An Enhanced Polarization-Sensitive Swept Source Optical Coherence Tomography (EPS-SS-OCT) instrument for high sensitivity cross-sectional imaging of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer (RNFL) has been designed, constructed, and verified. The instrument is capable of measuring the thickness and birefringence of the RNFL. Birefringence change of the RNFL could serve as an early indicator of glaucoma. The associated image processing methods for completely automated, time efficient algorithm to segment the RNFL in images of the human retina recorded by the EPS-SS-OCT. Detected RNFL boundaries are used to compute peripapillary thickness maps. Numerical algorithms to compute the birefringence of the detected RNFL layer are presented along with the associated phase retardation and birefringence peripapillary maps. Glaucoma affects the vitality of retinal ganglion cell axons in the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and may be clinically detected through a change in RNFL birefringence. Comprehensive peripapillary maps of healthy and glaucoma suspect human RNFL birefringence were constructed using EPS-SS-OCT. Presence of macrophages is a hallmark of several retinal diseases such as drusen and age related macular degeneration. Application of photothermal Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to detect macrophages in ex vivo arteries which have engulfed nanoclusters of gold coated iron oxide (nanorose) is reported. Nanorose engulfed by macrophages in arteries absorb incident laser (800nm) energy and cause optical pathlength (OP) variation which is measured using photothermal OCT. OP variation in polydimethyl siloxane tissue phantoms containing varying concentrations of nanorose match values predicted from nanoparticle and material properties. Measurement of OP variation in arteries in response to laser excitation provides an estimate of nanorose concentration in arteries 2.5x109 particles/ml. OP variation in nanoparticle containing artery sections and tissue phantoms taking up nanorose has a different magnitude and profile from that observed in control aorta and phantoms without macrophages and is consistent with macrophage presence as identified with RAM-11 histology staining. Our results suggest that tissue regions with macrophages taking up nanorose can be detected using photothermal OCT. / text

Le but de ce mémoire est de valider la microscopie électro-optique Pockels comme méthode de mesure et de cartographie de champ électrique aux échelles micro et nanométriques. Une première partie est dédiée à la description de l’instrumentation d’imagerie mise en jeu. Nous développons ensuite son application en physique et biophysique. Une étude de couches minces monocristallines de 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline (MNA) a permis de sonder localement la variation de champ électrique appliqué, mais aussi d’étudier l’orientation des axes optiques de ce cristal dans l’espace. A l’échelle sub-longueur d’onde nous avons pu isoler la modulation électro-optique de la diffusion de lumière associée à une nanoparticule isolée de KTiOPO4 (KTP) d’une taille de 150nm. La dépendance polaire du signal Pockels sur la polarisation lumineuse incidente a permis de prédire l’orientation de la maille cristalline du KTP dans l’espace. De telles sondes de champs électriques nanométriques peuvent avoir de nombreuses applications en nano-photonique. Dans le cas d’entité biologiques comme des neurones, la propagation de l’information est assurée par celle d’un champ électrique dans les membranes plasmiques. Dans une première étape, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’étude de bicouches artificielles dopées par un colorant non-linéaire, le DI-8-ANEPPS. Un signal électro-optique Pockels y a été mesuré pour la première fois. La caractérisation de l’insertion du colorant dans la membrane a été aussi discutée. La grande sensibilité à la mesure d’un champ électrique assurée par l’interféromètre permet d’envisager des possibilités d’applications dans des cellules vivantes. Des expériences menées sur des cellules de type PC12 ont montré l’existence d’un signal optique qui est associé à la distribution spatiale du champ électrique. L’ensemble de ces travaux montrent que la microscopie électro-optique s’avère constituer un outil important pour la physique et biophysique. / The aim of this thesis is to validate the electro-optical Pockels microscopy as a powerful technique for electric field imaging at nano and micrometer scales. A first part of this manuscript is dedicated to the instrumental aspects of this new microscope modality. Then we discuss its application in physical and biophysical domains. We have investiguqted 2-methyl-4-nitroaniline(MNA) monocrystalline molecular thin films where the electric field distribution could be imaged, and crystal orientation retrieved. At sub-wavelength scale, we were able to isolate the electro-optical modulation of light scattered by isolated 150nm size KTiOP04 (KTP) nanoparticles. Using the angular dependency of the Pockels response to the polarization of light we could determine the a priori random, spatial orientation of the nanocrystal. Such electric-field nano-probe configuration could find its way in various applications. In the case of biological entities such as neurons, information is transmitted via an electric field signal, propagating through the plasmid membrane. We concentrated first on a model artificial membrane doped with the DI-8-ANEPPS nonlinear dye, evidencing for the first time a Pockels electro-optical response. A relatively high sensitivity to the electric field allows to envision interesting applications in living cells. Experiences performed with PC 12 cells have shown an optical response that reflects the electric field spatial distribution. This work demonstrates that the electro-optical microscopy is emerging as a new powerful tool for sub-wavelength investigation of electro-optical properties in physics and biology.

