Le rachitisme vitamino-résistant hypophosphatémique (RVRH) est une maladie génétique rare causée par des mutations du gène PHEX. La perte de fonction de la protéine PHEX conduit à l’augmentation du FGF23, une hormone circulante qui agit sur le rein et entraîne une perte systémique de phosphate. Le squelette rachitique des patients atteints de RVRH présente des déformations osseuses et une ostéomalacie. La dentine hypominéralisée des patients est à l’origine d’abcès dentaires fréquents, mais le statut parodontal des patients RVRH est mal connu, de même que leur risque de développer une parodontite pouvant aboutir à la perte des dents. La fonction et le substrat de la protéine PHEX ne sont pas identifiés avec exactitude. Il a été montré in vitro que PHEX avait la capacité d’interagir et de dégrader des protéines membres de la famille des SIBLINGs comme MEPE ou OPN, toutes les deux impliquées dans la régulation de la minéralisation des tissus osseux et dentinaires, mais on ne sait pas si in vivo les défauts de minéralisation observés résultent principalement de l’hypophosphatémie systémique ou bien également des effets directs de l’absence de PHEX sur les protéines régulatrices de la minéralisation. L’objectif de cette thèse a consisté à s’intéresser à la physiopathologie du parodonte dans le RVRH ainsi qu’à déterminer quel était l’impact de la mutation de PHEX dans un modèle de biominéralisation humaine où les conditions de concentration en phosphate pouvaient être ajustées et normalisées. Nous avons d’abord analysé le statut parodontal de 34 patients RVRH dans une étude clinique cas-témoins et ainsi montré que les malades dont la supplémentation en phosphate et vitamine D était tardive ou incomplète présentaient une fréquence et une sévérité accrues de maladie parodontale. Le phénotype parodontal du RVRH a alors été étudié sur des échantillons humains et sur le modèle murin du RVRH, la souris HYP. Nous avons réalisé un modèle d’égression dentaire de façon à permettre une apposition du cément cellulaire, ainsi qu’un modèle de résorption et de réparation osseuses parodontales afin de caractériser l’impact du RVRH sur la physiopathologie parodontale. Nos résultats ont montré que le phénotype parodontal et sa physiopathologie étaient très perturbés dans le rachitisme vitamino-résistant hypophosphatémique et chez la souris HYP, nous avons aussi pu mettre en évidence que le rôle pathologique majeur joué par l’ostéopontine dans le tissu osseux au cours du RVRH ne pouvait pas être généralisé aux autres tissus minéralisés du parodonte. De façon à identifier le rôle de PHEX dans la minéralisation matricielle locale indépendamment de la phosphatémie systémique, nous avons ensemencé des matrices de collagène dense avec des cellules primaires humaines issues de patients RVRH comparés à des contrôles que nous avons cultivés pendant 24 jours en conditions ostéogéniques avec des concentrations en phosphate identiques. Nos résultats ont montré que malgré une concentration normale en phosphate, la perte de fonction de la protéine PHEX entraînait une diminution de la quantité et de la qualité de la phase minérale et une accumulation et une dégradation pathologiques de la protéine OPN. Les contributions originales de ce travail de thèse doctorale ont consisté à démontrer sur le plan clinique et biologique la susceptibilité accrue du rachitisme hypophosphatémique lié à l’X quant au risque de développer une maladie parodontale, ainsi qu’à apporter la preuve d’un rôle pathologique de l’absence de PHEX indépendant de la phosphatémie sur des cultures primaires humaines. / X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare X-linked dominant disorder caused by inactivating mutations in the PHEX gene. The impairment of PHEX protein leads to an increase in FGF23, a circulating factor that causes systemic loss of phosphate. The rachitic skeleton of patients with XLH displays short stature