Supramolecular, or non-covalent, interactions remain a hallmark of biological systems, dictating biologic activity from the structure of DNA to protein folding and cell-substrate interactions. Harnessing the power of supramolecular interactions commonly experienced in biological systems provides numerous functionalities for modifying synthetic materials. Hydrogen bonding, ionic interactions, and metal-ligand interactions highlight the supramolecular interactions examined in this work. Their broad utility in the fields of nanoparticle formulations, polymer chemistry, and additive manufacturing facilitated the generation of numerous biological materials. Metal-ligand interactions facilitated carbon nanohorn functionalization with quantum dots through the zinc-sulfur interaction. The incorporation of platinum-based chemotherapeutic cisplatin generated a theranostic nanohorn capable of real-time imaging and drug delivery concurrent with photothermal therapies. These nanoparticles remain non-toxic without chemotherapy, providing patient-specific. Furthermore, metal-ligand interactions proved vital to retaining quantum dots on nanoparticle surfaces for up to three days, both limiting their toxicity and enhancing their imaging potential. Controlled release of biologics remain highly sought-after, as they remain widely regarded as next-generation therapeutics for a number of diseases. Geometry-controlled release afforded by additive manufacturing advances next-generation drug delivery solutions. Poly(ether ester) ionomers composed of sulfonated isophthalate and poly(ethylene glycol) provided polymers well suited for low-temperature material extrusion additive manufacturing. Ionic interactions featured in the development of these ionomers and proved vital to their ultimate success to print from filament. Contrary to ionic interactions, hydrogen bonding ureas coupled poly(ethylene glycol) segments and provided superior mechanical properties compared to ionic interactions. Furthermore, the urea bond linking together poly(ethylene glycol) chains proved fully degradable over the course of one month in solution with urease. The strength of these supramolecular interactions demanded further examination in the photopolymerization of monofunctional monomers to create free-standing films. Furthermore, the incorporation of both hydrogen bonding acrylamides and ionic groups provided faster polymerization times and higher moduli films upon light irradiation. Vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing generated 3-dimensional parts from monofunctional monomers. These soluble parts created from additive manufacturing provide future scaffolds for controlled release applications. Controlled release, whether a biologic or chemotherapeutic, remains a vital portion of the biomedical sciences and supramolecular interactions provides the future of materials for these applications. / Ph. D. / Biology remains the unprecedented expert in the manipulation of non-covalent (or supramolecular) interactions to maintain structure and function. As an example, the structure of DNA maintains many hydrogen bonding units which allow for dynamic reading of genetic material but retain its characteristic structure. Proteins, made from linear chains of amino acids, utilize these interactions to fold into conformations necessary for their function. Harnessing these interactions in the creation of next-generation materials lies at the center of this work. Metal-sulfur bonds highlight initial work to encapsulate both drug and imaging agent onto a carbon nanoparticle. This complex revealed favorable biocompatibility and the ability to deliver drug in the elimination of bladder cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, the complex revealed the maintenance of imaging capabilities over many days and continued to release low levels of chemotherapeutic during this time, potentially eradicating cancer cells long after initial treatment. Utilizing this nanoparticle, clinicians can monitor the location of nanoparticles in real-time and tailor doses specific to each patient. Ionic interactions provided enhanced mechanical properties of both water-soluble and water-insoluble polymers. The water-soluble polymers experienced significantly increased melt viscosity upon the addition of divalent cations, potentially creating non-covalent crosslinks in the molten state. Water-insoluble polymers acted as effective biological adhesives, likely arising from the interaction of ionic groups with its surrounding environment. Hydrogen bonding functioned to increase the mechanical integrity of water-soluble polymers for enhanced processing. The incorporation of urea groups into water-soluble polymers provided a readily available nitrogen source for plant growth while eliminating potential downstream environmental toxicity. Urethane functionality, generated with biologically-friendly byproducts, also provided hydrogen bonding to improve mechanical integrity of water-soluble polymers. Traditionally, stereolithography 3D printing demanded the use of covalent (or permanent) crosslinking to generate 3D shapes. Hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions coupled together to provide rapidly-formed free-standing films held together only through non-covalent interactions. Comparison of hydrogen bonding, ionic bonding, and both together provided insights onto the kinetics and strength of these films. These interactions proved strong enough to generate well-defined 3D structures through 3D printing. Furthermore, these parts proved water-soluble after fully forming, proving the reversibility of these bonds. Biologically-inspired interactions drive the future of materials research, and harnessing these interactions provides a better-performing material. Probing new materials for controlled release applications utilizing reversible interactions provided new families of ionic and hydrogen-bonding polymers. Whether soluble or insoluble, biological or not, these interactions pave the way to increase mechanical integrity of commonplace materials with the added reversibility hallmark of supramolecular interactions.