This dissertation evaluates how gold nanoparticle structure and local environment influence resulting sensor function when using these nanomaterials for complex sample analysis. Molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs), a class of plastic antibodies, are engineered and incorporated into these nanosensors thereby facilitating the quantitative detection of a variety of small molecules when Raman spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) are used for detection. First, homogeneous seeded growth gold nanosphere synthesis is evaluated as a function of ionic double layer composition and thickness. Systematically increasing the citrate concentration during synthesis improves nanomaterial shape homogeneity; however, further elevations of citrate concentration increase the number of internal and/or external atomic defects in the nanomaterials which leads to decreasing solution-phase stability. Next, spherical gold nanoparticles are modified with self-assembled monolayer (SAM), modeled using interfacial energy calculations, and experimental characterized using transmission electron microscopy, NMR, extinction spectroscopy, zeta potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and flocculation studies to assess the morphology, surface chemistry, optical properties, surface charge, SAM packing density, and nanoparticle stability, respectively. The number of molecules on the nanostructures increases with increasing ionic strength (by decreasing the electrostatic interfacial energy between assembled molecules) which subsequently promotes nanoparticle stability. Third, plastic antibodies that recognize three drugs commonly used to treat migraines are engineered. These methacrylate-based MIPs are synthesized, extracted, characterized, and used to quantitatively and directly detect over-the-counter drugs in complex samples using Raman microscopy. These results along with numerical approximation methods to estimate drug binding site densities and dissociation constants with the MIPs serve as a foundation for understanding how modest recognition selectivity of MIPs coupled with shifts in the vibrational energy modes from the drugs upon hydrogen binding to the polymer backbone promote sensitive and selective drug detection in complex samples. Finally, nanomaterial incorporation into MIPs for applications in SERS-based biosensors is evaluated. Importantly, gold nanorod concentration increases the detectability of the same drugs using MIPs as pre-concentration and recognition elements. This combination of materials, theory, and applications forms a solid foundation which should aid in the design and development of MIP nanobiosensors for specific and sensitive detection of small molecules in complex matrices.

Recently, laser scribed graphene (LSG) technology has shown great potential for the development of a plethora of sensing platforms due to its high sensitivity, 3D porous structure, and flexibility. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have shown high potential as recognition elements for many applications such as biosensing. Hence, we report in this thesis a novel biosensing platform that utilizes nanostructured gold to enhance the performance of LSG sensors coupled with a biomimetic MIP biosensor. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a nanostructured gold modified MIP based LSG biosensor to detect HER-2, which is an important breast cancer biomarker. HER-2 positive breast cancer is more aggressive and does not respond to the same treatment as standard breast cancer. As such, a simple and accurate sensing approach is highly needed for early detection of this type of cancer biomarkers. The LSG sensor platform was fabricated by irradiation of polyimide substrates using a CO2 laser under optimized conditions. Nanostructured gold was electrodeposited onto LSG to enhance its sensitivity and active surface area. Deposition parameters such as deposition voltage, deposition time, and gold chloride (HAuCl4) concentration were optimized to yield complete nanostructured gold coverage and enhanced electrical conductivity of LSG-Au electrodes. A deposition voltage of -0.9 V at 50 mM HAuCl4 for 4 minutes proved to be the optimal condition for gold deposition to yield a 150% peak current enhancement. To fabricate our MIP biosensor, 3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was chosen from several functional monomers to form PEDOT due to its high conductivity and synergy with nanostructured gold. Electropolymerization of EDOT is performed after adsorbing 0.4mg/mL of HER-2 on the LSG-Au electrode for 20 min. The efficiency of LSG-Au-MIP was optimized by choosing an appropriate extraction agent and HER-2 concentration to be adsorbed on gold. The developed sensing strategy could differentiate between three rebinding concentrations of 10 ng/mL, 100ng/mL, and 200 ng/mL, which is sufficient to determine the HER-2 status of breast cancer since the clinical cut-off is 30.5ng/mL. The developed sensing strategy showed a high degree of novelty and could be useful for the non-invasive detection of cancer biomarkers.

