O Poli(ácido láctico) (PLA) é um polímero biodegradável, biocompatível e biorreabsorvível proveniente de fontes renováveis. Constitui uma excelente alternativa sustentável para os polímeros provenientes de petróleo, atualmente dominantes no mercado industrial. Porém, apresenta baixas ductilidade e tenacidade como principais limitações mecânicas. Um dos métodos mais utilizados para modificar essas propriedades é a mistura mecânica do PLA com polímeros flexíveis, como a poli(ε-caprolactona) (PCL). Entretanto, o alto desempenho mecânico de blendas PLA/PCL é difícil de ser atingido devido à imiscibilidade dos polímeros. A melhoria de propriedades, neste caso, só é conseguida por meio de compatibilização. Este trabalho visa avaliar o efeito compatibilizante do copolímero tribloco de baixo peso molecular derivado de ε-caprolactona e tetrametileno éter glicol disponível comercialmente em blendas imiscíveis de PLA com PCL. Blendas binárias e ternárias foram preparadas por mistura mecânica no estado fundido via processo de extrusão em rosca simples. O teor de PLA nas blendas variou em 75, 50 e 25% (% em massa) e a concentração do copolímero em 0, 1,5, 3 e 5% (% em massa). A avaliação morfológica e o comportamento térmico e mecânico das blendas PLA/PCL foram realizados por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), calorimetria exploratória diferencial (DSC), análise térmica dinâmico-mecânica (DMTA) e ensaios mecânicos de tração, flexão e impacto Izod. O efeito compatibilizante do copolímero foi mais bem observado nas blendas com 75% (% em massa) de PLA, enquanto que nas blendas com 50% e 25% (% em massa) de PLA esse efeito não foi tão evidente. Os resultados obtidos no ensaio de tração mostraram que com o aumento do teor de compatibilizante, a tensão no escoamento, a tensão na ruptura e o módulo elástico das blendas com 75% (% em massa) de PLA se mantiveram praticamente constantes, enquanto que a deformação na ruptura evoluiu de 20% na blenda com 1,5% (% em massa) de copolímero para 84% na blenda com 5% (% em massa) de copolímero. As análises morfológicas indicaram que o copolímero em bloco agiu na interface PLA/PCL, melhorando sua adesão. Esse resultado foi reforçado pelas análises térmicas, onde foi constatado que as Tg\'s e Tm\'s do PLA e do PCL nas blendas não apresentaram alterações, o que indica que o copolímero encontra-se na região interfacial da blenda. A resistência ao impacto Izod com entalhe, propriedade mecânica utilizada nesse trabalho como uma medida da tenacidade, da blenda PLA75C5 alcançou 42 J/m, valor significativamente superior ao determinado para o PLA puro, por volta de 28 J/m. Esses resultados mostram claramente que o copolímero tribloco derivado de ε-caprolactona e tetrametileno éter glicol é um eficiente compatibilizante para blendas PLA/PCL. / The Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymer derived from renewable sources. It is an excellent sustainable alternative to polymers derived from oil, currently dominating the industry. However, PLA has low ductility and poor toughness as main mechanical limitations. Mechanical mixing of PLA with flexible polymers, such as poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL), is one of the most used methods to modify these properties. However, a high mechanical performance of PLA/PCL blends is difficult to achieve due to the immiscibility of the polymers. The improvement of properties in this case is achieved only by compatibilization. This study aims to evaluate compatibilizer effect of a low molecular weight tri-block copolymer derived from ε-caprolactone and tetramethylene ether glycol, commercially available, on immiscible blends of PLA with PCL. Binary and ternary blends were prepared by mechanical blending in melt state through a single screw extrusion. The content of PLA in the blends ranged in 75, 50 and 25 wt% and the concentration of copolymer in 0, 1.5, 3 and 5 wt%. The morphological evaluation and the thermal and mechanical behavior of PLA/PCL blends were performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and tensile test, flexural and Izod impact. The compatibilizer effect of the copolymer was more clearly observed in the blends with 75 wt% PLA, whereas in blends with 50 wt% to 25 wt% of PLA this effect was not so evident. The results of the mechanical tests showed that with the increase of the compatibilizer content, the yield stress, the stress at break and the elastic modulus of the blends with 75% (wt%) remained practically constant, while the elongation at break evolved from 20% in the blend with 1.5 wt% of copolymer to 84% in the blend to with 5 wt% of copolymer. Morphological analysis indicated that the block copolymer acted in the PLA/PCL interface, improving adhesion. This results were reinforced by thermal analysis, where it was found that the Tg and Tm of PLA and PCL in the blends showed no change, indicating that the copolymer is in the interfacial region of the blend. The Izod impact strength (Notched Izod), mechanical properties used in this work as a measure of toughness, of the blend PLA75C5 reached 42 J/m, significantly higher than the determined for pure PLA, about 28 J/m. These results clearly show that the triblock copolymer derived from ε-caprolactone and tetramethylene ether glycol is a good compatibilizer for blends PLA/PCL because it acts at the interfacial region, promoting the adhesion between the phases.

A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) relata o câncer como uma das principais causas de morte no mundo. O câncer de próstata é o segundo tipo de câncer mais prevalente em homens. Uma modalidade de tratamento que vem sendo bastante utilizada é a braquiterapia, que consiste na introdução de sementes com material radioativo no interior do orgão. Sementes de Iodo-125 podem ser inseridas soltas ou em cordas poliméricas bioabsorvíveis. As sementes em cordas poliméricas apresentam algumas vantagens, pois reduzem a taxa de migração das sementes, evento que poderia afetar a dosimetria da região e causar danos desnecessários a tecidos ou órgãos sadios. Para as sementes de Iodo-125 em cordas poliméricas, utiliza-se a poliglactina 910, (poli(ácido lático-co-ácido glicólico)) (PLGA), com cobertura de poliglactina 370 (Vicryl®). Foi proposto neste trabalho, o estudo e desenvolvimento da metodologia de síntese do biopolímero PLGA, via polimerização por abertura de anéis, assim como sua caracterização, com o propósito de utilizar o material sintetizado para fabricar um material similar ao RAPID-Strand®. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que, através da metodologia utilizada, foi possível determinar os melhores parâmetros de reação (tempo e temperatura) para o PLGA na proporção 80/20 (lactídeo/glicolídeo). Com uma temperatura de 110ºC e tempo de reação de 24h, foi possível obter 86% de rendimento, e com o aumento o tempo de reação para 72h, o rendimento é superior a 90%. Os valores de massas moleculares obtidas entre os testes, ainda são muito baixos quando comparados com os valores obtidos por outros autores na literatura (cerca de 20%). Falhas na selagem das ampolas, deixando-os vulneráveis à umidade e oxigênio, ou a falta de uma sistema eficiente de agitação podem ser possíveis explicações para estes resultados. Um reator químico adequado poderia solucionar o problema. Em relação à caracterização, as técnicas utilizadas confirmaram a estrutura esperada do polímero, e a maior proporção das unidades provenientes do dímero lactídeo, em relação ao glicolídeo. / According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. A method of radiotherapy which has been extensively used is brachytherapy, where radioactive seeds are placed inside the area requiring treatment. Iodine-125 seeds can be placed loose or stranded in bioabsorbable polymers. Stranded seeds show some advantages, since they reduce the rate of seed migration, an event that could affect the dosimetry of the prostate and cause unnecessary damage to healthy tissues or organs. For Iodine-125 stranded seeds, polyglactin 910 (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) (PLGA), with a coverage of polyglactin 370 (Vicryl ®) is used. It was purposed in this dissertation, the study and development of the synthesis methodology for PLGA via ring-opening polymerization, as well as its characterization, with the objective of using the synthesized material to manufacture a material similar to RAPID Strand®. The results obtained show that it was possible to determine the optimal reaction parameters (time and temperature) for PLGA in 80/20 (lactide/glycolide) ratio. Using a temperature of 110 ° C and reaction time of 24h, a yield of 86% was obtained, and increasing the reaction time to 72 hours, the yield was higher than 90%. The molecular mass values obtained from the samples are still very low compared to those obtained by other authors in the literature (about 20%). Failures in the sealing of vials, leaving them vulnerable to moisture and oxygen, or lack of an efficient stirring system might be possible explanations for these results. A suitable chemical reactor could solve the problem. Regarding polymer characterization, all techniques used not only confirmed the expected structure of the polymer, but also showed the highest proportion of lactide units compared to to glycolide units.