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-05-09T12:17:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 gilsonrodriguesferreira.pdf: 5148853 bytes, checksum: 05b9d7e4c0fed65676449cf1f4319a45 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-17T14:05:39Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 gilsonrodriguesferreira.pdf: 5148853 bytes, checksum: 05b9d7e4c0fed65676449cf1f4319a45 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T14:05:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 gilsonrodriguesferreira.pdf: 5148853 bytes, checksum: 05b9d7e4c0fed65676449cf1f4319a45 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-22 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Esta tese apresenta o estudo espectroscópico teórico e experimental sobre o equilíbrio tautomérico em corantes derivados do 1-fenil-azo-2-naftol conhecido como Sudan I. O estudo envolveu os azocorantes (Sudan I, Sudan II, Para Red e Sudan Red G) além de dois diazocorantes (Sudan III e Sudan IV) e foi fundamentado em técnicas espectroscópicas; Raman, Infravermelho e UV/vis além de RMN de 13C e 1H. Todo o estudo envolveu a aplicação de metodologias teóricas B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) na elucidação estrutural e espectroscópica das espécies azo (OH) e hidrazo (NH) para esta família de azocorantes. Foi possível determinar através dos resultados experimentais baseados em evidências teóricas que o tautômero NH é a forma predominante em fase gás, em solução e em estado sólido. Azocorantes derivados do fenil-1-azo-2-naftol também foram usados com sucesso na síntese de novos compostos de coordenação envolvendo íons de metais de transição Ni2+, Cu2+ e Co3+ e seis novos complexos foram completamente caracterizados sendo estes: bis-1-(fenil-azo)-2-naftolatoniquel(II) (1), bis-1-fenil-azo-2-naftolatocobre(II) (2) e tris-1-(fenil-azo)-2-naftolatocobalto(III) (3), bis-1-(2,4-Xylyl-azo)-2-naftolatoniquel(II) (4) e bis-1-(2,4-Xylyl-azo)-2-naftolatocobre(II) (5) e bis-1-(2-metoxi-fenil-azo)-2naftolatocobalto(III).etanol (6). Através dos dados de difração de raios X, associados à química computacional e aos dados espectroscópicos, foi possível sugerir que nos sistemas sintetizados, as forças intermoleculares responsáveis pelo empacotamento supramolecular são de fraca intensidade. Sendo que nos complexos (1), (2) e (3) prevalece às interações do tipo π-stacking, nos complexos (4) e (5) interações de do tipo CH...π não convencionais e no complexo (6) ocorre ligação de hidrogênio. A análise espectroscópica foi utilizada como uma importante ferramenta para a caracterização e confirmação da coordenação dos blocos construtores, sobretudo pela intensidade de muitas bandas que foram alteradas pela perda do próton (NH) para formação dos compostos de coordenação. / This thesis presents the theoretical and experimental spectroscopic study on the tautomeric equilibrium in azo dyes derivatives from 1-phenyl-azo-2-naphthol known as Sudan I. The study involved azo dyes (Sudan I, Sudan II, Para Red and Sudan Red G) besides two diazodyes (Sudan III and Sudan IV) and was based on spectroscopic techniques; Raman, IR and UV/vis also 1H and 13C NMR. All study involved the application of theoretical methods B3LYP/6-311++G (d,p) in the elucidation structural and spectroscopic of the species azo (OH) and (NH) hidrazo for this family of azo dyes. Experimental results based on theoretical evidence pointed the NH tautomer as predominant form in the gas phase, in solution and in solid state. Azo derivatives from phenyl-1-azo-2-naphthol also been successfully used in the synthesis of new coordination compounds involving ions of transition metals Ni2+, Cu2+ and Co3+ and six new compounds were fully characterized these being: bis-1-(phenyl-azo)-2-naftolatoniquel (II) (1), bis-1-phenyl-azo-2-naftolatocobre (II) (2), 1 tris-(phenyl-azo)-2-naftolatocobalto (III) (3), bis-1-(2,4-xylylazo)-2-naftolatoniquel (II) (4), bis-1-(2,4-xylyl-azo)-2-naftolatocobre (II) (5) and bis-1-(2methoxy-phenyl azo)-2-naftolatocobalto (III). ethanol (6). Through the association between crystallographic data, of the computational chemistry and spectroscopic data, we can suggest that the intermolecular forces responsible for the supramolecular packing are of the low intensity. Since the complexes (1), (2) and (3) prevails interaction type π-stacking, in the complexes (4) and (5) interactions of the type CH ... π unconventional and complex (6) occurs hydrogen bond. Spectroscopic analysis was used as an important tool for the characterization and confirmation of the coordination of builder blocks, particularly by the intensity of many bands that were altered by the loss of the proton (NH) for the formation of coordination compounds.

Orientador: Anita Jocelyne Marsaioli / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T13:21:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cabeca_LuisFernando_D.pdf: 3225246 bytes, checksum: 72eb5893bd2c7122d9aa7e2215c4d03e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A encapsulação de drogas, em particular anestésicos locais (ALs), em sistemas carreadores como lipossomas (EPC) ou ciclodextrinas (b-CD) é uma metodologia desenvolvida para diminuição da toxicidade sistêmica, aumento da analgesia e maior absorção do que os correspondentes ativos livres. O estudo das interações dos complexos (ALs/b-CD, AL/EPC e ALs/ b-CD/EPC) foi realizado utilizando técnicas de RMN de H (ROESY 1D, DOSY e STD). Através destas, observou-se que o ALs proparacaína (PPC) interage com a b-CD e que na presença de vesículas de lipossomas (MLV, 400nm e 100nm) as moléculas de PPC deixam a b-CD para formar um novo complexo (PPC/EPC). Entretanto, espectros de RMN-STD revelaram sinais de b-CD quando lipossomas foram saturados em -0,5 ppm, que é consistente com a existência de um complexo ternário PPC/b-CD/EPC. Em um segundo momento do trabalho, foi avaliado a topologia de complexos formados entre o ALs prilocaína (PLC), b-CD e vesículas de lipossomas de EPC variando o pH (10,0, 7,0 e 5,5). Os experimentos de STD mostraram que a liberação da PLC da b-CD para o lipossoma e formação do complexo PLC/EPC foi maior a pH 10,0 do que a pH 5,5. Espectros de DOSY forneceram constantes de associações maiores em pH 10,0, indicando maior interação da PLC/EPC e preferência da PLC pela fase aquosa em pH 5,5. A técnica de RMN-STD também foi aplicada pioneiramente para o estudo do Quorum Sensing usando (S)-N-(3-oxo-octanoyl)-HSL e cepas de A. tumefaciens NTL4(pZLR4). Vesículas de lipossomas foram usadas como modelo de membrana para o estudo do mecanismo de Quorum Sensing. Concluiu-se então que a difusão da HSL através da parte lipídica da membrana celular é um importante evento para o sucesso da comunicação bacteriana. / Abstract: Encapsulation of local anesthetics (Als) in drug delivery systems as liposomes (EPC) or cyclodextrins (b-CD) is a known methodology to decrease toxicity, increase anesthetic effect duration and absorption than the free drug. Thus evaluation of the stability of supramolecular complexes is important and here several complexes (ALs/b-CD, AL/EPC e ALs/ b-CD/EPC) were evaluated using H NMR techniques (ROESY 1D, DOSY e STD). We observed that proparacaine (PPC) interacts with b-CD and in the presence of liposomes (MLV, 400 or 100 nm) that PPC molecules migrate from the b-CD to the liposome producing new binary complexes (PPC/EPC). Additionally, STD H NMR revealed b-CD signals upon liposome saturation at -0.5 ppm which was consistent with the existence of a ternary complex PPC/b-CD/EPC. We have also evaluated the topologies of PLC/b-CD/EPC complexes at different pHs (10.0, 7.0, 5.5). The STD¿NMR experiments revealed that more PLC is released to liposome from the PLC/b-CD complex at pH 10.0 than at pH 5.5. The association constants determined by diffusion experiments (DOSY) revealed that PLC/EPC interactions are larger at pH 10.0 than at pH 5.5 due to an increase in PLC/EPC interaction and the PLC preference for the aqueous phase at pH 5.5. The STD-NMR technique was also applied to a pioneer study of the Quorum Sensing using (S)-N-(3-oxo-octanoyl)-HSL and a strain of A. tumefaciens NTL4(pZLR4). Liposome vesicles were used as membrane model to study the Quorum Sensing mechanism. Finally, it was concluded that of diffusion acyl-HSLs through the lipidic part of the bacterial cell membrane is an important event for a successful bacterial communication. / Doutorado / Quimica Organica / Doutor em Ciências

Surface self-assembly, the spontaneous aggregation of molecules into ordered, sta- ble, noncovalently joined structures in the presence of a surface, is of great importance to the bottom-up manufacturing of materials with desired functionality. As a bulk phenomenon informed by molecular-level interactions, surface self-assembly involves coupled processes spanning multiple length scales. Consequently, a computational ap- proach towards investigating surface self-assembled systems requires a combination of quantum-level electronic structure calculations and large-scale multi-body classical simulations. In this work we use a range of simulation approaches from quantum-based methods, to classical atomistic calculations, to mean-field approximations of bulk mixed phases, and explore the self-assembly strategies of simple dipoles and polyaromatic hydrocarbons on symmetric surfaces. / Graduate

Groundbreaking progress in molecule-based optoelectronic devices for lighting, display and energy-harvesting technologies demands highly efficient and easily processable functional materials with tunable properties governed by their molecular/supramolecular structure variations. To date, functional coordination compounds whose function is governed by non-covalent weak forces (e.g., metallophilic, dπ-acid/dπ-base stacking, halogen/halogen and/or d/π interactions) remain limited. This is unlike the situation for metal-free organic semiconductors, as most metal complexes incorporated in optoelectronic devices have their function determined by the properties of the monomeric molecular unit (e.g., Ir(III)-phenylpyridine complexes in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and Ru(II)-polypyridyl complexes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs)). This dissertation represents comprehensive results of both experimental and theoretical studies, descriptions of synthetic methods and possible application allied to monovalent coinage metal-based functional materials. The main emphasis is given to the design and synthesis of functional materials with preset material properties such as light-emitting materials, light-harvesting materials and conducting materials. In terms of advances in fundamental scientific phenomena, the major highlight of the work in this dissertation is the discovery of closed-shell polar-covalent metal-metal bonds manifested by ligand-unassisted d10-d10 covalent bonds between Cu(I) and Au(I) coinage metals in the ground electronic state (~2.87 Å; ~45 kcal/mol). Moreover, this dissertation also reports pairwise intermolecular aurophilic interactions of 3.066 Å for an Au(I) complex, representing the shortest ever reported pairwise intermolecular aurophilic distances among all coinage metal(I) cyclic trimetallic complexes to date; crystals of this complex also exhibit gigantic luminescence thermochromism of 10,200 cm-1 (violet to red). From applications prospective, the work herein presents monovalent coinage metal-based functional optoelectronic materials such as heterobimetallic complexes with near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield, metallic or semiconducting integrated donor-acceptor stacks and a new class of Au(III)-based black absorbers with cooperative intermolecular iodophilic (I…I) interactions that sensitize the harvesting of all UV, all visible, and a broad spectrum of near-IR regions of the solar spectrum. These novel functional materials of cyclic trimetallic coinage metal complexes have been characterized by a broad suit of spectroscopic and structural analysis methods in the solid state and solution.

In this work, the development of a new molecular building block, based on synthetic peptides derived from decorin, is presented. These peptides represent a promising basis for the design of polymer-based biomaterials that mimic the ECM on a molecular level and exploit specific biological recognition for technical applications. Multiple sequence alignments of the internal repeats of decorin that formed the inner and outer surface of the arch-shaped protein were used to develop consensus sequences. These sequences contained conserved sequence motifs that are likely to be related to structural and functional features of the protein. Peptides representative for the consensus sequences were synthesized by microwave-assisted solid phase peptide synthesis and purified by RP-HPLC, with purities higher than 95 mol%. After confirming the desired masses by MALDI-TOF-MS, the primary structure of each peptide was investigated by 1H and 2D NMR, from which a full assignment of the chemical shifts was obtained. The characterization of the peptides conformation in solution was performed by CD spectroscopy, which demonstrated that using TFE, the peptides from the outer surface of decorin show a high propensity to fold into helical structures as observed in the original protein. To the contrary, the peptides from the inner surface did not show propensity to form stable secondary structure. The investigation of the binding capability of the peptides to Collagen I was performed by surface plasmon resonance analyses, from which all but one of the peptides representing the inner surface of decorin showed binding affinity to collagen with values of dissociation constant between 2•10-7 M and 2.3•10-4 M. On the other hand, the peptides representative for the outer surface of decorin did not show any significant interaction to collagen. This information was then used to develop experimental demonstration for the binding capabilities of the peptides from the inner surface of decorin to collagen even when used in more complicated situations close to possible appications. With this purpose, the peptide (LRELHLNNN) which showed the highest binding affinity to collagen (2•10-7 M) was functionalized with an N-terminal triple bond in order to obtain a peptide dimer via copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition reaction with 4,4'-diazidostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. Rheological measurements showed that the presence of the peptide dimer was able to enhance the elastic modulus (G') of a collagen gel from ~ 600 Pa (collagen alone) to ~ 2700 Pa (collagen and peptide dimer). Moreover, it was shown that the mechanical properties of a collagen gel can be tailored by using different molar ratios of peptide dimer respect to collagen. The same peptide, functionalized with the triple bond, was used to obtain a peptide-dye conjugate by coupling it with N-(5'-azidopentanoyl)-5-aminofluorescein. An aqueous solution (5 vol% methanol) of the peptide dye conjugate was injected into a collagen and a hyaluronic acid (HA) gel and images of fluorescence detection showed that the diffusion of the peptide was slower in the collagen gel compared to the HA gel. The third experimental demonstration was gained using the peptide (LSELRLHNN) which showed the lower binding affinity (2.3•10-4 M) to collagen. This peptide was grafted to hyaluronic acid via EDC-chemistry, with a degree of functionalization of 7 ± 2 mol% as calculated by 1H-NMR. The grafting was further confirmed by FTIR and TGA measurements, which showed that the onset of decomposition for the HA-g-peptide decreased by 10 °C compared to the native HA. Rheological measurements showed that the elastic modulus of a system based on collagen and HA-g-peptide increased by almost two order of magnitude (G' = 200 Pa) compared to a system based on collagen and HA (G' = 0.9 Pa). Overall, this study showed that the synthetic peptides, which were identified from decorin, can be applied as potential building blocks for biomimetic materials that function via biological recognition. / In dieser Arbeit wird das Design, die Synthese und Analyse neuer molekularer Bausteine für Biomaterialien basierend auf synthetischen, von Decorin abgeleiteten Peptiden beschrieben. Diese Peptide sind deshalb als Baustein für polymer-basierte Biomaterialien von besonderem Interesse, da sie die extrazelluläre Matrix (ECM) auf molekularer Ebene nachempfinden und spezifische, biologische wichtige Interaktionen für technische Anwendungen nutzbar machen. Das Alignment multipler Sequenzen der internen Repeats von Decorin, die jeweils die innere bzw. äußere Seite des sichelförmigen Decorins bilden, wurde genutzt, um Konsensus-Sequenzen zu definieren. Diese Sequenzen beinhalten stark konservierte Sequenzmotive, die wahrscheinlich wichtig für Struktur und Funktion des Proteins sind. Ausgewählte Peptide, die repräsentativ für die Konsensus-Sequenzen sind, wurden dann mittels Mikrowellen unterstützter Festphasensynthese synthetisiert und mit RP-HPLC aufgereinigt, so dass Peptide mit Reinheiten ≥ 95 mol% erhalten wurden. Die Peptide wurden per MALDI-TOF-MS sowie 1D und 2D NMR Spektroskopie charakterisiert, wobei die Zuordnung der chemischen Verschiebungen zu einzelnen Protonen und Kohlenstoffen aus den 2D NMR Experimenten erfolgte. In Lösung wurden die Peptide zudem mit CD Spektroskopie untersucht, wobei gezeigt werden konnte, dass nur Peptide, die von der äußeren Seite des Decorins abgeleitet wurden, sich durch Zugabe von 2,2,2-Trifluorethanol zu α-Helices