and osteomalacia. Dental defects include poorly mineralized dentin and spontaneous dental abscesses. Little is known about the periodontal condition of XLH and if patients are more prone to develop periodontitis, eventually leading to tooth loss. Although the exact function and substrate of PHEX are not known, it has been shown in vitro that PHEX could interact with SIBLING proteins such as MEPE or OPN, both involved in the regulation of bone and dentin mineralization, but it is not yet clear if the defects in the calcified extracellular matrices of XLH are caused by systemic hypophosphatemia only, or also by local consequences of the absence of PHEX. The aim of this doctoral dissertation was to explore the pathobiology of the XLH periodontium and to determine the impact of PHEX deficiency at the local level in a model of human biomineralization where phosphate supply could be adjusted and normalized. We first examined 34 adults with XLH in a case-control study and observed that periodontitis frequency and severity were increased in individuals with late or incomplete supplementation in phosphate and vitamin D analogs. The periodontium was then analyzed in XLH dental roots and further characterized in the Hyp mouse, the murine model of XLH. We performed a model of tooth movement adaptation leading to the formation of cellular cementum and a model of periodontal breakdown and repair to investigate the impact of XLH on the pathobiology of periodontal tissues. Our results showed strongly affected XLH/Hyp periodontal phenotype and impaired pathobiology and suggested that the key role played by OPN in bone could not be generalized to other periodontal mineralized tissues. In order to determine the role of PHEX in local human mineralization, dense collagen gels were seeded with primary human dental pulp cells harvested from XLH patients displaying PHEX mutations and age-matched healthy individuals. Cell-seeded gels were cultured up to 24 days under osteogenic conditions and controlled phosphate medium concentrations. Our results showed that despite normal phosphate concentrations, PHEX deficiency led to decreased quantity and quality of the mineral phase and a pathologic accumulation and processing of OPN. Overall the original contributions of this doctoral dissertation consist in the demonstration of a higher susceptibility of XLH patients to periodontitis and in the evidence of a local effect of PHEX deficiency in the pathologic intrinsic mineralization from XLH osteogenic cells.

Temperature-responsive hydrogels are polymer particles whose equilibrium size depends on the temperature of the water they are immersed in. Here we present an equivalent circuit model of a temperature-controlled microvalve based on hydrogel particles. The resulting network model consists of three physical subsystems. The thermal subsystem considers the heat capacities and thermal resistances of the layers of the valve and the coupling to the ambient environment. The polymeric subsystem describes the relaxation of the hydrogel particles to the temperature-dependent equilibrium size. The fluidic subsystem consists of the supply channel and a chamber whose cross section varies according to the size of the hydrogel particles. All subsystems are described and coupled within one single circuit. Thus the transient behavior of the valve can be calculated using a circuit simulator. Simulation results for a setup are presented and compared with experiments.