Orientador: Maria Palmira Daflon Gremião / Coorientador: Beatriz Stringhetti Ferreira Cury / Banca: Júlio Cesar Borges / Banca: Marlus Chorilli / Banca: Priscyla Daniely Marcato Gaspari / Banca: Marco Vinicius Chaud / Resumo: A administração oral de fármacos de origem proteica, como o bevacizumabe (BVZ) impõe grandes desafios, considerando sua instabilidade físico-química frente às condições variáveis de pH e conteúdo enzimático nos segmentos superiores do trato gastrointestinal (TGI). No presente trabalho, nanocarreadores orais baseados em goma gelana (GG) e amido retrogradado (AR) foram delineados como potencial estratégia tecnológica para a efetiva proteção do BVZ, bem como para a modulação de suas propriedades físico-químicas, de liberação e dos padrões de interação com a interface biológica, a fim de se alcançar a liberação cólon-específica fármaco de origem proteica. A retrogradação do amido foi explorada a fim de adequar suas propriedades, como solubilidade, intumescimento, propriedades reológicas, mucoadesividade, resistência enzimática, de acordo com o objetivo pretendido. Os sistemas nanoestruturados foram obtidos pela complexação polieletrolítica dos polímeros com o BVZ, e o efeito da reticulação iônica foi também avaliado. Os efeitos das concentrações da mistura polimérica (GG/AR), de BVZ e de cloreto de alumínio (AlCl3) no diâmetro médio, no índice de polidispersidade (PdI) e no potencial zeta (PZ) das nanopartículas foram avaliados empregando um planejamento fatorial (PF) completo 33. Nanopartículas com diâmetro médio entre 191,7 e 629, 87 nm, reduzido PdI (inferior 0,51) e PZ superior à -20 mV foram obtidas. O processo de reticulação levou ao aumento do diâmetro das partículas, as q... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Oral administration of protein nature drugs, such as bevacizumab (BVZ) enjoin great challenges, considering its physico-chemical instability against pH variable and enzymatic content in the upper segments of gastrointestinal (GIT). In the present work, oral nanocarriers based on gellan gum (GG) and retrograded starch (RS) were designed as a potential technological strategy for the effective protection of BVZ, as well as for the modulation of its physicochemical properties, of release and interaction with the biological interface, in order to achieve the colon-specific release of this protein origin drug. The starch retrogradation was exploited to suit its properties, such as solubility, swelling, rheological properties, mucoadhesiveness, enzyme resistance, according to the intended aim. The nanostructured systems were obtained by the polyelectrolytic complexation of the polymers with the BVZ, and the effect of the ionic cross-linking also was evaluated. The effects of the polymer blends (GG/AR), BVZ and aluminum chloride (AlCl3) concentration on the mean diameter, polydispersity index (PdI) and zeta potential (ZP) of the nanoparticles were evaluated using a factorial design (FD) 33. Nanoparticles with average diameter between 191.7 and 629, 87 nm, reduced PdI (lower 0.51) and PZ higher than -20 mV were obtained. The cross-linking process led to the increase in particles diameter, which presented spherical shape. The BVZ incorporation efficiency was high (56.16% and 100%) and the absorption spectra in the infrared (IR) region evidenced that the interactions between the polymers and BVZ should be predominantly supramolecular. The secondary and tertiary structures maintenance of protein after the incorporation in the nanocarreadores was evidenced by analyzes of absorption spectroscopy IR... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor