L’objectif de cette thèse était d'étudier les propriétés physico-chimiques de réseaux interpénétrés formés par auto-assemblage de copolymères à blocs amphiphiles stimulables. La première partie du travail a consisté à élaborer des hydrogels interpénétrés IPSAN (InterPenetrated Self-Assembled Network) à partir d’un simple mélange de copolymères triblocs associatifs. Ainsi, l’IPSAN correspond à une combinaison des deux réseaux polymères. Le premier réseau est formé par un copolymère tribloc à base de poly(oxyde d'éthylène) (tPOE) porteur de blocs hydrophobes polymérisables sous UV. Le deuxième réseau est constitué d’un copolyélectrolyte tribloc pH sensible à base de poly(acide acrylique) (TH50).L’influence des concentrations en copolymères et du pH sur la structure et les propriétés mécaniques des hydrogels IPSAN a été systématiquement étudiée. Dans une deuxième partie, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence de la formation d'un réseau transitoire sur la séparation de phases dans des mélanges de tPOE et de polymères linéaires en solution aqueuse. Cette étude a mis en évidence une augmentation de l'incompatibilité entre les deux polymères induite par l’association du copolymère tribloc. Ce système a permis l'élaboration d'hydrogels macroporeux photo-réticulables.Enfin, la diffusion de polymères linéaires et de particules solides micrométriques dans des réseaux de copolymères pH-sensibles a été étudiée par des techniques de recouvrement de fluorescence après photobleaching (FRAP) et de diffusion dynamique de la lumière. La formation du réseau transitoire ralentit le mouvement de traceurs linéaires de petite taille de la même manière que dans le cas d'hydrogels covalents. Le contrôle de la structure et de la dynamique du réseau par le pH est un levier puissant pour contrôler la diffusion dans ces hydrogels. / The objective of this thesis was to investigate the physical chemical properties of interpenetrating networks formed by self-association of responsive amphiphilic block copolymers. The first part of the work was to develop IPSAN hydrogels(InterPenetrated Self-Assembled Network) simply by mixing two triblock copolymers. Thus, the IPSAN corresponds to a combination of the two polymer networks. The first network is formed by a triblock copolymer based on poly(ethylene oxide) (tPEO) bearing UV-cross-linkable hydrophobic blocks. The second network consists of a pH-sensitive triblock polyelectrolyte based on poly(acrylic acid) (TH50). The influence of the concentration of the copolymers and of the pH on the structure and the mechanical properties of the IPSAN has been systematically studied. In the second part we investigated the influence ofthe formation of a transient network on the phase separation in mixtures of tPEO and linear polymers in aqueous solution. This study revealed an increase of the incompatibility between the two polymers induced by the association of the triblock copolymer. This system enabled the elaboration of photo-cross-linked macroporous hydrogels. Finally, the diffusion of linear polymers and solid particles in pH-sensitive networks was studied by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP)and dynamic light scattering. The formation of a transient network restricts the movement of small linear tracers in the same way as a covalent hydrogel would. The control of the structure and dynamics of the network by the pH is a powerful tool to control the diffusion in this hydrogels.

Phenol Formaldehyde (PF) and polymeric isocyanate (pMDI) are the two main types of adhesives used in the production of structural wood-based composites. Much is unknown about various aspects of adhesion between these two types of resins and wood. The present research describes the development of techniques which will permit an enhanced understanding of 1.) the extent of cure of PF within a wood based composite, 2.) the scale of molecular level interactions between PF and pMDI and wood, 3.) mechanical performance and durability of wood-adhesive bonds. Correlations were established between conventional methods of characterization of neat PF (thermomechanical analysis, swelling studies) and measurements made using 13C CP/MAS NMR. These correlations were then utilized to characterize PF cured in the presence of wood. The use of 13C labeled PF allowed estimates of relative degrees of resin conversion to be made. The use of 13C and deuterium labeled PF allowed qualitative estimates of resin molecular rigidity to be made. The scale of molecular level interactions between PF and pMDI and wood was probed using NMR relaxation experiments. Evidence was shown to suggest the formation of an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) morphology existing at both types of wood-resin interphases. The formation of the IPN morphology was strongly influenced by resin molecular weight, cure temperature and the presence of solvent. A new test geometry for the evaluation of the fracture toughness of wood-adhesive bonds was developed. Consistent and reliable results were obtained. It was found that low molecular weight PF possessed enhanced durability over high molecular weight. / Ph. D.

No description available.

