No description available.

<p>A series of experiments were carried out to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms governing the transport of biological and non-biological particles through single, saturated dolomite fractures at the laboratory scale. Fracture apertures and general roughness were characterized using hydraulic and conservative solute tracer experiments.</p> <p>The effects of particle size, surface characteristics and ionic strength of carrying solution were all evaluated. Particulate material studied included MS2, <em>E. coli</em> and two sizes of carboxylated microspheres. To elucidate the effect of ionic strength on particulate transport, the ionic strength of the carrying solution was altered during each experiment. All particulate experiments were completed at a specific discharge of 15 m/day to facilitate comparisons.</p> <p>Recovery of biological particulate material was found to be much less relative to the carboxylated microspheres, even though the energy profiles predicted similar interactions with the fracture surface. This suggests that the biological surface has a significant impact on retention within the fracture. Further, altering the ionic strength of the carrying solution did not spur significant elution of additional particulate material, regardless of surface characteristics. Therefore, it was determined that retention within the secondary energy minimum was negligible under these operating conditions.</p> <p>With respect to carboxylated microspheres, increased retention was observed within the less variable fracture. This suggests that increased variability within a fracture results in increased eddying within the aperture field. This eddying effectively reduces the aperture region available for particle transport, lessening the particle/fracture interaction. Overall, while mean residence times were similar, recovery of biological particles was poorly replicated by microspheres.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common ligamentous injuries of the knee. Post rupture, the ACL does not heal on itself due to poor vasculature and hence surgical intervention is required to treat the ACL. Current surgical management of ACL rupture consists of reconstruction with autografts or allografts. However, the limitations associated with these grafts have prompted interest in tissue engineered solutions that combine cells, scaffolds and stimuli to facilitate ACL regeneration. This thesis describes a ligament tissue engineering strategy that involves incorporating biomolecules within fibers-based electrospun meshes which mimics the extra-cellular matrix microarchitecture of ligament. However, challenges exist with incorporation of biomolecules. Therefore, the goal of this research project was to develop two techniques to incorporate biomolecules within electrospun meshes: (1) co-axially electrospinning fibers that support surface-grafting of biomolecules, and (2) co-axially electrospinning fibers decorated with biomolecule-loaded microspheres. In the first approach, chitosan was co-axially electrospun on the shell side of poly caprolactone (PCL) and arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) was attached to the electrospun meshes. Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) attached, spread and proliferated on these meshes. In the second approach, fluorescein isothiocyanate labelled bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) loaded chitosan-alginate (CS-AL) microspheres were fabricated. The effects of cation to alginate ratio, type of alginate and concentration of CaCl2 on microsphere size, FITC-BSA loading and release were systematically evaluated. The CS-AL microspheres were then incorporated into the sheath phase of co-axially electrospun meshes to achieve microsphere-decorated fiber composite meshes. The results from these model study suggest that both approaches are tractable for incorporating biomolecules within fibers-based electrospun meshes. Both these approaches provide platform for future studies that can focus on ligament-relevant biomolecules such as FGF-2 and GDF-5. / Master of Science

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is often infected by the endophytic fungus, Acremonium coenophialum (Morgan-Jones and Gams) The fungus produces ergo peptide alkaloids, especially ergovaline. Consumption of endophyte-infected (ED fescue forage by cattle decreases serum prolactin and average daily weight gains, which results in economic losses for producers. Anecdotal reports suggest cattle with fescue toxicosis may not respond to vaccination. Hyperprolactinemia decreases cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in mice. Therefore, steers grazing EI or endophyte-free (EF) fescue forages were vaccinated to assess humoral immune responses. Steers grazing EI fescue exhibited classical clinical signs of fescue toxicosis, and mounted humoral immune responses to vaccination, despite hyperprolactinemia. Lymphocyte proliferation responses to mitogens in mice fed EI diets were similar to mice fed EF diets. Production of interferon gamma and interleukin-4 was higher by splenocytes from mice fed EI diets, whereas interleukin-2 tended to be lower. Fescue toxicosis may stimulate T helper cell 2 subset of CD4⁺ T cells. The T_H2 subset may augment humoral immune responses to vaccination. / Ph. D.