This diploma thesis deals with the optimization of the preparation of molecularly imprinted (MIP) nanoparticles doped with metal ions, selective for the selected protein. In this work, the model protein – chymotrypsinogen A was chosen as a template. The free radical polymerization method was used for the preparation of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles. Dopamine was used as a functional monomer because it is able to bind metal ions to each other. It also undergoes very rapid oxidative polymerization under alkaline conditions without the need for the addition of polymer reaction initiators. MIP optimization was performed by capillary electrophoresis with UV-Vis detection. The MIP thus prepared can serve as recognition elements in immunohistochemical analyzes that use LA-ICP-MS as a detection method. Their applicability for immunohistochemistry was studied using the dot block method.

The synthesis and evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer has been undertaken using an oxazine-based tryptophanamide transition state analogue (TSA) as template. An efficient route to the synthesis of oxazine-based TSAs for the reaction of pyridoxamine and indole-3-pyruvic acid has been established, with yields of up to 80%. NMR titration studies were performed to examine the interactions between the functional monomer, methacrylic acid and the template. Complexation of the template by functional monomer in the presence of crosslinker showed an apparent KD of 0.63-0.79 ± 0.04 M (293 K, acetonitrile-d3) based upon the chemical shift of the template amide protons. TSA-imprinted and non-imprinted reference polymers were synthesized by free radical polymerization in acetonitrile. Polymer monoliths were ground and fractionated into a 25-63 μm size range. Polymer-ligand recognition studies were conducted using the polymers as HPLC stationary phases. An imprinting factor (IF) of 2.93 was observed for the TSA, indicating the selectivity of the imprinted sites for the template. Studies using the D- and L-enantiomers of the phenylalaninamide analogue of the template showed enantioselectivity in the case of the imprinted polymer, α = 1.10, though not in the case of the non-imprinted reference polymer (1.00). Using UV-spectroscopy based polymer-ligand binding studies, a maximum theoretical capacity (Bmax) of 0.059 ± 0.004 mmol·g-1 was observed for the imprinted polymer. Conclusively, an imprinted polymer with binding sites selective for the TSA was successfully prepared and shall subsequently be studied with respect to its capacity to catalyse the transamination reaction between pyridoxamine and indole-3-pyruvic acid to yield pyridoxal and tryptophan.

The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment has become a matter of concern during the last decade. Increased production of PPCPs along with their increased use has led to release of these compounds in the environment via various routes. PPCPs includes large group of compounds including veterinary and human antibiotics, analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, psychiatric drugs, β-blockers, X-ray contrasts, and steroid hormones, etc. Many of the compounds used in PPCPs have been shown to possess adverse effects to living organisms and act as endocrine disrupting agents (ECDs). This dissertation includes the investigation of the occurrence of antibiotic compounds added to personal care product and the transformation of hormones used in pharmaceuticals such as contraceptives. The results obtained in this study can provide information on the fate and transformation of the studied compounds once released in the environment. An analytical method employing sonication extraction and HPLC-ESI-MS detection was developed. The developed method was used to detect antibiotic compounds triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC) in biosolids-applied soil and biosolids. Both TCS and TCC were detected at high concentrations in biosolids and at lower concentrations in biosolids-applied soil. TCS and TCC concentrations decreased in biosolids composts and in biosolids-applied soil collected at deeper depths. The developed method was able to provide efficient detection limits and reliable quantification of target compounds. A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized to achieve efficient clean-up of TCS and TCC from biosolids-applied soil and biosolids samples using 4,4’- DBP-4-vp-EGDMA. The motivation behind this project was to be able to eliminate the use of expensive instruments such as LC-MS and employ easily available instruments such as LC-UV. The synthesized MIP was able to achieve efficient clean-up and allowed quantification and identification of TCS and TCC in a complex matrix. Transformation of hormones such as 17β-estradiol, estriol, ethynlestradiol, estrone and testosterone was studied by employing Fe (III)-saturated montmorillonite catalysts. The use of Fe (III) – saturated montmorillonite as a catalyst proved be to very efficient in transformation of the studied hormones. Complete removal of hormones was observed in aqueous environment. LC-UV was used for detection and quantification of hormones.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第23513号 / 工博第4925号 / 新制||工||1769(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科材料化学専攻 / (主査)教授 大塚 浩二, 教授 松原 誠二郎, 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