falten. Diese Faltung ist auch in der Röntgenstruktur bei den korrespondierenden Abschnitten zu finden. Im Gegensatz dazu zeigten Peptide, die von der inneren Seite des Decorins abgeleitet wurden, keine stabilen Sekundärstrukturen in Lösung (β-Faltblattstruktur in der Röntgenstruktur). Bindungsstudien der Peptide zu Kollagen I wurden mit Oberflächenplasmonenresonanz durchgeführt, wobei gezeigt werden konnte, dass alle bis auf ein Peptid, die von der innneren Seite abgeleitet wurden, an Kollagen mit Dissoziationskonstanten von 2•10-7 M bis 2.3•10-4 M binden, während Peptide, die für die äußere Seite von Decorin repräsentativ sind, keine Bindung an Kollagen I zeigten. Diese Information wurde genutzt, um experimentelle Demonstrationsobjekte dieser Interaktion in komplexeren, einer späteren Anwendung näheren Situation, zu entwickeln. Dazu wurde das Peptide LRELHLNNN, welches die stärkste Bindung zu Kollagen I zeigte (KD = 2•10-7 M), N-terminal mit einer Alkinbindung funktionalisiert, so dass durch Kupfer (I) katalysierte Reaktion mit 4,4'-Diazidostilben-2,2'-disulfonsäure ein Peptid-Dimer erhalten werden konnte. Rheologische Untersuchungen zeigten, dass durch Zugabe des Peptid-Dimers der Elastizitätsmodul G' von Kollagen-Gelen von ~ 600 Pa (nur Kollagen) auf ~ 2700 Pa (Kollagen und Peptide-Dimer) gesteigert werden konnte. Darüber hinaus konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Veränderung der mechanischen Eigenschaften der Gele durch Veränderung des Kollagen:Peptid-Dimer Verhältnisses angepasst werden konnten. Das gleiche, mit einer Alkin-Bindung funktionaliserte Peptid wurde dann zur Darstellung eines Peptid-Fluorescein Konjugats genutzt, indem es mit N-(5'-azidopentanoyl)-5-aminofluorescein umgesetzt wurde. Eine wässrige Lösung des Peptid-Farbstoff-Konjugats wurde dann in Kollagen- bzw. Hyaluronsäuregele injiziert. Die Diffusion des Peptid-Farbstoff-Konjugats war in Kollagengelen im Vergleich zu Hyaluronsäuregelen deutlich verlangsamt. Das dritte Demonstrationsobjekt wurde erhalten, indem das Peptid LSELRLHNN, welches die geringste Bindung an Kollagen zeigte (KD = 2.3•10-4 M), auf Hyaluronsäure (HA) gegrafted wurde. Die Reaktion wurde durch Carbodiimid-mediierte Kupplung erreicht, und ein Funktionalisierungsgrad von 7 ± 2 mol% wurde durch Integration der 1H-NMR Spektren bestimmt. Das erfolgreiche Grafting wurde durch FTIR- und TGA-Untersuchungen bestätigt. In letzteren wurde gezeigt, dass der thermische Abbau durch das Grafting bei etwas niedrigeren Temperaturen beginnt als der Abbau reiner Hyaluronsäure (ΔT = 10 °C). Rheologische Untersuchungen zeigten, dass ein System aus Kollagen und HA-g-Peptid ein um zwei Größenordnungen höheren Elastizitätsmodul G' hat (G' = 200 Pa) als Systeme, die aus einer physikalischen Mischung von Kollagen und HA bestehen (G' = 0.9 Pa). Zusammenfassend konnte gezeigt werden, dass die Peptide, die von Decorin abgeleitet wurden, als Kollagen-bindende Bausteine für biomimetische Materialien genutzt werden können.

This thesis describes original research aimed at the development of highly efficient polymer functionalization strategies by introducing orthogonal chemistry within polymeric systems. The primary hypothesis of this thesis is that the use of click chemistries or noncovalent interactions can provide new and easy pathways towards the synthesis of highly functionalized polymers thereby addressing the shortcomings of traditional covalent functionalization approaches. To verify the hypothesis, the work presented in the following chapters of this thesis further explores previous methods of either covalent or noncovalent polymer functionalization described in Chapter 1. Chapters 2 and 3 present advanced methods of covalent polymer functionalization based on high-yielding and orthogonal click reactions: 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, hydrazone formation, and maleimide-thiol coupling. All three click reactions employed can be orthogonal to one another and conversions can be quantitative, leading to the easy and rapid synthesis of highly functionalized polymers without interference among functional handles along the polymer backbones. The next two chapters focus on the noncovalent functionalization strategies for creating supramolecular block copolymers via the main-chain self-assembly of telechelic polymers. Novel synthetic methods to prepare telechelic polymers bearing terminal recognition motifs were developed through a combination of ROMP using functionalized ruthenium initiators and functionalized chain-terminators, and the resulting polymers were self-assembled to form supramolecular block copolymers. Chapter 4 demonstrates the formation of supramolecular multiblock copolymers via self-assembly of symmetrical telechelic polymers using metal coordination, while Chapter 5 demonstrates that supramolecular ABC triblock copolymers can be prepared by the self-assembly of a heterotelechelic polymer as the central block with two other complementary monotelechelic polymers using two orthogonal hydrogen bonding interactions. Chapter 6 presents a unique application of noncovalent functionalization approaches. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop a controlled polymerization method based on noncovalent templation. The initial attempts at the metal coordination-based template polymerization are presented in this chapter. Finally, Chapter 7 summarizes the findings in each chapter and presents the potential extensions of the orthogonal functionalization strategies developed in this thesis.