Σήμερα η μελέτη των βιοϋλικών προσανατολίζεται σε δύο κατευθύνσεις, την ανάπτυξη συστημάτων μεταφοράς φαρμάκων και συστημάτων κατάλληλων να διεγείρουν κυτταρικές λειτουργίες. Η έρευνά μας έχει σχέση με την συγκριτική μελέτη συστημάτων μεταφοράς φαρμάκων κατάλληλων για εφαρμογή σε οστικούς καρκίνους. Τέτοιου είδους συστήματα θα πρέπει, αρχικά να είναι ικανά να μεταφέρουν τα φαρμακευτικά μόρια και στη συνέχεια να μπορούν να επάγουν οστεογένεση. Η δεύτερη λειτουργικότητα είναι ιδιαιτέρως σημαντική καθώς έχει σαν αποτέλεσμα την πλήρωση του οστικού ελλείμματος που προκαλείται από την δράση των καρκινικών κυττάρων. Για τον σκοπό αυτό, διερευνήθηκε η ικανότητα του υαλώδους δικτύου να μεταφέρει φαρμακευτικά μόρια μέσω παραδοσιακών συστημάτων μεταφοράς. Συνεπώς, ακολούθησε η ex vitro μελέτη pH-ευαίσθητων τροποποιημένων πυριτικών ξηρών πηκτών στα οποία είχε συνδεθεί το αντικαρκινικό φάρμακο δοξορουπμυσίνη. Συγκεκριμένα, πυριτικά ξηρά πηκτώματα συντέθηκαν με την μέθοδο sol-gel και τροποποιήθηκαν περαιτέρω με χημεία καρβοδιϊμιδίου. Η τροποποίηση είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα την επιφανειακή σύνδεση υδροπηκτών δεξτράνης που παρουσιάζουν ευαισθησία στο pH. Στη συνέχεια, ακολούθησε η σύνθεση των ανόργανων βιοενεργών νανοσφαιρών. Για την σύνθεση των υαλωδών νανοσφαιρών με εσωτερική κοιλότητα ακολουθήθηκε η διαδικασία επικάλυψης sol-gel, κατά την οποία έγινε η ηλεκτροστατική επικάλυψη νανοσωματιδίων πολυστυρενίου με αποτέλεσμα την σύνθεση ανόργανων πυριτικών και φωσφοπυριτικών νανοσφαιρών. Επιπλέον, μελετήθηκε η εφαρμογή του συμπολυμερούς του πολυμεθακρυλικού μεθυλεστέρα – υδρομεθακρυλικού προπυλεστέρα ως υποστρώματος καθώς το PMMA αποτελεί βασικό συστατικό των οστικών τσιμέντων και παρουσιάζει βελτιωμένες μηχανικές ιδιότητες. Προκειμένου να ολοκληρωθεί η συγκριτική μελέτη μας, ακολούθησε η ex vitro ανάλυση των παραπάνω υβριδικών φωσφοπυριτικών νανοσφαιρών καθώς επίσης των πυριτικών νανοσφαιρών PS και PMMA-co-HPMA. Η επώαση σε διάλυμα SBF οδήγησε στον σχηματισμό ανθρακικού πυριτικού υδροξυαπατίτη με το μέγεθος των κρυσταλλιτών να μην υπερβαίνει τα 45 nm και έντονη παρουσία συσσωματωμάτων. Βέλτιστες ιδιότητες βιοενεργότητας παρουσιάζουν οι τροποποιημένες με αμίνες υβριδικές νανοσφαίρες PMMA-co-HPMA, οι οποίες έχουν επίσης την δυνατότητα να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως μεταφορείς φαρμακευτικών μορίων σε όξινο καθώς επίσης και σε φυσιολογικό pH με παρατεταμένη δυνατότητα αποδέσμευσης. / Recently the study of biomaterials has moved in two directions, the evolution of drug delivery systems and of systems that can stimulate specific cellular responses. Our investigation aims to the study of drug delivery systems for bone cancer therapy. These systems must fulfill two important functionalities. At first, they should be able to deliver drug molecules to bone cancer environment through loading or surface conjugation and subsequently to cause osteogenesis. Their second functionality is especially important since it leads to substitution of bone defects caused from the action of cancer cells. For this purpose, the ability of the glassy network to deliver drug molecules was studied. For this purpose, expanded ex vitro research was followed in DOX conjugated pH-sensitive functionalized silica xerogels. Specifically, silica xerogels were synthesized through a sol-gel process and further functionalized with carbodiimide chemistry. The functionalization process resulted in pH-sensitive dextran hydrogels. The study of the enhanced properties of glassy substrates was followed by the synthesis of amorphous bioactive nanospheres. Moreover, the change of the organic core and the use of PMMA-co-HPMA were advantageous due to the enhanced mechanical properties of PMMA-co-HPMA and its use in bone cements. In order to accomplish our comparative investigation, we followed the ex vitro study of the above hybrid binary silicate, ternary and quaternary phosphosilicate nanospheres as well as the silicate PS and PMMA-co-HPMA nanospheres. The incubation in SBF solution resulted in the formation of a silica-substituted carbonate hydroxyapatite (Si-HCA) a with crystallite size of around 45 nm and extended surface aggregates. The amino-modified PMMA-co-HPMA hybrid nanospheres present enhanced biocompatible properties, with prolonged release ability as drug delivery systems, in acidic as well as physiological pH.