O poli(ácido láctico) (PLA) é um polímero biodegradável, biocompatível e bioabsorvível proveniente de fontes renováveis. Constitui uma excelente alternativa sustentável para substituição dos polímeros provenientes de petróleo, atualmente dominantes no mercado industrial. Apesar das vantagens, o PLA tem baixa tenacidade e reduzida elongação na ruptura a temperatura ambiente, o que torna a sua utilização limitada em usos que necessitem de alta deformação plástica em níveis de exigência mecânicos elevados. Misturas mecânicas de PLA com polímeros altamente flexíveis, como é o caso da poli(ε-caprolactona) (PCL), podem resultar em novos materiais com propriedades mecânicas adequadas para diferentes aplicações. Blendas PLA/PCL são completamente imiscíveis, sendo seu comportamento mecânico altamente dependente da interação interfacial entre os componentes da blenda. Portanto, o objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar o efeito compatibilizante de um copolímero em bloco de baixa massa molar (2000 g mol-1) derivado de ε-caprolactona e policarbonato (C2) e, disponível comercialmente em blendas imiscíveis PLA/PCL. Blendas binárias e ternárias foram preparadas por mistura mecânica no estado fundido via processo de extrusão em rosca simples. O teor de PLA nas blendas foi de 75, 50 e 25% (em massa) e a concentração do copolímero de 0, 1, 3, 5 e 7% (em massa). O comportamento térmico, morfológico e mecânico das blendas compatibilizadas e não compatibilizadas foi avaliado por Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial (DSC), Análise Termodinâmico-Mecânica (DMTA), Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV) e ensaios de tração, flexão e impacto Izod. Os resultados de DSC e DMTA indicaram que o copolímero provocou pequena redução na temperatura de transição vítrea (Tg) do PLA, sugerindo que o C2 é solúvel no PLA. Entretanto, nas micrografias das superfícies de fraturas do PLA foi nítida a presença de pequenas micelas formadas pelo copolímero em bloco, indicando que há um limite de solubilidade do compatibilizante na fase de PLA. Os resultados obtidos em tração mostraram que com o aumento do teor de compatibilizante, a tensão no escoamento, a tensão na ruptura e o módulo elástico das blendas sofrem alterações. A propriedade de tenacidade, avaliada no ensaio de impacto Izod, mostrou que as blendas tiveram um ganho na resistência quando comparadas com o PLA puro. Os resultados mostraram que o copolímero em bloco derivado de ε-caprolactona e policarbonato alifático pode atuar como compatibilizante para blendas PLA/PCL / Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable, biocompatible and bioabsorbable polymer from renewable sources. It is an excellent sustainable alternative for replacing petroleum polymers, currently dominant in the industrial market. Despite the advantages, PLA has low toughness and reduced elongation at room temperature, which makes its use limited in uses that require high plastic deformation under high mechanical stress levels. Mechanical mixtures of PLA with highly flexible polymers, such as poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), may result in new materials with mechanical properties suitable for different applications. PLA/PCL blends are completely immiscible, and their mechanical behavior is highly dependent on the interfacial interaction between the components of the blend. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the compatibilizing effect of a low molar mass block copolymer (2000 g mol-1) derived from ε-caprolactone and polycarbonate (C2) and commercially available in PLA/PCL immiscible blends. Binary and ternary blends were prepared by mechanical mixing in the melted state via single-screw extrusion process. The content of PLA in the blends was 75, 50 and 25% (% by mass) and the copolymer concentration was 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7% (% by mass). The thermal, mechanical and morphological behavior of compatibilized and non-compatibilized blends was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermodynamic-mechanical analysis (DMTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile test, flexion test, and Izod impact. The results of DSC and DMTA indicated that the copolymer caused a small reduction in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of PLA, suggesting that C2 is soluble in PLA. However, in the micrographies of the fracture surfaces of the PLA the presence of small micelles formed by the block copolymer is clear, indicating that there is a limit of solubility of the compatibilizer in the PLA phase. The results obtained in a tensile test showed that with the increase of the compatibilizing content, the tension in the flow, the tension at rupture and the elastic modulus of the blends undergo changes. The tenacity property, evaluated in the Izod impact test, showed that the blends had a gain in resistance when compared to pure PLA. The results showed that block copolymer derived from ε-caprolactone and aliphatic polycarbonate can act as a compatibilizer for PLA/PCL blends.