Dans le contexte actuel de constante amélioration des propriétés des matériaux polymères et de l’optimisation de leur impact environnemental, la recherche se tourne de plus en plus vers les polymères biosourcés et biodégradables. Le travail de cette thèse consiste en la synthèse et le développement de nouveaux réseaux thermoréversibles à base d’acide polylactique (PLA). Cette thermo-réversibilité est assurée grâce à des interactions dynamiques comme les liaisons hydrogène et la réaction réversible de Diels-Alder. Une biomolécule, le gluthation, a été conjuguée au polymère et utilisée comme générateur de liaisons hydrogène. Ces travaux ont permis la réalisation d’une large gamme de matériaux avec des propriétés uniques comme l’autoréparation et des températures de réversibilité très variées, approchant pour certains échantillons, celle du corps humain / In the current context to constantly improve the properties of polymer materials as well as their environmental impact, the research on polymers is increasingly focused on biobased and biodegradable polymers. The aim of this work consists on the synthesis and development of new polylactic acid-based thermoreversible networks. This thermoreversible character is ensured thanks to dynamic interactions such as hydrogen bonds and the reversible Diels-Alder reaction. In a second time, a biomolecule was conjugated to the polymer and was used as a hydrogen bonds generator. This allowed the production of a wide range of materials with varied reversibility temperatures and unique properties such as self-healing ability. For some samples, the reversibility temperatures were approaching the human body temperature

There is a strong interest in phenolic compounds and nitrocompounds in the function of their diverse and significant biological activities. Such compounds can participate in electron transfer reactions and produce metabolites that influence the redox state at the cellular level, with consequent effect on vital biochemical processes. This work aimed to determine the electrodic mechanism involved in the oxidation of bergenin and the reduction of nitrobenzyl derivatives and to evaluate possible supramolecular interactions of bergenin with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in order to increase its solubility in aqueous medium and help in understanding the molecular mechanism of biological action. The electrochemical studies in protic and aprotic medium were performed in potentiostat PGSTAT302 (AUT 73222) from Autolab® using voltammetric techniques. The influence of the interaction of different cyclodextrins on the solubility of bergenin in aqueous medium was verified through the phase transfer study by cyclic voltammetry. The bergenin:β-CD complex was prepared in 1:1 and 1:2 proportions by the coevaporation technique and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The theoretical studies were performed through the Gaussian program 09. Bergenin in the free and complexed form were evaluated against antioxidant capacity (lipid peroxidation assays), cytotoxicity (cell viability versus macrophages), and interaction with estimated DNA through the use of dsDNA (double strand) electrochemical sensor and with ssDNA (single strand) for UV-Vis spectrophotometry in solution. The electrochemical results obtained for bergenin demonstrated that its oxidation mechanism in aprotic and protic environments involves, respectively, loss of 1e-/1H+ and 2e-/2H+, when using a glassy carbon electrode. Theoretical data contributed to clarify that oxidative mechanisms involve phenolic hydroxyls. The antioxidant activity of bergenin in the lipoperoxidation inhibition assays was favored in its complexed form with β-CD 1:1. The cytotoxicity of bergenin evaluated in macrophages was also influenced by interaction with β-CD. The electrochemical studies involving ssDNA demonstrated interaction between bergenin and the constituent bases of DNA, suggesting a possible mechanism of biological action. However, the dsDNA biosensor studies showed no interaction. Investigation of the interaction with dsDNA through UV-Vis spectrophotometry resulted in a binding constant between DNA and bergenin in the free and complexed form on the order of 103 and 104 M-1, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of the nitrobenzyl derivatives obtained in aprotic medium presented a voltammetric profile of great complexity, involving patterns related to autoprotonation and dissociative electron transfer reactions. The order of ease of reduction, based on values of first wave reduction potential, was found: ANB > EANBEN > EANB > AANB > ANOH > ATN = ENF > ANBNa > ENM > ANF, obtaining a positive correlation between the compounds with (less negative) with more pronounced biological activity (leishmanicidal and antitumor activities), already described in the literature, which justifies the importance of the electrochemical investigation of bioactive compounds as a tool in medical chemistry, in processes related to the transfer of electrons. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Há forte interesse a cerca de compostos fenólicos e nitrocompostos em função de suas diversas e significativas atividades biológicas. Tais compostos podem participar de reações de transferência de elétrons e produzir metabólitos que influenciam o estado redox em nível celular, com consequente efeito em processos bioquímicos vitais. Deste modo, este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o mecanismo eletródico envolvido na oxidação da bergenina e na redução dos derivados nitrobenzílicos e avaliar possíveis interações supramoleculares da bergenina com β-ciclodextrina (β-CD) e ácido desoxirribonucléico (DNA), a fim de aumentar sua solubilidade em meio aquoso e auxiliar no entendimento do mecanismo molecular de ação biológica. Os estudos eletroquímicos em meio prótico e aprótico foram realizados em potenciostato PGSTAT302 (AUT 73222) da Autolab® através de técnicas voltamétricas. A influência da interação de diferentes ciclodextrinas sobre a solubilidade da bergenina em meio aquoso foi verificada através do estudo de transferência de fase por voltametria cíclica. O complexo bergenina:β-CD foi preparado nas proporções 1:1 e 1:2 através da técnica de co-evaporação e caracterizado através de técnicas espectroscópicas. Os estudos teóricos foram realizados através do programa Gaussian 09. A bergenina na forma livre e complexada foram avaliadas frente à capacidade antioxidante (ensaios de peroxidação lipídica), citotoxicidade (viabilidade celular frente a macrófagos), e a interação com DNA estimada através da utilização de sensor eletroquímico de dsDNA (fita dupla) e com ssDNA (fita simples) e espectrofotometria UV-Vis, em solução. Os resultados eletroquímicos obtidos para bergenina demonstraram que seu mecanismo de oxidação em meio aprótico e prótico envolve, respectivamente, a perda de 1e-/1H+ e de 2e-/2H+, ao utilizar eletrodo de carbono vítreo. Os dados teóricos contribuiram para esclarecer que os mecanismos oxidativos envolvem as hidroxilas fenólicas. A atividade antioxidante da bergenina verificada nos ensaios de inibição de lipoperoxidação foi favorecida em sua forma complexada com β-CD na proporção 1:1. A citotoxicidade da bergenina avaliada em macrófagos também sofreu influência da interação com β-CD. Os estudos eletroquímicos envolvendo ssDNA demonstraram interação entre bergenina e as bases constituintes do DNA, sugerindo um possível mecanismo de ação biológico. Já os estudos com biossensor de dsDNA, não demonstraram interação. A investigação da interação com dsDNA através da espectrofotometria UV-Vis resultou numa constante de ligação entre DNA e bergenina na forma livre e complexada na ordem de 103 e 104 M-1, respectivamente. O comportamento eletroquímico dos derivados nitrobezílicos obtidos em meio aprótico apresentaram um perfil voltamétrico de grande complexidade, envolvendo padrões relacionados a reações de autoprotonação e de transferência de elétrons dissociativa. A ordem de facilidade de redução, baseada em valores de potencial de primeira onda de redução, encontrada foi: ANB > EANBEN > EANB > AANB > ANOH > ATN = ENF > ANBNa > ENM > ANF, obtendose correlação positiva entre os compostos com maior potencial de redução (menos negativos) com atividade biológica mais pronunciada (atividades leishmanicida e antitumoral), já descritas na literatura, o que justifica a importância da investigação eletroquímica de compostos bioativos como ferramenta em química medicinal, em processos relacionados à transferência de elétrons.

Les hydrogels moléculaires avec un réseau de fibres auto-assembles sont utilisés dans différents domaines dont le relargage de médicaments, les senseurs, l’ingénierie tissulaire et la nano-modélisation. Les hydrogels moléculaires à base d’acides biliaires, qui sont une classe de biocomposés d’origine naturelle, montrent une biocompatibilité améliorée et sont de bons candidats pour des applications dans le domaine biomédical. Ces hydrogels présentent une bonne bio-dégradabilité et une diversité fonctionnelle grâce aux faibles interactions supramoléculaires et aux structures chimiques précisément contrôlées. Dans cette thèse, des nouveaux hydrogels moléculaires à base des acides biliaires et leurs dérivés ont été étudiés pour mieux comprendre la relation entre la structure chimique du gélifiant et la formation de gels moléculaires. Un dimère de l'acide cholique avec un groupe diéthylènetriamine est insoluble dans l'eau. Par contre, il peut former des hydrogels grâce à un réseau tri-dimensionnel de fibres en présence de certains acides carboxyliques. L'addition d'acide carboxylique peut protoner le groupe amine secondaire et défaire les interactions intermoléculaires entre les dimères et favoriser la formation des liaisons hydrogènes acide-dimère. Seuls les acides carboxyliques faibles et hydrophiles causent la gélation des dimères. La résistance mécanique des hydrogels formés peut être modifiée par un choix judicieux d'acides. Les interactions hydrophobes et les liaisons hydrogènes entre les chaînes latérales d'acides carboxyliques peuvent améliorer les propriétés mécaniques des hydrogels. La solubilité marginale du complexe acide-dimère a été considérée comme un facteur critique pour la formation d'hydrogels. Un autre système d’hydrogélation à base d’acides biliaires a été développé par l’introduction de dioxyde de carbone (CO2) dans des solutions aqueuses de certains sels d’acides biliaires, qui donne un hydrogel composé de molécules biologiques entièrement naturelles et fournit un réservoir commode du CO2 dans l’eau. Le groupement carboxylate des sels d’acides biliaires peut être partiellement protoné dans les solutions aqueuses, ce qui amène la dissolution marginale dans l’eau et la formation d’hydrogels avec une structure fibreuse. L’aspect et les propriétés mécaniques des hydrogels dépendent de la concentration de CO2. Le bullage avec CO2 pendant une ou deux secondes génère un hydrogel transparent avec des nanofibres. Le bullage supplémentaire forme des hydrogels plus forts. Mais réduit la transparence et la force mécanique des hydrogels. D’ailleurs, les hydrogels transparents ou opaques