Avec près de 30 millions de morts depuis le début de la pandémie, l’infection par le VIH est un véritable fléau à l’échelle mondiale, surtout en Afrique sub-saharienne. Dans ce contexte, disposer d’une formulation microbicide efficace, facile à administrer par la voie vaginale, représenterait un outil de prévention idéal pour lutter contre cette pandémie. Ainsi, la conception rationnelle de telles formulations représente un enjeu majeur de santé publique.Ce travail décrit la recherche de formulations thermogélifiantes et mucoadhésives à base de pluronics et d’hydroxypropyl méthylcellulose (HPMC). Outre la caractérisation de leurs propriétés rhéologiques et d’adhésion, ainsi que des études en culture cellulaire suggérant une très faible toxicité de contact, ces hydrogels ont montré d’une part, leur capacité à véhiculer efficacement le peptide M48U1 (équipe L. Martin, CEA) destiné à bloquer l’entrée cellulaire du VIH et d’autre part à ralentir considérablement la diffusion de nanoparticules modèles mimant les particules virale matures du VIH-1, en comparaison d’hydrogel d'hydroxy éthylcellulose (HEC) fréquemment utilisés dans divers essais cliniques infructueux et aussi au mucus cervico-vaginal de macaque. L’ensemble des résultats suggère donc la capacité de ces formulations à constituer une double barrière, physique et pharmacologique, protectrice de la muqueuse vaginale vis-à-vis du VIH. / With nearly 30 million deaths since the start of the pandemic, HIV infection is a major problem globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, have an effective microbicide formulation, easily administered by the vaginal route, would be a great prevention tool to fight against this pandemic. Thus, the rational design of such formulations is a major issue of public health.This paper describes research of mucoadhesive and thermogelling formulations based on pluronics and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC). Further characterization of their rheological properties and adhesion, and cell culture studies suggesting a very low contact toxicity, these hydrogels showed on one hand, their ability to effectively convey the peptide M48U1 (L. Martin team, CEA) for blocking the entry of HIV cellular and on the other hand to considerably slow down the diffusion of nanoparticles models mimicking viral particles mature HIV-1, compared to hydroxy ethylcellulose hydrogel (HEC) commonly used in various unsuccessful clinical trials and also in cervico-vaginal mucus of macaque. The overall results therefore suggest the ability of these formulations constitute a double barrier, physical and pharmacological, protective of the vaginal mucosa from the HIV.

<p>Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by cartilage damage and loss in the joints that affects approximately 27 million adults in the US. Tissue that is damaged by OA is a major health concern since cartilage tissue has a limited ability to self-repair due to the lack of vasculature in cartilage and low cell content. Tissue engineering efforts aim towards the development of cartilage repair strategies that mimic articular cartilage and are able to halt the progression of the disease as well as restore cartilage to its normal function.</p><p>This study harnesses the biological activity of collagen type II, present in articular cartilage, and the superior mechanical properties of collagen type I by characterizing gels made of collagen type I and II blends (1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1). The collagen blend hydrogels were able to incorporate both types of collagen and retain chondroitin sulfate (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA). Cryoscanning electron microscopy images showed that the 3:1 ratio of collagen type I to type II gels had a lower void space percentage (36.4%) than the 1:1 gels (46.5%) and the complex modulus was larger for the 3:1 gels (G*=5.0 Pa) compared to the 1:1 gels (G*=1.2 Pa). The 3:1 blend consistently formed gels with superior mechanical properties compared to the other blends and has the potential to be implemented as a scaffold for articular cartilage engineering.</p> <p>Following the work done to characterize the collagen scaffolds, we studied whether an aggrecan mimic, CS-GAHb, composed of CS and HA binding peptides, GAH, and not its separate components, is able to prevent glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and collagen release when incorporated into chondrocyte-embedded collagen gels. Bovine chondrocytes were cultured and embedded in collagen type I scaffolds with CS, GAH, CS and GAH, or CS-GAHb molecules. Gels composed of 3:1 collagen type I and II with CS or CS-GAHb were also studied. The results obtained showed CS-GAHb is able to decrease GAG and collagen release and increase GAG retention in the gels. CS-GAHb also stimulated cytokine production during the initial days of scaffold culture. However, the addition of CS-GAHb into the chondrocyte-embedded collagen scaffolds did not affect ECM protein expression in the gels. The incorporation of collagen type II into the collagen type I scaffolds did not significantly affect GAG and cytokine production and ECM protein synthesis, but did increase collagen release. The results suggest the complex interaction between CS-GAHb, the chondrocytes, and the gel matrix make these scaffolds promising constructs for articular cartilage repair.</p> <p>Finally, we used Dunkin Hartley guinea pigs, a commonly used animal model of osteoarthritis, to determine if high frequency ultrasound can ensure intra-articular injections of the aggrecan mimic are accurately positioned in the knee joint. A high-resolution small animal ultrasound system with a 40 MHz transducer was used for image-guided injections. We assessed our ability to visualize important anatomical landmarks, the needle, and anatomical changes due to the injection. From the ultrasound images, we were able to visualize clearly the movement of anatomical landmarks in 75% of the injections. The majority of these showed separation of the fat pad (67.1%), suggesting the injections were correctly delivered in the joint space. The results demonstrate this image-guided technique can be used to visualize the location of an intra-articular injection in the joints of guinea pigs and we are able to effectively inject the aggrecan mimic into knee joints.</p><p>All of the work presented here suggests that the addition of the aggrecan mimic to collagen I and collagen I and II scaffolds has shown that this type of construct could be useful for treating cartilage damage in the future.</p>

Poor skeletal health results from aging and metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes and involves impaired homeostatic balance between marrow osteogenesis and adipogenesis. Tissue engineering provides researchers with the ability to generate improved, highly controlled and tailorable in vitro model systems to better understand mechanisms of homeostasis, disease, and healing and regeneration. Model systems that allow assembly of modules of MSCs, osteoblasts, and adipocytes in a number of configurations to engage in signaling crosstalk offer the potential to study integrative physiological aspects and complex interactions in the face of changes in local and systemic microenvironments. Thus, the overall goal of this dissertation was to examine integrative physiological aspects between MSCs, osteoblasts, and adipocytes that exist within the marrow microenvironment. To investigate the effects of intercellular signaling in different microenvironmental contexts, methods were developed to photolithographically pattern and assemble cell-laden PEG-based hydrogels with high spatial fidelity and tissue-scale thickness for long-term 3D co-culture of multiple cell types. This platform was applied to study effects of crosstalk between MSCs, osteoblasts and adipocytes on markers of differentiation in each cell type. Additionally, responses of MSCs to systemic perturbations in glucose concentration were modulated by mono-, co-, and tri-culture with these cell types in a model of diabetes-induced skeletal disease. Together, these studies provided valuable insight into unique and differential effects of intercellular signaling within the niche environment of MSCs and their terminally differentiated progeny during homeostatic and pathological states, and offer opportunities further study of integrative physiological interactions between mesenchymal lineage cells.

The present thesis entitled “Design and Synthesis of Novel Soft Composites from Physical Gels and Nanomaterials” deals with soft materials derived from low molecular weight gels and nanomaterials. Chapter 1 gives a general introduction and overview of the low molecular weight gel (LMOG) which forms the basis of the work. It delves with the history of research in physical gel field, design of different types of gelator molecules, their interesting self-assembly patterns, potential applications of these gelator molecules as well as challenges to design new gelator molecules. It also encompasses the relatively recent area of two component gel system to conveniently bypass the cumbersome synthetic protocol. The aspect of liquid crystallinity in the gel phase is also discussed to throw light on the pattern of assembly and potential uses of these materials. Towards the end there is a comprehensive discussion on the smart nanocomposites derived from LMOGs and nanomaterials. The design, synthesis and numerous applications of inorganic-organic hybrid composites are discussed. Chapter 2A describes the synthesis and characterization of a variety of fatty acid amides of different naturally occurring L-amino acids whose molecular structures are shown in Chart 2A.1. Some of them were found to form gels with various hydrocarbons. The gelation properties of these compounds were studied by a number of physical methods including FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, rheology and it was found that gelation was critically dependent on the fatty acid chain length and nature of the amino acid. Among them, L-alanine based gelators were found to be the most efficient and versatile as they self-assemble into a layered structure to form the gel network. Mechanisms for the assembly and formation of gels from these molecules are discussed. (Structural formula) Chart 2A.1. Molecular structures of various fatty acid amides of different amino acids. Chapter 2B describes efficient gelation of both aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon solvents by a fatty acid amide, n-lauroyl-L-alanine (Chapter 2B.1). In addition, this compound was found to gelate the binary solvent mixtures comprised of aromatic hydrocarbon e.g. toluene and aliphatic hydrocarbon e.g. n-heptane. SEM and AFM showed that the fiber thickness of the gel assembly increases progressively in the binary mixture of n-heptane and toluene with increasing percentage of toluene. The self- Chart 2B.1. Molecular structure of the gelator. assembly patterns of the gels in individual solvents, n-heptane and toluene are however, different. The toluene gel consists of predominantly one type of morphological species while n-heptane gel has more than one species leading to polymorphic nature of the gel. The n-heptane gel is thermally more stable than the toluene gel as evident from the measurement using differential