Yes / Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) are a class of polymeric materials that exhibit highly specific recognition properties towards a chosen target. These “smart materials” offer robustness to work in extreme environmental conditions and cost effectiveness; and have shown themselves capable of the affinities/specificities observed of their biomolecular counterparts. Despite this, in many MIP systems heterogeneity generated in the polymerisation process is known to affect the performance. Microwave reactors have been extensively studied in organic chemistry because they can afford fast and well-controlled reactions, and have been used for polymerisation reactions; however, their use for creating MIPs is limited. Here we report a case study of a model MIP system imprinted for caffeine, using microwave initiation. Experimental parameters such as polymerisation time, temperature and applied microwave power have been investigated and compared with polymers prepared by oven and UV irradiation. MIPs have been characterised by BET, SEM, DSC, TGA, NMR, and HPLC for their physical properties and analyte recognition performance. The results suggest that the performance of these polymers correlates to their physical characteristics. These characteristics were significantly influenced by changes in the experimental polymerisation parameters, and the complexity of the component mixture. A series of trends were observed as each parameter was altered, suggesting that the performance of a generated polymer could be possible to predict. As expected, component selection is shown to be a major factor in the success of an imprint using this method, but this also has a significant effect on the quality of resultant polymers suggesting that only certain types of MIPs can be made using microwave irradiation. This work also indicates that the controlled polymerisation conditions offered by microwave reactors could open a promising future in the development of MIPs with more predictable analyte recognition performance, assuming material selection lends itself to this type of initiation. / DMU School of Pharmacy undergraduate project scheme for financial support.

Profenofós é um organofosforado empregado como inseticida e acaricida amplamente utilizado no Brasil para o controle de pragas de cebolas, milho, soja, café, tomate, algodão, feijão, batata e outros. A irradiação é um processo empregado em todo o mundo e recomendada por diversos órgãos de saúde para a conservação de alimentos. A radiação ionizante utiliza raios gama, raios X ou aceleradores de elétrons e tem sido aplicada para eliminar ou reduzir a ação de agentes patogênicos e contribuir para aumentar o tempo de estocagem de vários alimentos. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram: (a) avaliar a degradação de soluções aquosas de profenofós submetidas à radiação ionizante, identificar e quantificar a formação de novos produtos por GC-MS; (b) analisar o efeito de feixe de elétrons em ervilhas inoculadas com soluções aquosas de profenofós; (c) sintetizar Polímeros Molecularmente Impressos (MIP) e Sílica Impressa Molecularmente (MIS), posteriormente, caracterizar os adsorventes em fase sólida e verificar sua seletividade para profenofós. O tratamento com aceleradores de elétrons com dose 31,6 kGy promoveu a formação de um novo produto de degradação e redução de 93,40 % de profenofós em soluções aquosas. Em ervilhas inoculadas com 1 μg de profenofós submetidas à radiação ionizante de 30,4 kGy promoveu uma redução na concentração de profenofós em 57,46 %. Além disso, foram realizadas sínteses de MIP e MIS para a extração em fase sólida de profenofós. Os MIS sintetizados por sol-gel mostraram-se eficazes para o reconhecimento molecular e extração seletiva de profenofós. / Profenofos is an organophosphate widely used in Brazil as insecticide and acaricide in the control of pests in onions, corn, soybeans, coffee, tomato, cotton, beans, potatoes among others. Irradiation is a process used worldwide and recommended by many health agencies for food preservation. Food irradiation preserving process uses accelerated electrons, gamma rays or X-rays. Ionizing radiation treatment is applied to eliminate or to reduce the action of pathogens and to increase the shelf life of some foods. The objective of this study were (a) to evaluate the degradation of aqueous solutions of Profenofos by ionizing radiation, identify and quantify the formation of new products by GC-MS; (b) to analyze the effects of electron beam in peas inoculated with aqueous solutions of Profenofos; (c) to synthesize Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) and Molecularly Imprinted Silica (MIS), subsequently characterize the adsorbents in solid phase and check its selectivity for profenofos. The treatment with electron accelerators with 31.6 kGy dose promoted the formation of a new by-product and 93.40 % reduction of profenofos in aqueous solutions. In peas inoculated with 1 μg of profenofos by ionizing radiation of 30.4 kGy promoted a reduction of 57.46 % in the concentration of profenofos. Furthermore, the MIP and MIS were performed for solid phase extraction of profenofos. The MIS synthesized by sol-gel proved to be effective for the recognition molecular and selective extraction of profenofos.

