This thesis focuses on the study of interactions between hyaluronan and lipid DOTAP and its mixtures with DPPC in water. First, the aggregation behavior of the lipid itself and its mixtures was measured, afterwards the influence of hyaluronan in different concentration was studied. Further the fluorescence anisotropy of fluorescence probe DPH in these mixtures and influence of cholesterol was measured. These properties were investigated by fluorescence spectoscopy using pyrene and DPH as fluorescence probes. The measurements revealed that the addition of hyaluronan has observable influence on the aggregation behavior of the lipid DOTAP and its mixtures with DPPC and that cholesterol influences liposomes fluidity.

Les Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) sont des polluants organiques persistants (POPs). L’exposition humaine à ces composés est associée à un accroissement du risque de développement du diabète de type 2 (DT2). D’autres composés présents dans l’alimentation, comme les hydrocarbures aromatic polycyclic (PAH) tel que le benzo (a) pyrene (BaP), sont des ligands du récepteur aryl-hydrocabures (AhR) et augmentent ce risque. Le premier travail rapporté est une étude in vitro, sur les 3T3-L1, des effets "cocktail" de l’exposition à des PCBs (PCB118 et 153) et au BaP. Sur ce modèle, il apparait que le BaP et les PCBs réduisent en partie l’expression des gènes de l’adipogénèse (ADGG) et stimulent l’expression des gènes de l’inflammation (INFG). La seconde étude réalisée chez la souris, a permis d’évaluer les effets "cocktail" d’une exposition chronique au PCB118 et au BaP. Des paramètres biochimiques et l’expression des ADGG et INFG ont été mesurés dans différents tissus. Après ingestion de BaP, l’expression de deux ADGG (Glut4 and Lipin1) et trois INFG (MCP1, CXCL10, IFNγ) sont augmentés dans le tissue adipeux. Ces effets sont soit abolis, soit réduits en réponse à une co-exposition simultanée avec le PCB118. Ceci indique que les effets de chacun des composés peuvent être masqués l’un par l’autre. Dans les autres tissus, on observe également une modulation globale négative par le PCB des effets du BaP. L’ensemble de ces résultats sont discutés en référence au risque de TD2 induits par les POPs, ainsi qu’aux cibles moléculaires potentielles du BaP comme AhR et des PCBs comme CAR et PXR. On discute du rôle possible de l’IFNγ produit par les cellules immunitaires associées au tissu adipeux / The Polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) are one of the persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Human exposure to these compounds is associated with an increased risk of developing of type 2 diabetes (DT2). Other chemical compounds, such as polycyclic aromtic hydrocarbon (HAP) such as the benzo (a) pyrene (BaP), that presented in food chain are ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and they increase this risk. The first work reported is an in vitro study on the model of pre-adipocyte, 3T3-L1, on the "cocktail" effects of co-exposure to PCBs (PCB118 and 153) and BaP. On this model, it appears that BaP and PCBs partially reduce the expression of genes related to adipogenesis (ADGG) and stimulate the expression of genes related to inflammation (INFG). The second study was conducted in vivo which allow us to evaluate the "cocktail" effects of a chronic exposure to PCB118 and BaP in mice. Biochemical parameters and the expression of ADGG and INFG were measured in different tissues. After the ingestion of BaP, expression of two ADGGs (Glut4 and Lipin1) and three INFGs (MCP1, CXCL10, IFNγ) were increased in the adipose tissue. These effects are either abolished or reduced in response to simultaneous co-exposure with PCB118. This indicates that the effects of each compounds can be masked by one another. In the other tissues, there is also a global negative modulation by PCB on the effects induced by BaP. All these results are discussed with reference to the risk of DT2 induced by POPs, as well as potential molecular targets of BaP (such as AhR) and PCBs (as CAR and PXR). The possible role of IFNγ, produced by the immune cells, associated with adipose tissue is discussed