scanning calorimetry. The thermal stability of the gels prepared in the binary mixture of n-heptane and toluene is dependent on the composition of solvent mixture. Rheology of the gels shows that they are shear-thinning material and show characteristic behavior of soft viscoelastic solids. For the gels prepared from binary solvent mixture of toluene and n-heptane, with incorporation of more toluene in the binary mixture, the gel becomes a more viscoelastic solid. The time sweep rheology experiment demonstrates that the gel made in n-heptane has faster gel formation kinetics than that prepared in toluene. Chapter 2C describes lyotropic mesophase formation by organogels of different fatty acid amides of L-alanine in aromatic solvents. The helical assembly, characteristic of the cholesteric mesophase was found to exhibit reflection bands in circular dichroism spectra. The reflection bands corresponded to the pitch of the helical arrangement of the gelator molecules in the aromatic solvent. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed presence of twist in the gel fibres. Polarising optical microscopy of the organogel exhibited weak birefringence confirming lyotropic nature of the assembly. Chapter 3 deals with synthesis and characterization of a new class of molecules with molecular structures shown in Chart 3.1. Among a variety of amino acid based molecules only alanine and serine based molecules were found to form translucent gels in aliphatic hydrocarbons such as n-heptane. TEM showed presence of fiber like structures for alanine whereas serine based gelator produces unique network like structures. SEM of the dried gels exhibited presence of three dimensional fibrous networks to spongy globular cauliflower like structures depending on the molecular structure of the gelators. Rheological studies of the organogels showed that they behave like typical LMOG gels. The oscillatory rheological studies demonstrated that the L-serine based gelator, 5 formed more viscoelastic solid like gel than that of L-alanine based gelator, 1 in n-heptane. Chart 3.1. Molecular structures of different amino acid derivatives from 3,4,5-tri-dodecyloxybenzoic acid scaffold. Chapter 4A presents design and properties of new nanocomposites from LMOG and metal nanoparticles (Chart 4A.1). The profound influence of nanoparticle (NP) incorporation into physical gels was evident from various microscopic and bulk properties. The interaction of nanoparticles with the gelator assembly was found to depend critically on the capping agent coating the nanoparticles. TEM showed long range Chart 4A.1. Molecular structures of the gelator and various AuNPs synthesized. directional assembly of the certain AuNPs along the gel fibers. SEM of the dried gels and nanocomposites indicated that the morphological transformation in the composite microstructures depended profoundly on the capping agent of the nanoparticle. Differential Scanning Calorimetry showed that gel formation from sol postponed to lower temperature with incorporation of AuNPs having capping agents which were able to interact with the gel fibers. Rheological studies indicated that the gel-nanoparticle composites exhibit greater rigidity as compared to the naked gel only when the capping agents were able to interdigitate into the gelator assembly. Also, very low percentage of the AuNPs incorporation could switch the cholesteric mesophase of gel assembly, as evident from circular dichroism. We have been able to define a relationship between materials and molecular properties via manipulation of the molecular structures of NP capping agents. Chapter 4B discusses the design and preparation of novel organogel-carbon nanotube composites by incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) into physical gels formed by an L-alanine based Low Molecular Mass Organogelator (Chart 4B.1). The gelation process and the properties of the resulting nanocomposites were found to depend on the kind of SWNTs incorporated in the gels. With pristine SWNTs, only a limited amount could be dispersed in the organogels. Attempted incorporation of higher amounts of pristine SWNTs led to precipitation from the gel. To improve their solubility in the gel matrix, a variety of SWNTs functionalized with different aliphatic and aromatic chains were synthesized (Chart 4B.1). Scanning electron microscope images of the nanocomposites showed that the texture and organization of the gel aggregates were altered upon incorporation of SWNTs. The microstructures of nanocomposites were found to depend on the kind of SWNTs used. Incorporation of functionalized SWNTs into the organogels depressed the sol to gel transition temperature, with the n-hexadecyl chain functionalized SWNTs being more effective than the n-dodecyl chain functionalized counterpart. Rheological investigations of pristine SWNT containing gels indicated that the flow of nanocomposites became resistant to applied stress at a very low wt-% of SWNT incorporation. Again, more effective control of flow behavior was achieved with functionalized SWNTs possessing longer hydrocarbon chains. This happens presumably via effective interdigitation of the pendant chains with the fatty acid amides of L-alanine in the gel assembly. Also, the helical cholesteric mesophase formed by the toluene gel could be switched to a layer stacked assembly by doping functional SWNT. Remarkably, by using a near IR laser irradiation at 1064 nm for a short duration (1 min) at room temperature, it was possible to selectively induce a gel-to-sol phase transition of the nanocomposites, while prolonged irradiation (30 min) of the organogel under identical conditions did not cause gel melting. Chart 4B.1. Molecular structures of the gelator and different functionalized SWNT synthesized. Chapter 5A presents design of two component hydrogels and their potential utilization as a template for metal nanoparticle synthesis. Among a variety of acids and amines (Chart 5A.1) only stearic acid or eicosanoic acid when mixed with di- or oligomeric amines in specific molar ratios form stable gels in water. The formation of such hydrogels depends on the hydrophobicity of the fatty acid, and also on the type of amine used. The gelation properties of these two component systems were investigated using electron microscopy, FTIR, 1H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and both single crystal and cast film X-ray diffraction. FTIR spectral analysis suggests salt formation during gelation. 