their chemical characterization by High-Resolution Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometer (HRGC-MS). Nanoparticles containing CcEO (NPEO) and white nanoparticles (NP) were prepared by emulsification-diffusion of the solvent using PLGA as polymer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer. The size distribution and zeta potential of the particles were determined, respectively, by dynamic light scattering and electrophoretic mobility, and its encapsulation efficiency was given by solvent extraction technique, using analytical methodology developed by UV-Vis spectrophotometry. After preparation and characterization, NPEO were incorporated into a hydrophilic gel Carbopol® Ultrez 10 NF (HNPEO) in order to investigate the stability of the nanostructured formulation across the storage and in vitro release profile of the oil from the nanoparticle. In addition, hydrogel base (HB), hydrogel containing free oil (HEO) and the same unloaded nanoparticles (HNP) were developed as controls. The inhibitory activity of the formulations against HSV-1 and -2 sensitive to acyclovir was assessed by viral titer reduction using Vero cells as a host system after prior determination of the cytotoxicity of the samples. The yield of the extraction process was 0.37% and the qualitative analysis of the oil by HRGC-MS showed the citral as its major chemical constituent, accounting for 89.57% of the chromatogram relative area. Particles on the nanometer scale and negative zeta potential were obtained with CcEO content of 58.59 ± 0.85 mg/g and encapsulation efficiency of 28.48 ± 0.40%. The developed hydrogels exhibit suitable characteristics for cutaneous application, which remained unchanged during the 60 days of storage at 4°C. Is worth emphasizing that the HNPEO and HEO formulations showed a significant reduction (p<0.05, Student's t test) in the content of volatile oil in relation to the initial rate, subsequently remaining constant during the stability study. The analysis of the in vitro release profile CcEO from the formulations showed a biphasic pattern with an initial burst and subsequent sustained release phase, which followed NPEO kinetic model Hixon-Crowell, and HNPOE and HOE Higuchi model. Moreover, they exhibited anomalous behavior, dependent on the mechanisms of diffusion and polymer erosion. In the evaluation of antiviral activity, HNPEO was able to more efficiently inhibit both viral strains in the non-cytotoxic oil concentration lower than used in the other formulations. These results highlight the potential of nanogel in protecting, modulating the release profile and improve the activity of the essential oil against Herpes simplex virus

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