Le contrôle de l'hydrophobie de surface et de l'adhésion à l'eau est un outil fondamental pour diverses applications. L'électropolymérisation est une méthode très polyvalente qui peut être utilisée pour contrôler ces paramètres et pour la production de matériaux nanostructurés à façon. Ici, nous montrons qu'en différentiant le noyau polymérisable (thienothiophène ou pyrène), des morphologies et des mouillabilités de surface variées sont produites par un procédé direct d'électropolymérisation. Des nanotubes et des structures en forme d'arbre sont obtenus en utilisant des dérivés de thienothiophène sans utiliser de membrane structurante. En fonction de la méthode d'électrodéposition et des paramètres, différents types de nanotubes sont obtenus. La méthode électrochimique et le substituant greffé jouent un rôle important dans la structuration de surface. Les surfaces affichent différents angles de contact, mais toujours une forte adhésion à l'eau. D'autre part, des pyrènes avec divers substituants sont utilisés pour conduire à des propriétés hydrophobes/superhydrophobes, fluorescentes et, pour la première fois, à des applications en anti-bioadhesion et anti-biofilm. Des copolymères de pyrène ont été électrodéposés pour donner des surfaces avec une sensibilité au pH et une adhérence contrôlable à l'eau. Une nouvelle méthode utilisant un système de catapult a été mise en œuvre pour mesurer le comportement adhésif de surfaces collantes et non collantes. Ainsi, il a été montré le rôle important du noyau de monomère sur les propriétés finales des surfaces ouvrant de nouvelles portes pour explorer ce domaine dans le domaine des sciences de surface et de leurs applications. / Controlling surface hydrophobicity and water adhesion is a fundamental tool for various applications. Electropolymerization is a very versatile method that can be used to control these parameters and for the production of tunable nanostructured materials. Here, we show that by differentiating the polymerizable core (thienothiophene or pyrene), varied surface morphologies and wettabilities are produced by a direct electropolymerization process. Nanotubes and tree-like structures are obtained starting from thienothiophene derivatives without using any template. Depending on the electrodeposition method and parameters, different kinds of nanotubes are obtained. The electrochemical method and the grafted substituent play an important role on the surface structuration. The surfaces display different contact angles, but always with high water adhesion. On the other hand, pyrenes with various substituents are employed to produce hydrophobic/ superhydrophobic and fluorescent surfaces and, for the first time, with anti-bioadhesion and anti-biofilm properties. Copolymers of pyrenes were electrodeposited to yield surfaces with pH-responsivity and controllable water adhesion. A new method using a catapult system was implemented to measure the adhesive behavior of sticky and non-sticky surfaces. Thus, it has been shown the important role of the monomer core on the final properties of the surfaces opening new doors to explore this domain in the surface science field and applications.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental toxicants found in anthropogenic mixtures such as crude oil, air pollution, vehicle exhaust, and in some natural combustion reactions. Single PAHs such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) also impact fish behavior when animals are exposed in early life stages and for short periods of time. Aquatic animals such as fish may encounter BaP through road runoff and oil spills, but few studies have examined the impact of aqueous exposure on adult fish, and fewer have examined the resulting fitness-relevant behavioral consequences of BaP and PAH mixtures and their long-term persistence. This dissertation targets this gap in the literature by examining how aqueous exposure to BaP influences anxiety-like behavior, learning, and memory in adult zebrafish, and how parental exposure to the PAH mixture, crude oil, combined with hypoxia affects social and exploratory behavior in unexposed larval zebrafish. We found that learning and memory were not affected by 24 hour exposure to BaP, that anxiety-like behavior was minimally affected, and that locomotor parameters such as distance moved and times spent in darting and immobile states were significantly altered by exposure to BaP. Additionally, we found that parental exposure to crude oil and hypoxia decreased larval velocity. Additionally, we examined how crude oil, BaP, and the detergent COREXIT influence a monolayer of mouse and fish endothelial cells, as an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model. We found that exposure to BaP in particular caused significant damage to both fish and mammal in vitro BBB models, and damage to the BBB is one potential mechanism by which neural integrity and behavior may be influenced. Understanding how these toxicants influence fish brains and behavior will give insight into how fish populations explore and interact with their environment and with predators, and how these interactions persist even when toxicants are no longer present.

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No description available.