No / Cd3P2 quantum dots (QDs) have been synthesized in both aqueous and high boiling point surfactant solutions via a gas-bubbling method. The synthesized QDs exhibit photoluminescent wavelengths spanning across the visible red to the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Two types of shell materials, SiO2 nanobeads and PS micro-spheres, have been employed to encapsulate the Cd3P2 QDs which provide protecting layers against physiological solutions. The coating layers are proven to enhance the optical and chemical stability of Cd3P2 QDs, and make the fluorescent particles capable of sustaining long-term photo-oxidation. To demonstrate the applicability of the bio-labelling, the fluorescent composite particles (PS@QDs, SiO2@QDs) were injected into a culture medium of colorectal carcinoma (LoVo) cells. The results demonstrated that the PS@QDs exhibited a brighter fluorescence, but the SiO2@QDs provided a better photostability which consequently led to long-term cancer cell detection as well as a much lower release of toxic Cd2+ into the PBS solutions.

Un traumatisme de la moelle épinière (TME) est une condition dévastatrice entraînant la perte permanente de fonctions neuronales. L’objectif de cette thèse est de formuler de microsupports pharmacologiquement actif (MPAs) avec une surface de fibronectine (FN), libérant le« brain-derived neurotrophic factor » (BDNF) de façon controlée. Nous voulons combiner ce système avec des cellules souches mésenchymateuses (CSMs) pour la réparation de TME. Le BDNF nanoprécipité a été encapsulé dans les FN-MPAs et le profil de libération in vitro a été évaluée. Elle a montré une libération biphasique et prolongée de BDNF bioactifs. Nous avons combinés des cellules souches humaines mésenchymateuse issues de la moelle osseuse adulte (cellules MIAMI) et FN-MPAs avec un hydrogel non-toxique silanisés-hydroxypropylméthylcellulose (Si-HPMC). Nous avons démontré que les FN-MPAs et le Si-HPMC augmentait l'expression de marqueurs neuraux/neuronaux de cellules MIAMI après 1 semaine. En outre, l'environnement 3D (hydrogel ou FN-MPAs) a augmenté le sécrétome thérapeutique de cellules MIAMI. Pour avoir un système facile à appliquer en clinique, nous avons choisi d’utiliser les cellules souches de la papille apicale (SCAP) et FN-MPAs libérant ou non du BDNF pour la thérapie du TME. Plus de 90 % du SCAP complexée avec FN-MPAs (libérant ou pas BDNF) demeurent viables pendant 7 jours et il y a augmentation de l'expression des gènes neuronaux/oligodendrogliaux in vitro. La récupération de la fonction locomotrice a été significativement améliorée après la transplantation du SCAP complexée avec FN-MPAs-BDNF avec une coordination cohérente du membre postérieur après 28 jours de traitement. / Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition resulting in permanent loss of neural functions. The objective of this thesis is to develop pharmacologically active microcarriers (PAMs) with a fibronectin (FN) surface that deliver biologically active brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a controlled manner. We want to combine this system with adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for SCI repair. The nanoprecipitated BDNF was encapsulated in FN-PAMs and the in vitro release profile was evaluated. It showed a prolonged, bi-phasic, release of bioactive BDNF, without burst effect. We combined human marrow-isolated adult multilineage-inducible (MIAMI) stem cells and FN-PAMs with an injectable non-toxic silanized-hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Si-HPMC) hydrogel. We demonstrated that FN-PAMs and the Si-HPMC hydrogel increased the expression of neural/neuronal differentiation markers of MIAMI cells after 1 week. Moreover, the 3D environment (FN-PAMs or hydrogel) enhanced the therapeutic MIAMI cell secretome. To have a clinically translatable system, we chose to use stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP) and FNPAMs releasing or not BDNF for SCI therapy. More than 90% of SCAP complexed with FN-PAMs (releasing or not BDNF) remained viable for 7 days and an increased neuronal-oligodendroglial gene expression in vitro. The recovery of locomotor function was significantly improved after transplantation of SCAP complexed with FN-PAMs-BDNF with frequent to consistent forelimb-hindlimb coordination after 28 days of treatment.