The research described in this thesis originated from an idea to develop new body protection for the sport of fencing. The ultimate goal is to develop body armour which would be flexible, wearable, washable, light and breathable, offer protection from injuries and cover the entire body of a sportsman. A new material which exhibits shear thickening behaviour has been specially developed for this purpose in the process of this investigation. The material was designed and synthesised as a soft polymeric system which is flexible, chemically stable and able to increase the value of its modulus of elasticity upon impact at a high strain rate, while remaining in its soft gel-like elastomeric state when low strain rate deformation is applied. The polymeric system that has been developed is based on interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPN) of immiscible polyurethane/urea-ester/ether and poly(boron)n(dimethylsiloxane)m (where on average m ≈ 16 n). In addition, as the polydimethylsilane (PDMS) based polymeric system strongly tends to phase separation, the siloxane polymeric network was chemically cross-linked to the polyurethane polymeric network through polyurethane chemical cross-link-bridges. In order to introduce polyurethane cross-links to a siloxane-based polymeric network, some of the attached methyl groups in the PDMS polymeric backbone were substituted by ε-pentanol groups. The resulting polymeric system combines properties of an alternating copolymer with IPN. The actual substitution of the methyl groups of PDMS into alternating ε-pentanol groups was performed by Grignard reaction of trifunctional chlorosilane monomers, magnesium and 1,5-dibromopentane. Chemical analytical techniques like FT-IR, 13C NMR and 1H NMR spectroscopy were used to reveal the chemical structure of the synthesised polymeric network. The mechanical and dynamical properties of the obtained polymeric system were analysed by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). This part of the investigation indicated that the novel polymeric system exhibited shear thickening behaviour, but only at a narrow diapason of deformations (i.e., deformations between 2 to 3 % of the length of the sample). At this limited diapason of deformation an effective increase of the modulus of elasticity from 6 MPa (at lower frequencies, i.e., up to ≤6 Hz of the applied oscillating stress) to 65 MPa (at frequencies between 12.5 to 25 Hz) was obtained. However, no increase in the modulus of elasticity was recorded at deformations below 1.5 % or above 3.5 % of length of the sample at the same frequencies (0 to 25Hz) of the applied oscillating stress.

Choosing the right solvent is critical for many industrial applications. A useful property for selection of solvents is their solubility parameters. This concept of solubility parameters is central to this thesis and has been used in two different case studies of material treatment applications. Silicone rubber (crosslinked poly(dimethyl siloxane), PDMS) has many favorable material properties making it useful in biomedical devices. However, a limiting aspect of its material properties is a hydrophobic surface. The aim of this work was to prepare a hydrophilic PDMS material while retaining the transparency of the material. To do this, PDMS was combined with a hydrophilic polymer, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN). A two-step IPN synthesis method was developed and it was found that the solvent used for polymerization of PVP had a significant influence on the water-wettability and the transparency of the PVP/PDMS IPN. Several different analytical techniques were used for determining the degree of phase separation in the PVP/PDMS IPN. It was found, by using microscopy techniques, that the PVP phase domains varied between 200 nm up to a few micrometers, and the size of the phase domains was correlated to the solvent used for polymerization of the IPN. The second topic for which solvent effects were explored was for the use of mesoporous silica particles as potential drug delivery devices. In the present work a drug molecule, ibuprofen, was loaded into mesoporous silica particles using different solvents, and in addition adsorption isotherms were established in each solvent. The maximum loading of ibuprofen in the mesoporous material was achieved when using a nonpolar solvent, in particular liquid carbon dioxide was successfully used. One of the advantages of using liquid carbon dioxide is that no solvent residues are left in the final material, which is important for pharmaceutical applications. Furthermore, it was concluded that ibuprofen was stored in an X-ray amorphous form in the mesoporous particles. Release studies in water showed a rapid release of ibuprofen from the mesoporous silica particles, while the dissolution of samples with crystalline ibuprofen was slower. This was verified to be an effect of a larger exposed ibuprofen area in the ibuprofen-loaded mesoporous silica particles, and it was concluded that the intrinsic dissolution rate for the samples were identical.

Les membranes polymères utilisées actuellement dans les piles à combustible voient leurs performances diminuer à haute température (T > 90°C) et à faible humidité relative (HR < 50%) [1]. Cette diminution est principalement liée aux pertes des propriétés mécaniques et de conduction dans ces conditions. Afin de remédier à ces inconvénients, des membranes originales présentant une architecture de réseaux (semi-)interpénétrés de polymères [2] ((semi-)RIP) dans lesquelles un réseau hydrophobe est associé à un réseau hydrophile, ont été développées dans le cadre du projet ANR PAN-H « AMEIRICC ».Ces membranes sont constituées d'un réseau fluoré assurant la tenue mécanique et d'un réseau polyélectrolyte sulfoné assurant la conduction protonique du matériau, chacun des réseaux étant issu de différents précurseurs fournis par l'IAM et le LMOPS. Après la réaction de polymérisation/réticulation des deux réseaux, les matériaux sont caractérisés afin de réaliser un retour rapide sur leur synthèse et d'optimiser cette dernière pour parvenir à un matériau présentant les principales propriétés recherchées (conductivité protonique, stabilité thermique et chimique, principalement). Une fois la synthèse optimisée, des premiers matériaux ont été fournis au LMPB, au SPrAM et au LITEN pour la validation des membranes sélectionnées. Les propriétés structurales et les valeurs de conductivité des matériaux ont permis de conclure que les (semi-)RIP présentent une morphologie similaire à celle décrite pour le Nafion dans laquelle la phase fluorée et la phase conductrice ionique sont co-continues. Plusieurs séries de ces membranes ont ensuite été réalisées en modifiant la composition chimique afin d'étudier la variation des propriétés des matériaux obtenus. Enfin, les premiers tests en pile à combustible de ces membranes originales se sont révélés prometteurs.[1] R. Borup, J. Meyers, B. Pivovar, Chem. Rev. 107 (2007) 3904.[2] L. H. Sperling and V. Mishra. The current status of interpenetrating polymer networks. In: Kim SC, Sperling LH, editors. IPNs around the world: science and engineering. New York: Wiley; 1997: p. 1-25. / The polymer membranes currently used in fuel cells are reducing their performance at high temperature (T > 90°C) and low relative humidity (RH < 50%) [1]. This decrease is mainly due to loss of mechanical properties and conduction in these conditions. To overcome these drawbacks, unique membranes having an architecture (semi-) interpenetrating polymer network [2] ((semi-) IPN) in which a hydrophobic network is associated with a hydrophilic network, were developed under PAN-H “AMEIRICC” ANR Project.These membranes consist of fluorinated network ensuring the mechanical and sulfonated polyelectrolyte network ensuring the proton conduction of material, each network being derived from different precursors provided by IAM and LMOPS. After the polymerization/cross linking reaction of the two systems, materials are characterized to carry out a rapid return on their synthesis and optimize it to achieve a material with the main properties (proton conductivity, thermal and chemical stability, primarily). Once the synthesis is optimized, the first materials were provided to LMPB, SPrAM and LITEN for validation of selected membranes.The structural properties and conductivity values of materials led to the conclusion that (semi-) IPN have a similar morphology to that described for the Nafion in which the fluorous phase and the ionic conducting phase are co-continuous.Then several series of these membranes were conducted by changing the chemical composition in order to study the variation of obtained material properties. Finally, the first fuel cell test of original membranes have shown promise.[1] R. Borup, J. Meyers, B. Pivovar, Chem. Rev. 107 (2007) 3904.[2] L. H. Sperling and V. Mishra. The current status of interpenetrating polymer networks. In: Kim SC, Sperling LH, editors. IPNs around the world: science and engineering. New York: Wiley; 1997: p. 1-25.

As hydrogel products are manufactured and used for applications ranging from biomedical to agricultural, it is useful to characterize their behavior and interaction with other materials. This thesis investigates the adhesion between two different solvated semi-interpenetrating polymer network (S-IPN) silicone hydrogels and a cyclo-olefin (COP) polymer through experimental, analytical, and numerical methods. Interfacial fracture data was collected through the application of the wedge test, a relatively simple test allowing for the measurement of fracture properties over time in environments of interest. In this case, the test was performed at discrete temperatures within range of 4Ë C to 80Ë C. Two COP adherends were bonded together by a layer of one of the S-IPN silicone hydrogels. Upon the insertion of a wedge between the two adherends, debonding at one of the two interfaces would initiate and propagate at a decreasing rate. Measurements were taken of the debond length over time and applied to develop crack propagation rate versus strain energy release rate (SERR) curves. The SERR values were determined through the application of an analytical model derived for the wedge test geometry and to take into account the effects of the hydrogel interlayer. The time-temperature superposition principle (TTSP) was applied to the crack propagation rate versus SERR curves by shifting the crack propagation rates with the Williams-Landel-Ferry (WLF) equation-based shift factors developed for the bulk behavior of each hydrogel. The application of TTSP broadened the SERR and crack propagation rate ranges and presented a large dependency of the adhesion of the system on the viscoelastic nature of the hydrogels. Power-law fits were applied to the master curves in order to determine parameters that could describe the adhesion of the system and be applied in the development of a finite element model representing the interfacial fracture that occurs for each system. The finite element models were used to validate the analytical model and represent the adhesion of the system such that it could be applied to future geometries of interest in which the S-IPN silicone hydrogels are adhered to the COP substrate. <i>[Files modified per J. Austin, July 9, 2013 Gmc]</i> / Master of Science