Profenofós é um organofosforado empregado como inseticida e acaricida amplamente utilizado no Brasil para o controle de pragas de cebolas, milho, soja, café, tomate, algodão, feijão, batata e outros. A irradiação é um processo empregado em todo o mundo e recomendada por diversos órgãos de saúde para a conservação de alimentos. A radiação ionizante utiliza raios gama, raios X ou aceleradores de elétrons e tem sido aplicada para eliminar ou reduzir a ação de agentes patogênicos e contribuir para aumentar o tempo de estocagem de vários alimentos. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram: (a) avaliar a degradação de soluções aquosas de profenofós submetidas à radiação ionizante, identificar e quantificar a formação de novos produtos por GC-MS; (b) analisar o efeito de feixe de elétrons em ervilhas inoculadas com soluções aquosas de profenofós; (c) sintetizar Polímeros Molecularmente Impressos (MIP) e Sílica Impressa Molecularmente (MIS), posteriormente, caracterizar os adsorventes em fase sólida e verificar sua seletividade para profenofós. O tratamento com aceleradores de elétrons com dose 31,6 kGy promoveu a formação de um novo produto de degradação e redução de 93,40 % de profenofós em soluções aquosas. Em ervilhas inoculadas com 1 μg de profenofós submetidas à radiação ionizante de 30,4 kGy promoveu uma redução na concentração de profenofós em 57,46 %. Além disso, foram realizadas sínteses de MIP e MIS para a extração em fase sólida de profenofós. Os MIS sintetizados por sol-gel mostraram-se eficazes para o reconhecimento molecular e extração seletiva de profenofós. / Profenofos is an organophosphate widely used in Brazil as insecticide and acaricide in the control of pests in onions, corn, soybeans, coffee, tomato, cotton, beans, potatoes among others. Irradiation is a process used worldwide and recommended by many health agencies for food preservation. Food irradiation preserving process uses accelerated electrons, gamma rays or X-rays. Ionizing radiation treatment is applied to eliminate or to reduce the action of pathogens and to increase the shelf life of some foods. The objective of this study were (a) to evaluate the degradation of aqueous solutions of Profenofos by ionizing radiation, identify and quantify the formation of new products by GC-MS; (b) to analyze the effects of electron beam in peas inoculated with aqueous solutions of Profenofos; (c) to synthesize Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) and Molecularly Imprinted Silica (MIS), subsequently characterize the adsorbents in solid phase and check its selectivity for profenofos. The treatment with electron accelerators with 31.6 kGy dose promoted the formation of a new by-product and 93.40 % reduction of profenofos in aqueous solutions. In peas inoculated with 1 μg of profenofos by ionizing radiation of 30.4 kGy promoted a reduction of 57.46 % in the concentration of profenofos. Furthermore, the MIP and MIS were performed for solid phase extraction of profenofos. The MIS synthesized by sol-gel proved to be effective for the recognition molecular and selective extraction of profenofos.

