L'objectif de cette thèse a été d'utiliser la chimie supramoléculaire pour obtenir des nanopores synthétiques, d'architecture contrôlée, à partir de cyclodextrines, un oligosaccharide biosourcé et biocompatible. L'organisation linéaire des cyclodextrines en utilisant une structure supramoléculaire de type polyrotaxane a rendu possible la synthèse de nanotubes covalents, en contrôlant leurs paramètres structuraux. Une preuve de concept a été réalisée en synthétisant des nanotubes d'α-cyclodextrine à partir de polyrotaxanes obtenus par voie radicalaire. Cette voie réactionnelle permet de contrôler le nombre de cyclodextrines formant le nanotube. Après avoir vérifié leur aptitude à former des nanopores biocompatibles, le défi de la généralisation de la voie de synthèse à la formation de nanotubes de β- et de γ-cyclodextrines a été relevé, afin d'obtenir des nanotubes présentant des cavités de diamètre variable. Leurs performances en tant que canaux biomimétiques ont ainsi pu être vérifiées. La modification chimique des nanotubes a été effectuée en vue d'apporter des propriétés physico-chimiques permettant d'optimiser leurs propriétés en tant que nanopores. La structure chimique et les dimensions des nanotubes synthétisés ont pu être évaluées grâce à l'analyse croisée de données obtenues par RMN 1H, par microscopie HRTEM, par spectrométrie de masse MALDI-TOF et par chromatographie d'exclusion stérique SEC. / The aim of this thesis consisted in using supramolecular chemistry to obtain synthetic nanopores from a controlled scaffold obtained with cyclodextrins, a bio-based and biocompatible oligosaccharide. Indeed, the linear organization of the cyclodextrins using a type of supramolecular assemblies called polyrotaxane, enabled the synthesis of covalent nanotubes, controlling their structural parameters. A proof of concept was realized by synthesizing α-cyclodextrin nanotubes from polyrotaxanes obtained by a radicalar coupling reaction. This synthetic pathway allows the control of the number of cyclodextrins remaining to form the nanotube. After proving their ability to form biocompatible nanopores, we have taken on the challenge of the generalization of the synthetic pathway to the formation of β- and γ-cyclodextrin nanotubes, to obtain nanotubes of various diameters. Thus, their ability to form transmembrane channels was assessed. Chemical modifications were carried out to enhance their nanopore properties. All the nanotube obtained were finely characterized using a cross analysis between the datas obtained by 1H NMR, HRTEM microscopy, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography.

As new family of composite materials, polyrotaxanes, polymers containing rotaxane units, have interested scientists world wide in last few decades because of their new properties. Crown ethers have been widely used as the cyclic component in various polyrotaxanes. However, due to significant loss of threaded cyclic during polymerization, the driving force for threading remains unidentified. To prevent threaded cyclics from slipping off the backbone during polycondensation, a diol blocking group (BG) and a diacid chloride BG were prepared and incorporated into polyesters as monomers or comonomers. Using these BG's effectively reduced or prevented dethreading and thus indeed increased threading efficiency (m/n, average number of cyclics per repeat unit). The study also brought about new evidences for the formation of the polyrotaxanes, i.e., the hydrolytic recovery of threaded crown ether, different chemical shift of the threaded cyclic from the free species and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) correlation. The threading efficiencies increased with lower polymerization temperature and increasing feed ratio of the cyclic vs. diol monomer. H-bonding between the crown ether and the OH groups of the diol monomers was identified as the driving force for threading and detailed threading and dethreading mechanisms were revealed. Co-polyurethane rotaxanes were also prepared by polymerization of diol BG, tetra(ethylene glycol) and 4,4'-methylenebis(p-phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) using 30C10 as solvent. Compared to that with the polyester backbone, dethreading was slower with the polyurethane because of H-bonding of the threaded cyclics with the in-chain NH groups. Interestingly, as proved by proton NMR spectra, the cyclics were locked at the NH sites in chloroform but pushed away from the site in DMSO. Thus these polyurethane rotaxanes were solvent switchable molecular shuttles with controlled microstructures. Based on H-bonding theory, a new method for the preparation of polyrotaxanes, a melt threading process, was demonstrated by threading "42C14" onto a preformed polyurethanes. The properties of the resulting polyurethane rotaxanes depended on threading efficiency (m/n): the higher m/n was, the lower the Tg was but the higher the intrinsic viscosity was. Novel topological polymers, mechanically-linked branched and crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate)s were synthesized by pendant group modification of a preformed poly(methacryloyl chloride) with 5-hydroxymethyl-1,3-phenylene-1,3-phenylene-32-crown-10 (hydroxymethyl BMP32C10). The rotaxane structure was directly proved by NOESY. The polycondensation of di(hydroxymethyl)-BMP32C10, tetra(ethylene glycol) and MDI afforded similar mechanically-linked polyurethanes. The branching points were manifested by the complexation of the polyurethane with paraquat. The polydispersities (PDI) and topologies (linear, branched and crosslinked) of these polymers were simply controlled by the polymerization conditions; this will ultimately afford polymers with different processibility (melt viscosity) and mechanical properties, e.g., the slippage of the cyclics along the backbone ensures a higher elongation. The complexation between a preformed polymeric crown ether and paraquat afforded a novel class of main chain polyrotaxanes. The continuous titration method afforded accurate estimates of the equilibrium constant, enthalpy and entropy changes and thus polyrotaxanes with certain m/n can be simply designed. Compared to the starting polymers, polyrotaxanes had higher viscosity, higher glass transition temperature and different solubilities. A concept for the preparation of reversible branched and/or crosslinked homo- or co-polymers was invented, which was demonstrated by preparation of a reversibly branched polymer by self-assembly of a preformed polymeric crown ether and a polyurethane bearing paraquat moieties. This concept can be applied to increase the compatibility and the interfacial interaction for polymer blends and construct reversible networks. The present work is supported by the Division of Materials Research, National Science Foundation, through individual investigator grant DMR-93-20196. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Polyrotaxanes are molecular composites consisting of three components: linear polymers, bulky stoppers at the ends of polymer chains and macrocycles threaded by the polymers. A series of tetraarylmethyl derivatives as blocking groups were synthesized. Using tris(p-ten-butylphenyl)( 4-hydroxyphenyl)methane a new blocking groupfmitiator (BO(mit) was synthesized. The BG(mit's ability of blockingfmitiation in free radical polymerizations was established by polymerization of styrene. As cyclic components, aliphatic crown ethers (30-crown-lO, "42-crown-14" and "6O-crown-20") were synthesized by multi-piece combination methods. The purification of the crown ethers was achieved by treatment with poly(methacryloyl chloride), column chromatography and recrystallization; by NMR in DMSO-<i>d₆</i> the purity of the products was demonstrated. The 42-crown-based [2]catenane was isolated while synthesizing "42- crown-14" and characterized in terms of its physically interlocked structure. Two new hydrocarbon-based macrocycles were prepared by two-piece combination method. / Ph. D.

Ce projet de thèse s'inscrit dans une dynamique de développement des polyrotaxanes de cyclodextrines pour des applications biomédicales. L'objectif est d'obtenir, par une approche modulaire et convergente, des polyrotaxanes fonctionnalisés pour l'imagerie par microscopie optique dans le proche infrarouge et l'IRM. Une bibliothèque de cyclodextrines fonctionnalisées a été générée par CuAAC entre des fluorophores (BODIPY, Cyanine) ou un agent de contraste (monoamide-DOTA-Gd) et des ?-cyclodextrines mono- ou bis-azotures. Leurs propriétés d'auto-assemblage ont été étudiées sur un axe court et ont permis le développement de [3]rotaxanes fonctionnalisés pour l'IRM dont les expérimentations in vivo ont démontré l'apport bénéfique de la structure supramoléculaire pour les propriétés d'agent de contraste. L'extension de l'architecture aux polyrotaxanes multimodaux a été réalisée par l'utilisation d'un axe polyammonium. Une nouvelle classe d'axes anioniques a été développée avec l'étude cinétique et thermodynamique de l'enfilage sélectif d'une ou deux cyclodextrines sur des monomères diphosphates et montre l'intérêt des pseudo-bouchons phosphates pour le contrôle de la barrière d'activation par le pH. L'extension à une structure pseudopolyrotaxane est obtenue par la synthèse d'un poly(hexylène phosphate) et permet de valider l'utilisation du polymère pour la synthèse de composés fonctionnalisés. En perspective de ces développements, des voies de post-fonctionnalisation des polyrotaxanes, une nouvelle voie de synthèse par polymérisation de pseudo-rotaxanes et l'obtention d'une cyclodextrine pour le relargage contrôlé par stimuli acido-basiques sont abordées. / This PhD project is focused on the development of cyclodextrin-based polyrotaxanes for biomedical applications. The objective is to use a modular building-block approach to synthesize functionalized polyrotaxanes for NIR fluorescence and magnetic resonance imaging. A library of functionalized cyclodextrins was obtained by a versatile ‘click’ reaction between fluorescent probes (BODIPY, Cyanine) or contrast agent (GdDOTA-monoamide) and mono- or bis-azido α-cyclodextrins. Their self-assembly properties were first studied on short axles and allowed the development of functionalized [3]rotaxanes for MRI. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the advantages of the supramolecular approach for the design of contrast agent with an enhancement of the relaxivities and better retention times in kidneys. The strategy was extended to obtain multimodal polyrotaxane architectures based on a poly(alkyl)ammonium thread. A new family of anionic threads based on alkylphosphate moieties was also developed. Thorough kinetic and thermodynamic studies revealed the ability of phosphates to act as pH-responsive stoppers enabling a selective threading of one or two cyclodextrins on small alkanediphosphate threads. Pseudopolyrotaxanes of α-CD were then obtained with poly(hexylene phosphate) and pave the way for the synthesis of functionalized ones. Finally, significant investigations in the post-functionalization of polyrotaxanes, polymerization of pseudo-rotaxanes as new synthetic pathway and pH-switchable rotaxane for controlled release were realized.