Orientador: Guilherme de Camargo Ferraz / Resumo: A descoberta de polímeros biodegradáveis influenciou a pesquisa biomédica. O poli (ácido lático) (PLA) e a Poli (Ɛ-caprolactona) (PCL) e suas blendas se tornaram foco de vários estudos por serem biodegradáveis e biorreabsorvíveis, particularmente em pesquisas envolvendo a implantação in vivo. Pelo presente, objetivou-se avaliar se o implante subcutâneo (SC) e intraperitoneal (IP) de PLA ou blenda PLA/ PCL são seguros, biocompatíveis e biodegradáveis em ratos machos Wistar. Os ratos foram distribuídos em cinco grupos avaliados em duas fases; aguda: -1, 1, 2, 7 e 14 dias e crônica: 2, 8 e 24 semanas após a implantação. Assim, estudaram se os grupos PLA (PLA puro), PLA/PCL (mistura PLA/PCL), instrumentado (GI), controle (C) e grupo controle inflamatório (CI). Para avaliar a biocompatibilidade utilizou-se teste comportamental de campo aberto (CA), filamentos de von Frey (FvF) e análises histopatológicas utilizando coloração de hematoxilina-eosina (HE) e picrosirius-hematoxilina (PSH). A biodegradação in vivo e degradação in vitro em solução de PBS a 37°C do PLA e PLA/PCL foram avaliadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). As comparações foram realizadas entre os grupos subdivididos conforme a implantação IP e SC. No teste CA, realizado dois dias após a implantação, o grupo CI demonstrou redução nas frequências de locomoção e levantar e aumento na frequência de grooming em relação aos grupos implantados PLA, PLA/PCL, GI pela via IP ou SC e grupo C. As avaliações de FvF ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The discovery of biodegradable polymers influenced biomedical research. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) and their blends have become the focus of several studies because they are biodegradable and bioreabsorbable, particularly in research involving implantation in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the subcutaneous (SC) and intraperitoneal (IP) implantation of PLA or PLA / PCL blends are safe, biocompatible and biodegradable in male Wistar rats. The rats were distributed in five groups evaluated in two phases; acute: -1, 1, 2, 7 and 14 days and chronic: 2, 8 and 24 weeks after implantation. Thus, we studied whether the groups PLA (pure PLA), PLA / PCL (PLA / PCL mixture), sham (S), control (C) and inflammatory control group (IC). To evaluate the biocompatibility, the open field behavioral test (OF), von Frey filaments (FvF) and histopathological analyzes using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and picrosirius-hematoxylin (PSH) were used. In vivo biodegradation and degradation in vitro in PBS solution at 37°C of PLA and PLA / PCL were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The comparisons were made between groups subdivided according to the IP and SC implementation. In the OF test, performed two days after implantation, the IC group demonstrated a reduction in the locomotion frequencies and augmentation and increase in the grooming frequency in relation to the PLA, PLA / PCL, sham implanted groups via IP or SC and C groups. FvF... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by Sara Ribeiro (sara.ribeiro@ucb.br) on 2018-06-06T14:01:03Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThaisDuarteCostaDissertacao2018.pdf: 3076865 bytes, checksum: 13af7d694f07d7e2dcc9281907285b62 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Sara Ribeiro (sara.ribeiro@ucb.br) on 2018-06-06T14:01:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ThaisDuarteCostaDissertacao2018.pdf: 3076865 bytes, checksum: 13af7d694f07d7e2dcc9281907285b62 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T14:01:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThaisDuarteCostaDissertacao2018.pdf: 3076865 bytes, checksum: 13af7d694f07d7e2dcc9281907285b62 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-03 / Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) based plastics are serious environmental problem due to long decomposition periods and petroleum-dependent origin. Therefore, bioplastics are a promising alternative as their synthesized by the polimerization of renewable raw materials, yeilding biodegradable and environmental-friendly products. One of the most relevant polymers in this scenario is the poly lactic acid (PLA) formed from lactic acid monomers. The main characteristics of PLA are low toxicity to humans due to high biocompatibility, for example in biomedical materials, and biodegradability, which reduces their time in landfills due to the faster decomposition process. These properties provide wide applicability of this polymer in various areas such as packaging, textiles and biomedical materials. Commonly, the chemical polymerization process of PLA can be carried out in two ways, (1) ring opening for further polymerization or (2) condensation of the lactic acids. In both cases, the presence of metal catalysts such as zinc, aluminum and magnesium is required. These, in addition to being toxic, hinder the use of the polymer, for instance, in the biomedical area, for generating metallic waste. An alternative to such catalysts is the use of biocatalysts. Polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (phaC) has been previously used for the polymerization of lactic acid produced in recombinant strains of Escherichia coli. Thus, within the lactic acid production platform in recombinant Komagataella phaffi strains, the objective of this work is to produce the phaC enzyme with point mutations at the S325N and Q481I sites. These residue changes provide a greater specificity of the enzyme-substrate complex to act as a biocatalyst in the polymerization of lactic acid in Komagataella phaffi. In this study, three cloning strategies were performed between the phaCPs insert and pGAPZ??B vector. To date, there have been no transformants in any of the strategies. However, Strategy C has not yet been fully implemented, which also results in the possibility of cloning between phaCPs insert and pGAPZ??B expression vector with the correct sequence. It is expected that successful cloning, recombinant DNA sequencing and plasmid insertion into Komagataella phaffii genome can be performed to conclude this study. / Os problemas ambientais gerados por pl??sticos ?? base de tereftalato de polietileno (PET) se devem ao extenso tempo de decomposi????o desses materiais no meio ambiente e a sua fonte de origem que ?? dependente de petr??leo. Diante disso, biopl??sticos t??m sido uma alternativa promissora devido ao fato de serem biologicamente degrad??veis, al??m de terem como origem mat??rias-primas renov??veis, o que os tornam sustent??veis. Um dos pol??meros mais relevantes desse cen??rio ?? o poli (??cido l??tico) (PLA) formado a partir de mon??meros de ??cido l??tico. As principais caracter??sticas do PLA s??o baixa toxicidade aos humanos devido ?? alta biocompatibilidade, como por exemplo em mat??rias biom??dicos, e biodegradabilidade, o que reduz seu tempo em aterros devido ao processo mais r??pido de decomposi????o. Essas propriedades proporcionam uma ampla aplicabilidade deste pol??mero em diversas ??reas como embalagens, ??reas t??xteis e materiais biom??dicos. Comumente, o processo qu??mico de polimeriza????o do PLA pode ser realizado por meio de duas formas, (1) abertura do anel para posterior polimeriza????o ou (2) por condensa????o dos ??cidos l??ticos. Nos dois casos, ?? necess??ria a presen??a de catalisadores met??licos como zinco, alum??nio e magn??sio. Estes, al??m de serem t??xicos atrapalham na utiliza????o do pol??mero, por exemplo, na ??rea biom??dica, por gerar res??duos met??licos. Uma alternativa a esses catalisadores ?? a utiliza????o de biocatalisadores, como a polihidroxialcanoato sintase (phaC), j?? foi previamente utilizada para polimeriza????o de ??cido l??tico produzido em cepas recombinantes de Escherichia coli. Assim, dentro da plataforma de produ????o de ??cido l??tico, em cepas de Komagataella phaffii recombinantes, o objetivo deste trabalho ?? referente ?? produ????o da enzima phaC com muta????es pontuais nos s??tios S325N e Q481I, pois essas altera????es proporcionam uma maior especificidade do complexo enzima-substrato, para que atue como biocatalisador na polimeriza????o de ??cido l??tico em Komagataella phaffi. Neste estudo, foram realizadas tr??s estrat??gias de clonagem entre o inserto phaCPs e vetor pGAPZ??B. At?? o presente, n??o houve transformantes em nenhuma das estrat??gias. Entretanto, a Estrat??gia C ainda n??o foi executada completamente, o que resulta ainda na possibilidade de clonagem entre inserto phaCPs e vetor de express??o pGAPZ??B com a sequ??ncia correta. A expectativa deste estudo ?? a conclus??o da clonagem, verifica????o da sequ??ncia correta do DNA recombinante atrav??s do resultado do sequenciamento e inser????o do plasm??deo ao genoma da levedura Komagataella phaffii.