Diferentes floculantes ecológicos têm sido estudados na literatura para o tratamento de água. Entre tais substâncias, a quitosana e os taninos têm sido utilizados, regularmente, em diversos trabalhos relacionados ao tratamento de água. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi a obtenção de microesferas de quitosana comercial (QTSc) e tanino extraído da casca de Eucalyptus urograndis (TAN), para a utilização piloto no tratamento de água bruta com baixa turbidez (100-110 NTU). Primeiramente, avaliou-se o grau de desacetilação da quitosana comercial (QTSc) e da quitosana na microesfera (QTSm) para a avaliação da porcentagem de grupamentos aminas livres ou desacetiladas. Em seguida, a quitosana desacetilada foi utilizada como matriz na preparação de microesferas empregando duas concentrações de TAN (5,0 e 7,5 % v/v). O material preparado foi caracterizado por FTIR, DRX, MEV e TGA. Os espectros de FTIR apresentaram aumento da intensidade dos picos à medida que havia aumento de concentração de TAN nas microesferas formadas. Os espectros de DRX apresentaram um material amorfo. As micrografias por MEV mostraram que a interação da QTS com o TAN modifica as características superficiais da microesfera provocando mudanças na superfície. As análises de DTA/TGA mostraram que as microesferas preparadas com 0 e 5% apresentaram três estágios de degradação térmica e dois estágios para QTS/TAN 7,5% mostrando que o material com QTS/TAN 7,5% apresenta resistência térmica diferenciada quando comparado ao QTS/TAN 0 e 5%. As microesferas foram avaliadas em ensaios de coagulação/floculação por Jar test no tratamento de água bruta utilizando planejamento fatorial experimental (23) no qual fatores utilizados os paramentos de massa de coagulante de 10 mg e 25 mg, pH=7,0 e pH=8,0 e tempo de decantação de 15 min e 30 min. Os fatores foram avaliados quanto a porcentagem de remoção de turbidez e cor. Os resultados mostraram-se satisfatórios quanto a remoção de turbidez, com mínimo de 51,52 % e máximo de 76,67 % e remoção de cor com mínimo de 42,86 % e máximo de 66,00 %. Os melhores resultados de % remoção foram obtidos quando foram utilizadas as microesferas de QTS/TAN 5% em pH = 8,0 com tempo de decantação de 30 min e massa de coagulante de 25 mg. Os resultados permitiram avaliar as microesferas de QTS/TAN como materiais promissores no tratamento de água. / Different ecological flocculants have been studied in the literature for treatment of water and wastewater. Among such substances, chitosan and tannins have been used regularly in several works related to water treatment. In this context, the aim of this study was to obtain commercial chitosan microspheres (QTSc) and tannin extracted from barks of Eucalyptus urograndis (TAN) for pilot utilization in the treatment of raw water with low turbidity (100-110 NTU). At first degree of deacetylation of both, commercial chitosan (QTSc) and the chitosan microsphere (QTSm) was verified for assessment of degree of deacetylation of amines. Microspheres were prepared at different concentrations of TAN ranging from 0 - 7.5% v/v and then characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM and DTA/TGA. FTIR showed an increase of peak intensity as increased the concentration of the TAN microspheres formed. XRD presented an amorphous material. SEM micrographs allowed verifying the interaction of chitosan and tannin in the modification of the surface. Analyses of DTA/TGA showed that chitosan microspheres CTS/TAN 0% and 5% exhibited three stages of thermal degradation and two stages were observed for 7.5% CTS/TAN, allowed to conclude that CTS/TAN 7.5% has lower heat resistance compared to CTS/TAN 0 and 5%. The microspheres were evaluated in terms of coagulation/ flocculation assays by Jar test using an experimental factorial design (23). The coagulant mass of 10 mg and 25 mg, pH = 7.0 and pH = 8.0 and settling time of 15 min and 30 min were used as main factors. The factors were assessed for percentage removal of turbidity and color, which gave satisfactory results in the removal of turbidity with a minimum at 51.52% and a maximum at 76.67% and color removal with a minimum at 42.86% and maximum at 66.00%. The best results of were obtained using microspheres CTS/TAN 5% at pH 8.0 and settling time of 30 min and 25 mg of coagulant. Microspheres of CTS/TAN are promising in the treatment of water, but additional studies are necessary for searching the better conditions/results for water treatment.