Anxiety is an affective state defined by heightened arousal and unease in the absence of a clear and present fear-inducing stimulus. Chronic and inappropriate anxiety leads to anxiety disorders, the most common class of human mental disorder. Recent work suggests projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA), are critical for anxiety behavior expression. However, the relationship between efferent VTA projections and anxiety is unclear. This thesis resolves anxiety circuitry connecting the dopaminergic (DAergic) VTA to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), coined the mesointerpeduncular circuit. I hypothesize the mesointerpeduncular circuit affects anxiety through the release of anxiogenic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) during nicotine withdrawal and anxiolytic dopamine (DA) during drug naïve behavior. Electrophysiological and pharmacological data suggest CRF release from the DAergic VTA during nicotine withdrawal activates CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1) potentiating the glutamatergic activation of “Type 2” neurons and anxiety-like behavior in mice. However, in nicotine naïve conditions CRF production is negligible. Instead, in vivo DA release is anticorrelated with anxiety-like behaviors. Optogenetic stimulation and inhibition drives decreased and increased anxiety-like behaviors, respectively. Electrophysiological experiments reveal a complex interpeduncular microcircuit where D1-like DA receptor expressing “Type C” neurons in the caudal IPN (cIPN) regulate glutamatergic release in the ventral IPN (vIPN) through presynaptic GABA receptors. The result is propagation of the signal to excite “Type A” and inhibit “Type B” vIPN neurons. Finally, pharmacological activation or inhibition of interpeduncular D1-like DA receptors is sufficient to decrease and increase anxiety-like behaviors respectively. Thus, this circuit is important for modulating anxiety-like behavior.

Depuis plus d’une cinquantaine d’années, de formidables avancées ont été initiées dans le domaine de l’ingénierie tissulaire cutanée menant à la reconstruction in vitro de substituts de peau. La plupart sont des substituts dermiques destinés à être utilisés comme aide à la cicatrisation des plaies aigües et chroniques en complément des traitements de greffes conventionnels ainsi que pour l’augmentation des tissus mous. Bien qu’un nombre croissant de patients aient pu bénéficier de ces matrices dermiques, leur application clinique reste encore restreinte, en raison de leur coût élevé mais également à cause de résultats cicatriciels parfois peu satisfaisants. Par conséquent, il reste un défi de taille, celui de développer des substituts dermiques stimulant activement la cicatrisation, présentant un faible coût de production, sans propriétés antigéniques et possédant des propriétés mécaniques adaptées. Dans ce cadre, les hydrogels à base de fibrine constituent des candidats prometteurs, en particulier en raison du rôle central de cette protéine dans la cicatrisation. Le principal inconvénient est qu’à concentration physiologique, ces hydrogels sont faibles mécaniquement, ce qui les rend difficilement manipulables. L’objectif de cette thèse a été la mise au point ainsi que la caractérisation de différents hydrogels destinés à être utilisés comme substituts dermiques. Ces derniers présentent l’avantage d’associer les propriétés biologiques de la fibrine avec les propriétés mécaniques d’un polymère synthétique, le polyéthylène glycol dans une architecture de réseaux interpénétrés de polymères (RIP). Les résultats obtenus ont permis : - de confirmer les propriétés physico-chimiques des RIP développés initialement par nos collaborateurs de l’université de Cergy-Pontoise, - de valider en trois étapes (in vitro, ex vivo puis in vivo) la biocompatibilité de ces nouvelles matrices, destinées à être utilisées comme supports de culture 2D et pour l’augmentation des tissus mous, - d’élaborer et de caractériser des matrices macroporeuses, optimisées pour la culture 3D de fibroblastes de dermes humains. / Over the past five decades, we assisted in extraordinary advances in the field of skin tissue engineering which led to the in vitro reconstruction of a wide range of skin substitutes. Most of them are dermal substitutes: Their clinical application ranges from treating acute and chronic wounds to soft tissue augmentation. Although increasing numbers of patients have been treated with dermal substitutes, their clinical application has been limited by their substantial cost and some poor healing outcomes. Hence, there is still a challenge to produce a dermal substitute which enhance sufficiently wound healing. To this end, the substitute should exhibit suitable properties for enabling the repair process. Other requirements such as excellent biocompatibility, minimal antigenicity, ease to handle and cost-effective production are also essential. In this context, fibrin hydrogels constitute promising candidates for skin tissue engineering since fibrin fibers form a physiological and provisional backbone during wound healing. However, the poor mechanical properties of fibrin-based hydrogels at physiological concentration are an obstacle to their use. In this study, our aim was to design and characterize mechanically reinforced fibrin-based hydrogels by combining the intrinsic properties of a fibrin network with the mechanical features of a polyethylene glycol network using an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) architecture. They are intended to be used as dermal scaffolds. The results obtained in this thesis: - Confirmed the suitable physico-chemical properties of IPN, first developed by our partner of the University of Cergy-Pontoise. - Validated their biocompatibility using a three-step approach (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo assays). - Led to the synthesis and characterization of a new type of fibrin-based macroporous matrices, optimized for 3D dermal fibroblast culture.

No description available.