During this project, photocatalytic material, nano sized titanium dioxide, was introduced into poly (lactic acid) to produce functional surface capable of self-cleaning property. Samples containing 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% titanium dioxide were prepared and etched with proteinase K to expose the nano particles on the surface. It was shown that the nano titanium dioxide could dispersed in the polymer matrix pretty well, it was also found that the nano particles affected the thermal and mechanical properties of the polymer matrix differently , due to difference in concentrations of nano filler. The self-cleaning property was evaluated by decolouration of stains caused by coffee and red wine, also by detecting degradation of methylene blue via a UV-vis spectrophotometer. By measuring changes in absorbance of light at 664nm wavelength after a maximum of 24h UV irradiation, it was possible to measure the degradation property of the samples. / Program: Masterutbildning i textilteknik

<div>Wounds are created in soft and hard tissue through surgery or disease. As the wound heals, the tissue is held in place using sutures or staples for soft tissue or plates, pins, or screws for hard tissues. These fixation methods inherently damage the surrounding healthy tissue. Surgical adhesives are a non-damaging alternative to these methods. In order to be effective, surgical adhesives must be biocompatible,</div><div>adhere strongly in a moist environment, and have mechanical properties similar to those of the native tissue.</div><div><br></div><div><div>To address the design criteria for surgical adhesives, we look to nature to find inspiration from compounds that provide these properties. Mussels use catechol-based</div><div>molecules to adhere to surfaces in wet and turbulent environments. Incorporating catechols into polymer systems can provide adhesion even in moist biological environments.</div><div>Mimics of elastomeric proteins from soft tissue can be used as backbones for soft and flexible adhesive systems. In particular, elastin-inspired proteins have a well-defined modular sequence that allows for a range of design choices. In this work, we explored the behavior of elastin- and mussel-inspired natural and synthetic polymers in biologically relevant environments.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>First, the cytocompatibility of a catechol-containing poly(lactic acid) (cPLA) hard tissue adhesive was studied. The cPLA polymer was reacted with iron- or periodatebased</div><div>crosslinkers and compared to PLA. Fibroblasts grown directly on cPLA or cultured with leachate from cPLA had high viability but slower growth than cells on PLA. The periodate crosslinker was significantly cytotoxic, and cells grown on cPLA crosslinked with periodate had reduced metabolism and slowed growth. Cells grown on or in leachate from iron-crosslinked cPLA had similar viability, metabolism, and growth to cells on or in leachate from cPLA. The iron-crosslinked cPLA is a promising</div><div>cytocompatible adhesive for hard tissue applications.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Second, two elastin-like proteins (ELP) were developed that had pH-sensitive properties in solution and when crosslinked into hydrogels. Both ELPs had a large number of ionizable tyrosine and lysine residues, and one design also had a large number of ionizable histidine and aspartic acid residues. The stiffness of the hydrogels was maximized at pH values near the isoelectric point of the protein. The stoichometric ratio of crosslinker used affected hydrogel stiffness but did not significantly alter the pH-sensitivity of the gel. The crosslinked gel shrank when swelled at physiological pH. The pH-sensitive mechanical properties of hydrogels made from the two ELPs did not vary significantly. The tyrosine and lysine residues in one ELP were also</div><div>chemically blocked through acetylation to lower the isolectric point of the protein. The acetylated hydrogels had maximum stiffness at a pH near the isoelectric point of the acetylated ELP. The stiffness of both the native and acetylated gels were within the range of soft tissue. Through a combination of crosslinker ratio and chemical modification, the pH-responsive properties of the elastin-inspired hydrogels could be tuned.</div></div><div><br></div><div><div>Finally, adhesive proteins were created that were inspired by both elastin and mussels. An ELP was modified to include catechol groups (mELP). The ELP and mELP were optimized for adhesive use in a soft tissue system. A warm and humid environment was used to study the adhesion of these proteins on pig skin. Iron and (hydroxymethyl) phosphine crosslinkers increased the adhesive strength of both proteins, and periodate increased the adhesive strength of mELP. The adhesive strengths of the proteins were maximized when mELP was mixed with iron or when either protein were mixed with (hydroxymethyl)phosphine crosslinkers. These maximized adhesives were 12-17 times stronger than a commercially available sealant. In addition,</div><div>the iron and mELP adhesive formulation achieved high adhesive strengths even when cured for only ten minutes. This adhesive formula shows promise for adhesive</div><div>applications on soft tissue.</div></div>