Les solutions colloïdales constituées de nanoparticules en solution sont une famille d'objets aux propriétés optiques uniques. Leur utilisation comme élement de base à la fabrication de composants optiques sublongueur d'onde pourrait permettre la naissance de nouvelles applications en particulier dans le domaine de l'optique intégrée et de la détection biologique. La manipulation de ces particules reste toutefois un défi en raison de leur taille et de leur dispersion aléatoire dans un milieu liquide. Dans ce contexte, nous avons réalisé des nouveaux composants optiques grâce au développement de techniques de fabrication basées sur la méthode d'assemblage capillaire assisté par convection. Deux types de structures ont été réalisés puis évalués en terme de comportement optique : les dimères métalliques d'Au et les microsphères diélectriques de polystyrène assemblées en chaînes ou en réseaux. Pour les dimères, une étude fondamentale a été effectuée sur les phénomènes plasmoniques régissant les propriétés optiques de ces objets. Leur potentiel en tant que détecteur ultrasensible SERS et nanoantenne à boîtes quantiques a ensuite été approfondi. Pour les microsphères, une étude sur la propagation et la diffusion des modes de galerie présents dans ces objets a tout d'abord été réalisée dans le but d'en faire des candidats pour la détection ultrasensible. Les propriétés de guidage de la lumière dans des assemblages en chaîne ont ensuite été traitées. Afin de compléter ce travail un dernier composant optique a été développé en complément des guides et capteurs colloïdaux déjà réalisés. Il s'agit d'une nouvelle génération d'émetteurs localisés conçus pour un usage large et versatile et qu'il est possible de définir comme microsource de lumière blanche. / Colloids -- e.g. nanoparticles in solution -- are objects that exhibit original optical properties. Their use as building block for fabrication of subwavelength optical components may allow novel applications in the field of integrated optics and biological detection. Anyway colloidal particles handling remains a challenge because of their small size and their random dispersion into a liquid medium. In this context, we created new colloidal optical components thanks to nanofabrication techniques based on the convective assisted capillary force assembly method. Two different kinds of structure were made and their optical behavior was studied: gold colloidal dimers and polystyrene dielectric microspheres assembled as chains or arrays. For the dimers, a fundamental study was performed on plasmonic phenomena that rule the optical properties of these objects. Next, their potential was evaluated in terms of ultrasensitive SERS sensor and also as optical nanoantenna of quantum dot emitters. For the microspheres, the propagation and scattering behaviors of whispering gallery modes that travel into the microspheres were first investigated. Their potential use as ultrasensitive sensors was also discussed. In addition, a second study was made on the guiding properties of linear microspheres chains. In order to complete this work, one last optical component was developped in addition to the fabricated colloidal waveguides and colloidal sensors. This component is a white light microsource that was designed for applications as a versatile localized emitter for integrated optics.

Nuclear fuel comes in many forms; oxide fuel is the most commonly used in current reactor systems while metal fuel is a promising fuel type for future reactors due to neutronic performance and increased thermal conductivity. As a key heat transfer parameter, thermal conductivity describes the heat transport properties of a material based upon the density, specific heat, and thermal diffusivity. A material’s ability to transport thermal energy through its structure is a measurable property known as thermal diffusivity; the units for thermal diffusivity are given in area per unit time (e.g., m2/s). Current measurement methods for thermal diffusivity include LASER (or light) Flash Analysis and the hot-wire method. This study examines an approach that combines these previous two methods to characterize the diffusivity of a packed bed of microspheres of depleted uranium (DU) metal, which have a nominal diameter of 250 micrometers. The new apparatus is designated as the Crucible Heater Test Assembly (CHTA), and it induces a radial transient across a packed sample of microspheres then monitors the temperature profile using an array of thermocouples located at different distances from the source of the thermal transient. From the thermocouple data and an accurate time log, the thermal diffusivity of the sample may be calculated. Results indicate that DU microspheres have very low thermal conductivity, relative to solid uranium metal, and rapidly form an oxidation layer. At 500°C, the thermal conductivity of the DU microspheres was 0.431 ± 13% W/m-K compared to approximately 32 W/m-K for solid uranium metal. Characterization of the developed apparatus revealed a method that may be useful for measuring the thermal diffusivity of powders and liquids.

Complexed microspheres of poly(4-vinyl pyridine) (P4VN) and alginic acid were prepared by internal gelation method and subsequent freeze drying. The 4% and 10% microspheres were loaded with Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-7 (BMP-7), respectively for in vitro studies and were entrapped in PLGA foams. Foams containing only 4%, BMP-2 microspheres, only 10%, BMP-7 microspheres and both populations were prepared. Control samples of each group were prepared with drug free microspheres. Bone marrow derived stem cells from rat femur and tibia isolated by a surgical operation, were seeded onto foams. Proliferation of cells on foams containing both microsphere populations was higher at all time points regardless of the presence of BMPs. This was attributed to different porosity characteristics. Proliferation was higher at all times in control samples in comparison to their positive samples for all groups, suggesting proliferation attenuation related enhancement in osteogenic activity due to BMP supply. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were lower at all time points for foams containing both microsphere populations regardless of BMP presence. This was attributed to different physical characteristics of foams confirmed by the inverse correlation between proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. Total and specific ALP activity results demonstrated the significant positive influence of all BMP containing types in enhancing osteogenic differentiation. Best results were obtained with co-administration of sequential delivery performing 4% and 10% microspheres loaded with BMP-2 and BMP-7, respectively.