1H NMR of the gels indicates that the fatty acid chains are immobilized in the gel state and when the gel is melted, these chains regain their mobility. Analysis of DSC data indicates that increase in spacer length in the di-/oligomeric amine lowers the gel melting temperature. Two of these gelator salts developed into crystals and structural details of such systems could be secured by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structural information of the salts thus obtained was compared with the XRD data of the self-supporting films of those gels. Such analyses provided pertinent structural insight on the supramolecular interactions that prevail within these gelator assemblies. From the crystal structure it is confirmed that the multilayered lamellar aggregates exist in the gel and it also showed that only one plane of symmetry is present in the gel state. Finally, the hydrogel was used as a medium for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were found to position themselves on the fibers and produce a long ordered assembly of gel-nanoparticle composite (Figure 5A.1). Chart 5A.1. Structures and abbreviations of different acids and amines checked for gelation. Figure 5A.1. TEM images of gel-Ag-NP composite. (a) Ag-NP synthesized in hydrogel of SA-IBPA (1:3.5), (b) Magnified images of Ag-NP preferentially residing on gel fibers. Chapter 5B demonstrates the aptitude of supramolecular hydrogel formation using simple bile acids e.g. lithocholic acid (LCA) in aqueous solution containing di- or oligomeric amines (Chart 5B.1). By variation of the choice of the amines in such mixture the hydrogelation properties could be modulated. However, replacement of LCA by cholic acid or deoxycholic acid resulted in no hydrogelation. FT-IR studies show that the carboxylate and ammonium residues of the two components are primarily involved in salt formation. This promotes further assembly of the components reinforced by continuous Chart 5B.1. Structures and abbreviations of different bile acids and amines checked for gelation. hydrogen bonded network leading to gelation. Electron microscopy shows that the morphology of the gels of two component systems which also depends strongly on the amine part. Variation of amine component from the simple ethanediamine (EDA) to oligomeric amine with lithocholic acid changes the morphology of the assembly from long one dimensional nanotubes to three dimensional complex structures. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis with one of the amine-LCA complexes suggested the motif of fiber formation where the amines participate with the carboxylate and hydroxyl moiety through H-bonding and electrostatic forces. The rheological properties of this class of two component system provide clear evidence that this system is a shear-sensitive hydrogel and the flow behavior can be modulated varying the acid-amine ratio. From small angle neutron scattering study, it becomes clear that loose gel from LCA-EDA shows scattering oscillation due to the presence of non interacting nanotubules while for gels of LCA with oligomeric amine the individual fibers come together to form complex three dimensional structures of higher length scale.(For structural formula pl refer the pdf file)

Im Mittelpunkt dieser Arbeit stand die Darstellung sensitiver Blockcopolymere und deren Gele, die als Ausgangsmaterialien in Sensor- und Aktorsystemen einsetzbar sind. Die Vereinigung verschiedener Ansprechparameter stellt erhöhte Anforderung an die Synthese. Geringe Ansprechzeiten lassen sich mit einer Gelgröße im µm-Bereich erreichen. Hydrogele dieser Größenordnungen können durch nachträgliche Vernetzung funktioneller linearer Polymere ermöglicht werden. Die Makroinitiatormethode ermöglichte den Aufbau verschiedener linearer photovernetzbarer Blockcopolymere. Zum Einen wurde das temperatursensitive P(n-BuAc)-block-P(PNIPAAm-co-DMIAAm) erhalten, des Weiteren gelang die Darstellung der multi-sensitiven Blockcopolymere P2VP-block-P(NIPAAm-co-DMIAAm) und P4VP-block-P(NIPAAm-co-DMIAAm). Die Blockcopolymere wurden mit variierenden Blocklängen und Verhältnissen sowie mit unterschiedlichem Vernetzergehalt dargestellt. Die Charakterisierung der Blockcopolymere erfolgte mittels 1H-NMR-Spektroskopie, GPC-Messungen (Zusammensetzung) und DSC-Messungen (thermische Eigenschaften). Das Löslichkeitsverhalten in wässrigen Medien wurde durch Dynamische Lichtstreuung bestimmt. Die Beschreibung des Quellverhaltens der vernetzten Schichten erfolgte durch vornehmlich durch optische Methoden (SPR/OWS, WAMS, Ellipsometrie). Die Veränderung des E-Moduls in Abhängigkeit äußerer Parameter konnte mittels AFM untersucht werden. Die Reaktion der Schichten wurde gegenüber Temperatur, pH-Wert und Salzkonzentrationen getestet. Die charakterisierten Filme konnten im Anschluss als sensitive Schichten in piezoresistiven Sensorsystemen verwendetet werden.