redeviennent des solutions transparentes quand ils sont chauffés avec bullage de N2. La transition sol-gel est réversible et reproductible. La force mécanique et la transparence des hydrogels peuvent être améliorées par l’addition de sels inorganiques comme NaCl par l’effet de relargage. Toutes les composantes de ces hydrogels sont naturelles, donnant des hydrogels biocompatibles et potentiellement utiles pour des applications dans le domaine biomédical. Le dimère mentionné ci-dessus possède des propriétés d’auto-assemblage dépendamment de sa concentration. Ceci a été étudié en utilisant un sel organique de dimère/acide formique avec un rapport molaire 1/1. Le sel du dimère s’auto-assemble dans l’eau et ainsi forme des nanofibres isolées et mono-dispersées à des concentrations faibles. Les fibres enchevêtrées donnent des réseaux fibreux 3D bien dispersés de façon aléatoire à des concentrations plus élevées. Quand la concentration du sel du dimère est supérieure à la concentration critique de gélation, le réseau fibreux est assez fort pour immobiliser la solution, qui provoque la formation d’un hydrogel isotrope. L’augmentation supplémentaire de la concentration du sel du dimère peut augmenter l’anisotropie de l’hydrogel et former ainsi un hydrogel nématique. La formation de domaines ordonnés des nanofibres alignées donne ces propriétés optiques à l’hydrogel. L’agitation de systèmes aqueux du sel de dimère favorise aussi la formation de nanofibres alignées. / Molecular hydrogels are soft materials formed by the self-assembly of small molecules in aqueous solutions via supramolecular interactions. Although much effort has been made in the past several decades in the study of these hydrogels, the mechanism of their formation remains to be understood and the prediction of their formation is a challenge. The main purpose of this thesis is to develop novel molecular hydrogels derived from bile acids, which are naturally occurring biocompounds, and to find the relationship between the gelator structure and the gelation ability. Two new molecular gelation systems based on bile acids and their derivatives have been developed, which may be useful in biomedical applications. The marginal solubility of the solute in water has been found to be a prerequisite for the formation of such molecular hydrogels. The alignment of the nanofibers in the gels leads to the formation of nematic hydrogels. The first gelation system is based on a cholic acid dimer as a gelator, which has two cholic acid molecules covalently linked by a diethylenetriamine spacer. This dimer is insoluble in water, but it forms hydrogels with 3-D fibrous networks in the presence of selected carboxylic acids. The carboxylic acids protonate the dimer, making it marginally soluble in water to yield hydrogels. Only weak and hydrophilic carboxylic acids were capable of inducing the gelation of the dimer and the mechanical strength of the hydrogels could be varied by judicious choice of the acids. Hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding between the side chains of carboxylic acids improve the mechanical properties of hydrogels. The marginal solubility of the acid-dimer complex is regarded to be the critical factor for the formation of hydrogels. Another hydrogelation system was developed by purging to the aqueous solutions of a series of bile salts with carbon dioxide (CO2), yielding hydrogels made of entire natural biological molecules and providing a convenient storage reservoir of CO2 in water. Bile salts are well dissolved in water, while the solubility of bile acids is limited. The carboxylate group of bile salts may be partially protonated in aqueous solutions by bubbling CO2, making them only marginally soluble in water. This forms fibrous structures. Both the appearance and mechanical properties of the hydrogels depend on the amount of CO2 purged. Bubbling CO2 initially induced the formation of transparent hydrogels with nanofibers. Continued purging with CO2 strengthened the hydrogel mechanically, while further addition of CO2 reduced the transparency and mechanical strength of the hydrogel. Both the transparent and opaque hydrogels reverted to transparent solutions when heated and bubbling N2. The sol-gel transition process was reversible and repeatable. The mechanical strength and transparency of the hydrogels could be improved by adding inorganic salts such as NaCl via a salting-out effect. All the hydrogel components are naturally biological compounds, making such hydrogels biocompatible and potentially useful in biomedical applications. The cholic acid dimer linked with a diethylenetriamine spacer was able to assemble in water and form isolated nanofibers in the presence of certain carboxylic acids at a much lower concentration than the CMC of sodium cholate. These nanofibers entangle with each other to yield well-dispersed and randomly-directed 3-D fibrous networks at higher concentrations. When the concentration of dimer salt is above the minimum gelation concentration, the fibrous network is strong enough to immobilize the solution, leading to the formation of an isotropic hydrogel. Further increase of the dimer salt concentration may transit the hydrogels to be anisotropic, thus the formation of nematic hydrogels. The formation of ordered domains of the aligned nanofibers led to anisotropic optical properties of the hydrogels. Stirring the aqueous systems of dimer salt also promoted the alignment of the nanofibers. These molecular hydrogels with ordered aggregates may be useful in applications such as cell culture and mechano-optical sensing.