No description available.

Les hydrogels sont des matériaux aux propriétés modulables dont la dégradation peut être contrôlée. Du fait de leur biocompatibilité, ils peuvent être utilisés afin de protéger les médicaments labiles et ainsi favoriser l’administration de traitements médicaux, d’où l’intérêt croissant de développer ces matériaux. Depuis quelques années, ils font l’objet de nombreuses recherches, que ce soit en ingénierie tissulaire, détection de mouvement, régénération de tissus ou pour le relargage de médicaments. Ce projet de thèse porte sur la formation d’hydrogels à base d’α-cyclodextrine et de polyéthylène glycol 20K ainsi que sur l’étude de leur capacité de relargage de principes actifs. Ces composés ont la capacité de former des complexes d’inclusion, créant ainsi un collier de perle, appelés pseudopolyrotaxane. Ensuite, ils seront modifiés pour créer des hydrogels de polyrotaxanes grâce à l’ajout de groupement bloquants. Finalement, nous formerons des hydrogels à point de réticulations glissant après avoir relié deux polyrotaxanes par leur macrocycle. À l’aide d’études rhéologiques, nous avons montré une amélioration des propriétés mécaniques des hydrogels proportionnelle à l’apport de liaisons chimique. Les groupements bloquants permettent d’éviter la désinclusion tandis que les réticulations apportent un effet poulie, les rendant exceptionnellement élastique. Ces hypothèses sont validées par les études structurales. Et nos hydrogels se sont révélés non toxiques pour les cellules humaines et ces résultats confirment leur biocompatibilité. Les hydrogels de pseudopolyrotaxanes sont les plus écologiques et les plus appropriés pour une application locale cutanée. Les hydrogels de polyrotaxanes, plus stables, peuvent être utilisés pour des applications locales prolongées ou par injection. Cependant, nos hydrogels de polyrotaxanes réticulés devront être modifiés afin de permettre un relargage contrôlé, car leur extrême stabilité pourrait entraver leur dégradation lors d'une injection sous-cutanée malgré leurs propriétés mécaniques exceptionnelles. / Hydrogels are materials with tunable properties whose degradation can be controlled. Because of their biocompatibility, they can be used to protect labile drugs and thus facilitate the administration of medical treatments, hence the growing interest in developing these materials. In recent years, they have been the subject of numerous studies, whether in tissue engineering, motion sensing, tissue regeneration or drug delivery. This project focuses on the formation of hydrogels based on α-cyclodextrin and polyethylene glycol 20K and the study of their drug release capacity. These compounds can form inclusion complexes, forming a pearl necklace called pseudopolyrotaxane. They will then be modified to form polyrotaxane hydrogels by adding blocking groups. Finally, we will form hydrogels with sliding cross-linking points after linking two polyrotaxanes through their macrocycle. Through rheological studies, we have demonstrated an improvement in the mechanical properties of the hydrogels proportional to the introduction of chemical bonds. Blocking groups prevent desorption, while cross-linking provides a pulley effect, making them exceptionally elastic. These hypotheses are supported by structural studies. Our hydrogels have been shown to be non-toxic to human cells, confirming their biocompatibility. Pseudopolyrotaxane hydrogels are the most environmentally friendly and suitable for local cutaneous application. Polyrotaxane hydrogels are more stable and can be used for prolonged local applications or by injection. However, our cross-linked polyrotaxane hydrogels will need to be modified to allow controlled release, as their extreme stability could hinder their degradation during subcutaneous injection, despite their exceptional mechanical properties.