[pt] Neste trabalho, a fosforimetria em temperatura ambiente em substrato sólido (SSRTP) foi utilizada para o desenvolvimento de método para determinação ultra-traço e seletiva de criseno e de pireno em amostras complexas contendo diversos outros hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA). O criseno e o pireno foram selecionados por serem classificados pela Agência Americana de Proteção ao Meio Ambiente (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - EPA) como dois dos dezesseis HPA poluentes prioritários e por serem conhecidos como uma ameaça à saúde pública e à integridade dos ecossistemas marinhos. A capacidade seletiva da SSRTP foi explorada por meio do efeito externo seletivo do átomo pesado e do ajuste de pH da solução carreadora de solução de analito para o substrato de celulose. O efeito da modificação da celulose com o surfactante SDS também foi investigado, assim como o uso da varredura de modo sincronizado para melhoria da resolução espectral. O nitrato de prata em substratos contendo SDS foi identificado como indutor seletivo de fosforescência do criseno em relação ao pireno e demais HPA em estudo (antraceno, benzo[a]pireno, 1-hidroxipireno, fluoranteno, fenantreno, benzo[ghj]perileno e 1,2 benzoantraceno). Já o pireno foi determinado seletivamente com varredura convencional e sincronizada de fosforescência em substratos contendo nitrato de chumbo como indutor seletivo e soluções carreadoras de analito em meio básico (pH 12). Essa seletividade foi em relação aos HPA citados, e ao 1- hidroxipireno, mesmo este tendo uma estrutura molecular muito semelhante a do pireno. O planejamento fatorial foi usado, principalmente visando verificar as interações mútuas entre os efeitos das diferentes variáveis do método desenvolvido, e, conseqüentemente, a escolha da melhor condição experimental. Neste estudo, foram enfatizados: (i) a análise experimental estatística (testou-se a significância dos efeitos dos fatores usando a análise de variância, teste F e teste t), (ii) o uso do método gráfico (gráfico de Pareto) para a interpretação das interações (entre as variáveis) e dos resultados obtidos, assim como o refinamento do modelo, se necessário, excluindo variáveis irrelevantes. As características de desempenho foram obtidas, a fim de se validar o método proposto, obtendo assim a credibilidade técnica das medições. Testes estatísticos (testes de hipótese) com o uso de material de referência certificado (SRM NIST 1647d) e método de referência alternativo (HPLC com detecção por fluorescência) também foram incluídos no processo de validação e os resultados encontrados estão dentro do nível de 95% de confiança. Os limites de detecção do criseno e do pireno em termos de massa efetiva do analito depositada no substrato (limite de detecção absoluto - LDA) encontram-se na ordem do ng. A quantificação das fontes de variação associadas à medição, a incerteza da medição, foi estimada pelo ISO GUM e método de simulação de Monte-Carlo. Testes de seletividade com criseno e pireno na presença de outros HPA também foram realizados e os resultados obtidos permitiram que a técnica fosse utilizada para determinações seletivas. A aplicação do método em diferentes tipos de matrizes (bílis de peixe e aguardente de cana) também foi realizada e os percentuais de recuperação encontrados foram 109 (+ -) 18% (criseno) e 108 (+ -) 20% (pireno). Esses resultados são comparáveis com os obtidos por HPLC-fluorescência: 104 (+ -) 13% (criseno) e 102 (+ -) 15% (pireno). Estudos de caracterização, homogeneidade e estabilidade do criseno em matriz biológica, bílis de peixe da espécie Mugil liza, e a estimativa da incerteza da medição do material analisado também foram realizados. A incerteza da medição encontra-se na ordem do ng (referente à massa efetiva depositada no substrato de celulose). / [en] In this work, solid surface room-temperature phosphorimetry (SSRTP) was used to develop ultra-trace and selective methods for determination of chrysene and pyrene in complex samples containing several other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Both chrysene and pyrene were selected because they are classificated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as two out of the sixteen major pollutants, affecting public health and marine ecosystems. The selective capability of SSRTP was explored through the selective external heavy atom effect and the adjustment of pH of the analyte solution used to carry out the analyte to the cellulose substrate. Cellulose modification with the use of the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphat (SDS) has also been evaluated as well as the use of synchronous scanning to improve its spectral resolution. Silver nitrate together with SDS was identified as selective phosphorescence inducer for chrysene in the presence of pyrene and other PAHs which are being studied (anthracene, benzo[a] pyrene, 1- hidroxipyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, benzo[ghi] perylene and 1,2 benzoanthracene). On the other hand, pyrene was selectively determined with synchronous and conventional phosphorescence scanning in substrates treated with lead nitrate as a selective inducer and using analyte carrier solution with pH 12. This selectivity towards pyrene was achieved in the presence of all the other tested PAHs, including the 1- hidroxipyrene, even though they have quite similar molecular structures. A factorial design was applied in order to verify mutual interactions among factors of the different variables and to find the best experimental conditions. It has been emphasized in this study: (i) statistical experimental analysis (testing the significance of the factors using the analysis of variation, F-test and t-test), (ii) graphic method (Pareto´s chart) to the interpretation and evaluation of the interactions among all the variables and obtained results, the model was refined whenever necessary so exclude irrelevant variables. After choosing the best experimental condition, the performance characteristics were obtained validating the proposed method. Statistical tests were applied in order to compare results obtained using a standard reference material analysis (NIST SRM 1647d). The proposed method was also compared with a reference analytical technique (HPLC with fluorescence detection) and the results obtained are within 95% confidence level. Chrysene and pyrene absolute detection limits were found in the ng order. The quantification of the variation sources associated to the measurement (the measurement´s uncertainty) was estimated based on ISO GUM and Monte-Carlo simulation method. Selectivity tests for chrysene and pyrene, in presence of the other PAHs were also performed. The methods were applied to different types of samples (fish bilis and spirit drink from sugar cane) and the recoveries were 109 (+ -) 18% (chrysene) and 108 (+ -) 20% (pyrene) by SSRTP. These results are comparable to ones obtained by HPLCFluorescence: 104 (+ -) 13% (chrysene) and 102 (+ -) 15% (pyrene). Characterization, homogeny and stability studies in a biological matrix (fish bilis of the type Mugil liza) and the estimation of uncertainty of the analysed material were also done. The measurement uncertainty was found in ng order (in terms of the effective mass deposit in the cellulose substrate).