Pour limiter la production de déchets, la voie de polymères biodégradables est largement explorée. La biodégradation en compost est un phénomène complexe qui dépend de la température, de l’humidité, du soleil et du polymère lui-même. Dans un premier temps, les effets de ces différents paramètres sur la biodégradation de l’acide polylactique (PLA) sont étudiés à l’aide de la viscoélasticité à l’état fondu. Il en résulte que l’échantillon lui-même n’a que peu d’influence sur sa dégradation, mais les conditions de dégradation influencent d’avantage les phénomènes mis en jeu. Dans un deuxième temps, le PLA est associé au poly(butylène succinate) (PBS), un polymère plus favorable à la biodégradation afin d’améliorer la dégradation du PLA. Après s’être intéressée à la biodégradation de polymères « compostables », cette étude se tourne vers la biodégradation d’un polymère non-biodégradable : le polypropylène (PP). Afin d’initier un processus de bio assimilation, des charges sont ajoutées au PP pour dégrader préalablement le polymère et ainsi favoriser l’action des micro-organismes sur les chaines plus courtes. Les hydroxydes doubles lamellaires induisent bien une dégradation mais ce n’est pas assez pour permettre l’assimilation du polymère. Finalement, ce travail aborde la biodégradation de différents polymères dans le but de comprendre ce phénomène et d’améliorer la biodégradation des polymères étudiés. / Nowadays, to minimize our waste production, many studies are focused on environmentally friendly polymers. Degradation in compost is a complex phenomenon with unclear mechanism depending on temperature, micro-organism population, humidity and polymer it-self. In a first hand, these different parameter effects on poly(lactic acid)(PLA) biodegradation are studied with melt viscoelasticity to assess the molecular evolution of the materials during biodegradation. In a second hand, PLA is mixed with a polymer more biodegradable, poly(butylene succinate), to improve PLA biodegradation. After the biodegradation of a compostable polymer, a non biodegradable polymer is studied: polypropylene(PP). To achieve the initiation of its bio-assimilation, fillers are added to promote its degradation and therefore improve its assimilation by micro-organisms. Layered double hydroxides induce degradation but not enough to observe polymer biodegradation.

A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) relata o câncer como uma das principais causas de morte no mundo. O câncer de próstata é o segundo tipo de câncer mais prevalente em homens. Uma modalidade de tratamento que vem sendo bastante utilizada é a braquiterapia, que consiste na introdução de sementes com material radioativo no interior do orgão. Sementes de Iodo-125 podem ser inseridas soltas ou em cordas poliméricas bioabsorvíveis. As sementes em cordas poliméricas apresentam algumas vantagens, pois reduzem a taxa de migração das sementes, evento que poderia afetar a dosimetria da região e causar danos desnecessários a tecidos ou órgãos sadios. Para as sementes de Iodo-125 em cordas poliméricas, utiliza-se a poliglactina 910, (poli(ácido lático-co-ácido glicólico)) (PLGA), com cobertura de poliglactina 370 (Vicryl®). Foi proposto neste trabalho, o estudo e desenvolvimento da metodologia de síntese do biopolímero PLGA, via polimerização por abertura de anéis, assim como sua caracterização, com o propósito de utilizar o material sintetizado para fabricar um material similar ao RAPID-Strand®. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que, através da metodologia utilizada, foi possível determinar os melhores parâmetros de reação (tempo e temperatura) para o PLGA na proporção 80/20 (lactídeo/glicolídeo). Com uma temperatura de 110ºC e tempo de reação de 24h, foi possível obter 86% de rendimento, e com o aumento o tempo de reação para 72h, o rendimento é superior a 90%. Os valores de massas moleculares obtidas entre os testes, ainda são muito baixos quando comparados com os valores obtidos por outros autores na literatura (cerca de 20%). Falhas na selagem das ampolas, deixando-os vulneráveis à umidade e oxigênio, ou a falta de uma sistema eficiente de agitação podem ser possíveis explicações para estes resultados. Um reator químico adequado poderia solucionar o problema. Em relação à caracterização, as técnicas utilizadas confirmaram a estrutura esperada do polímero, e a maior proporção das unidades provenientes do dímero lactídeo, em relação ao glicolídeo. / According to