Protein therapeutics offer numerous advantages over small molecule drugs and are rapidly becoming one of the most prominent classes of therapeutics. Unfortunately, they are delivered almost exclusively by injection due to biological obstacles preventing high bioavailability via the oral route. In this work, numerous approaches to overcoming these barriers are explored. PH-Responsive poly(itaconic acid-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) (P(IA-co-NVP)) hydrogels were synthesized, and the effects of monomer ratios, crosslinking density, microparticle size, protein size, and loading conditions were systematically evaluated using in vitro tests. P(IA-co-NVP) hydrogels demonstrated up to 69% greater equilibrium swelling at neutral conditions than previously-studied poly(methacrylic acid-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone) hydrogels and a 10-fold improvement in time-sensitive swelling experiments. Furthermore, P(IA-co-NVP) hydrogel microparticles demonstrated up to a 2.7-fold improvement in delivery of salmon calcitonin (sCT) compared to methacrylic acid-based systems, with a formulation comprised of a 1:2 ratio of itaconic acid to N-vinylpyrrolidone demonstrating the greatest delivery capability. Vast improvement in delivery capability was achieved using reduced ionic strength conditions during drug loading. Use of a 1.50 mM PBS buffer during loading yielded an 83-fold improvement in delivery of sCT compared to a standard 150 mM buffer. With this improvement, a daily dose of sCT could be provided using P(IA-co-NVP) microparticles in one standard-sized gel capsule. P(IA-co-NVP) was also tested with larger proteins urokinase and Rituxan. Crosslinking density provided a facile method for tuning hydrogels to accommodate a wide range of protein sizes. The effects of protein PEGylation were also explored. PEGylated sCT displayed lower release from P(IA-co-NVP) microparticles, but displayed increased apparent permeability across a Caco-2 monolayer by two orders of magnitude. Therefore, PEG-containing systems could yield high bioavailability of orally delivered proteins. Finally, a modified SELEX protocol for cellular selection of transcellular transport-initiating aptamers was developed and used to identify aptamer sequences showing enhanced intestinal perfusion. Over three selection cycles, the selected aptamer library showed significant increases in absorption, and from an initial library of 1.1 trillion sequences, 5-10 sequences were selected that demonstrated up to 10-fold amplification compared to the naïve library. These sequences could provide a means of overcoming the significant final barrier of intestinal absorption. / text

Surgical repair of torn rotator cuff tendons have a high rate of failure and does not address the underlying pathophysiology. Tissue engineering strategies, employing the use of multipotent progenitor cells or growth factors, represent potential therapies to improve the outcome of rotator cuff surgery. The use of glycosaminoglycan-based biomaterials in these therapies may enhance the effectiveness of cell and growth factor delivery techniques. Furthermore, understanding the cellular and molecular mediators in tendon overuse can help elucidate the causes of tendon degeneration. Thus the overall goals of this dissertation were to 1) develop heparin-based biomaterials to enhance cell pre-culture and maintain growth factor bioactivity and 2) characterize the histological and enzymatic changes in a supraspinatus tendon overuse model. To investigate the use of heparin in enhancing dynamic signaling, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were encapsulated in heparin-containing hydrogels and evaluated for differentiation markers when cocultured with a small population of differentiated cells. To probe the effect of sulfation of heparin on the interactions with protein, selectively desulfated heparin species were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to bind and protect proteins. Finally, to develop a tendon overuse model that can become a test bed for testing future targeted therapeutics, an animal model was evaluated for tissue damage and protease activity. Together these studies represent a multi-pronged approach to understanding how tendon tissues become degenerative and for developing technologies to improve the biological fixation of tendon to bone in order to reduce the need for revision surgeries.