Yes / Exploring the detailed structural features of synthetic molecules in the membrane phase requires sensitive probes of conformation. Here we describe the design, synthesis and characterization of bis(pyrene) probes that report conformational changes in membrane-active dynamic foldamers. The probes were designed to distinguish between left-handed (M) and right-handed (P) screw-sense conformers of 310-helical α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) peptide foldamers, both in solution and in bilayer membranes. Several different bis(pyrene) probes were synthesized and ligated to the C-terminus of Aib tetramers that had different chiral residues at the N-terminus, residues that favored either an M or a P screw-sense in the 310-helix. The readily synthesized and conveniently incorporated N-acetyl-1,2-bis(pyren-1′-yl)ethylenediamine probe proved to have the best properties. In solution, changes in foldamer screw-sense induced substantial changes in the ratio of excimer/monomer fluorescence emission (E/M) for this reporter of conformation, with X-ray crystallography revealing that opposite screw-senses produce very different interpyrene distances in the reporter. In bilayers, this convenient and sensitive fluorescent reporter allowed, for the first time, an investigation of how the chirality of natural phospholipids affects foldamer conformation. / European Research Council (Advanced Grant ROCOCO), the BBSRC (DTP studentship and grant BB/I007962) and the EPRSC (grants EP/N009134/1 and EP/ K039547).

This dissertation presents experimental and instrumentation developments that take full advantage of the multidimensional nature of line narrowing spectroscopy at liquid nitrogen (77 K) and liquid helium (4.2 K) temperatures. The inconvenience of sample freezing procedures is eliminated with the aid of cryogenic fiber optic probes. Rapid collection of multidimensional data formats such as wavelength time matrices, excitation emission matrices, time-resolved excitation emission matrices and time resolved excitation emission cubes is made possible with the combination of a pulsed tunable dye laser, a spectrograph and an intensifier-charged coupled device. These data formats provide unique opportunities for processing vibrational luminescence data with second order multivariate calibration algorithms. The use of cryogenic fiber optic probes is extended to commercial instrumentation. An attractive feature of spectrofluorimeters with excitation and emission monochromators is the possibility to record synchronous spectra. The advantages of this approach, which include narrowing of spectral bandwidth and simplification of emission spectra, were demonstrated with the direct analysis of highly toxic dibenzopyrene isomers. The same is true for the collection of steady-state fluorescence excitation-emission matrices. These approaches provide a general solution to unpredictable spectral interference, a ubiquitous problem for the analysis of organic pollutants in environmental samples of unknown composition. Since commercial spectrofluorimeters are readily available in most academic institutions, industrial settings and research institutes, the developments presented here should facilitate the widespread application of line-narrowing spectroscopic techniques to the direct determination, no chromatographic separation, of highly toxic compounds in complex environmental matrixes of unknown composition.

The D-A and π-π Interactions and Their Use in Self-Assembly Due to their well-defined shape, size and properties gold nanoparticles represent an advantageous platform for the study of non-covalent interactions between ligands anchored to their surface both in solution and in monolayers or thin films. The aim of this thesis was the synthesis of ligands for gold nanoparticles bearing an anchoring group at one end and a planar π-electron rich pyrene unit at the other. Six structurally variable ligands were prepared differing in the pyrene substitution pattern and the spacer between the aromatic part and the acetylated thiol function. Furthermore, a synthetic pathway leading to extended π-electron systems (both electron rich and electron poor) such as hexabenzocoronene derivatives and its fragments was explored. The key steps in the synthesis of these compounds are the cyclization reactions of alkynes leading to polycyclic intermediates and their ensuing cyclodehydrogenation (Scholl reaction). All of the prepared ligands and their intermediates were characterized by spectroscopic methods. The structure of the key hexakis(pentafluorosulfanyl-phenyl)benzene was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The prepared ligands bearing a pyrene unit were deacetylated and anchored to the surface of...