Le vétérinaire aide le producteur laitier à garder son troupeau en santé. Lorsqu’une vache est malade, il peut prescrire des antibiotiques. Le cas échéant, le lait de la vache traitée aux antibiotiques est jeté. Il n’est donc pas vendu pour consommation. Tout le lait produit est analysé avant d’être pasteurisé et transformé afin de s’assurer que les produits laitiers ne contiennent pas de résidus d’antibiotiques. Si les analyses indiquent que le lait renferme des traces d’antibiotiques, il est jeté et le producteur en cause doit assumer la perte. Les épreuves de dépistage actuelles de ces résidus médicamenteux sont onéreuses et inapplicables sur le terrain. Pour résoudre cette problématique aux pieds de la vache, la solution proposée dans ce projet est la fabrication d’un kit de détection basé sur les polymères à empreinte moléculaire. Il s’agit de polymères dont la conformation moléculaire est complémentaire à celle des antibiotiques. Dans ce projet, il est question d’améliorer l’efficacité des épreuves de dépistages des résidus de tétracyclines en augmentant le nombre de sites d’interaction entre l’antibiotique et des polyesters. Trois polymères sont utilisés portant respectivement des groupements aromatiques, carboxyliques et hydroxyles. Une étude antérieure dans notre laboratoire avait déjà donné un pourcentage de rétention de tétracycline de 50% pour une composition de 1/3 PLAOH- 1/3 PLACOOH- 1/3 PLAOBn. Avec des ajustements, le pourcentage passe à 38.93 % pour une composition de 1/4 PLAOH- 1/2 PLACOOH- 1/4 PLAOPh, de 44.81 % pour une composition de 1/4 PLACOOH- 1/2 PLAOH- 1/4 PLAOPh, de 66.34 %pour une composition de 1/4 PLAOH- 1/4 PLACOOH- 1/2 PLAOPh et de 78.07 % pour une composition de 1/6 PLAOH- 1/6 PLACOOH- 2/3 PLAOPh. Notre hypothèse était que la présence accrue du groupement phényle augmenterait le nombre de sites d’interaction spécifique avec l’antibiotique augmentant ainsi le pourcentage de rétention de l’antibiotique à travers les MIP. Les résultats ont confirmé cette hypothèse. / The veterinarian is helping the dairy farmer to keep his flock healthy. When a cow is sick, he may prescribe antibiotics. But in that case, the cow milk treated with antibiotics is discarded, and not sold for consumption. All milk products are analyzed before being pasteurized and processed to ensure that dairy products do not contain residues of antibiotics. If the analyses show that milk contains traces of antibiotics, it is discarded and the producer must bear the loss. On place, the current screening tests for drug residues are expensive and inapplicable. To resolve this problem at the feet of the cow, the solution proposed in this project is the production of a detection kit based on molecular imprinted polymers. These are polymers whose molecular conformation is complementary to that of antibiotics. This project is about improving the effectiveness of screening tests for residues of tetracyclines by increasing the number of interaction sites between the antibiotic and polyester. Three polymers are used respectively, aromatic, carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. A previous study in our laboratory had already shown a tetracycline retention percentage of 50% for a composition of 1 / 3 PLAOH-1 / 3 PLACOOH-1 / 3 PLAOBn. After variation in the polymers ratio, the percentage obtained is, 38.93 % for a composition of 1 / 4 PLAOH-1 / 2 PLACOOH-1 / 4 PLAOPh, 44.81 % for a composition of 1 / 4 PLACOOH- 1 / 2 PLAOH- 1 / 4 PLAOPh, 66.34 % for a composition of 1/4 PLAOH- 1/4 PLACOOH- 1/4 PLAOPh and 78.07 % for a composition of 1/6 PLAOH- 1 / 6 PLACOOH- 2 / 3 PLAPh. Our hypothesis was that the increase of the amount of the phenyl group, increases the number of specific interaction sites with the antibiotic, and so increases the percentage of retention of the antibiotic through the MIP. The results confirmed this hypothesis.