World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. A method of radiotherapy which has been extensively used is brachytherapy, where radioactive seeds are placed inside the area requiring treatment. Iodine-125 seeds can be placed loose or stranded in bioabsorbable polymers. Stranded seeds show some advantages, since they reduce the rate of seed migration, an event that could affect the dosimetry of the prostate and cause unnecessary damage to healthy tissues or organs. For Iodine-125 stranded seeds, polyglactin 910 (poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)) (PLGA), with a coverage of polyglactin 370 (Vicryl ®) is used. It was purposed in this dissertation, the study and development of the synthesis methodology for PLGA via ring-opening polymerization, as well as its characterization, with the objective of using the synthesized material to manufacture a material similar to RAPID Strand®. The results obtained show that it was possible to determine the optimal reaction parameters (time and temperature) for PLGA in 80/20 (lactide/glycolide) ratio. Using a temperature of 110 ° C and reaction time of 24h, a yield of 86% was obtained, and increasing the reaction time to 72 hours, the yield was higher than 90%. The molecular mass values obtained from the samples are still very low compared to those obtained by other authors in the literature (about 20%). Failures in the sealing of vials, leaving them vulnerable to moisture and oxygen, or lack of an efficient stirring system might be possible explanations for these results. A suitable chemical reactor could solve the problem. Regarding polymer characterization, all techniques used not only confirmed the expected structure of the polymer, but also showed the highest proportion of lactide units compared to to glycolide units.

L’objectif de ce travail est de préparer des polymères composites antimicrobiens, utilisant de l’acide polylactique (PLA) et/ou du caoutchouc naturel époxydé et incluant des particules d’argent insérées dans des matrices zéolites (AgZ), agissant en tant que composé actif. Un des verrous contrôlant l’activité antibactérienne des matériaux synthétisés est relié à l’étude de l’absorption de l’eau. En effet la mise en œuvre de composites PLA antibactériens rencontre le problème du caractère faiblement hydrophile de PLA, induisant une faible efficacité antimicrobienne. Ainsi afin d’amplifier l’activité antibactérienne des composites AgZ/PLA, une solution prometteuse consiste à introduire un second polymère hautement polaire et flexible. Le caoutchouc naturel époxydé a été ainsi sélectionné pour être associé au composite AgZ/PLA et le taux d’absorption d’eau mesuré témoigne d’un accroissement notable. La morphologie et la distribution des particules AgZ a été étudiée. L’accroissement remarquable du caractère antibactérien des composites ENR/AgZ/PLA a été démontré ; ainsi des tests menés sur S. aureus montrent que la croissance bactérienne a été inhibée à hauteur de 98-99%. L’étude a aussi été menée en fonction de la proportion de caoutchouc et des particules AgZ. De plus les composites ENR/AgZ/PLA possèdent une plus haute résistance à l’impact comparés à l’emploi de PLA pur, suggérant ainsi que ces nouveaux composites pourront constituer des matériaux de choix pour des applications à la fois antibactériennes et nécessitant une résistance à l’impact forte. / The aim of this work is to prepare antibacterial polymers composites, involving especially poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) in the presence of silver-substituted zeolites (AgZ) as an active ingredient. Herein, the key to control the antibacterial activity of the composites which is the water absorption characteristic was thoroughly studied. In general, the fabrication of antibacterial PLA composites encounters with the problem relating to the poor hydrophilicity of PLA which is the cause of antibacterial ineffectiveness. To enhance the antibacterial activity of the composites, blending with the second polymer having high polarity and flexibility is a promising way to produce the antibacterial AgZ/PLA composite. Herein, epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) was selected to blend with AgZ/PLA composites and the increase in the water absorption percentage could be observed. The morphology as well as the AgZ distribution in the composites were also investigated. The remarkable enhancement of antibacterial activity of ENR/AgZ/PLA composites was observed because more than 98-99% inhibition of S. aureus growth was found. Furthermore, the effects of rubber content and amount of AgZ on the antibacterial activity of the composites were investigated. Moreover, the ENR/AgZ/PLA composites possessed the higher impact resistance compared to neat PLA, suggesting that the improved composites might be a choice in applications at which both antibacterial activity and impact resistance property are of great importance.