Thesis (Ph.D)--University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1994. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Peninsula Technikon, 1995. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-88). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--Central Connecticut State University, 1999. / Thesis advisor: James V. Arena, Ph. D. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Chemistry." Includes bibliographical references (leaf 48).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vii, 57 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-57).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1997. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Research in renewable energy has become a focal point as a solution to the energy crisis. One of renewable forms of energy is solar energy, with the main challenge in the development of the solar cells being the high cost. This has led to the exploration of the use of organic molecules to construct solar cells since it will lead to lowered costs of construction. The focus of this research is on the synthesis and characterisation of the polyaniline derivatives materials and zinc gallate for application in the construction of hybrid solar cells with [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an acceptor. The polyaniline (PANi) and doped polyaniline derivatives, polyaniline phenathrene sulfonic acid (PANi-PSA), poly[ortho-methyl aniline] phenanthrene sulfonc acid (POMA-PSA) poly[ortho-methyl aniline] anthracene sulfonc acid (POMA-ASA) were produced via chemical synthetic procedures. The zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) was also produced using a chemical method. The vibrational and electronic spectra of the polymers and zinc gallate were interrogated independently and dependently. Electronic transitions due to charge defects (polarons and bipolarons) were observed for the polymers that are doped. The PANi was the one with the lowest band gap of 2.4 eV with the POMA-ASA having the widest bandgap of 3.0 eV. The XRD and TEM analysis of the polymers revealed characteristics that show that the PANi has the highest level of crystallinity and the POMA-ASA displayed the least level of crystallinity. The electronic data, XRD, TEM data led to the conclusion that the conductivity of the polymers is decreasing in the following sequence, PANi > PANi-PSA > POMA-PSA > POMA-ASA. The photoluminescence of the polymers alone and with the nanoparticles was investigated in solution and on an ITO coated glass substrate. Photoluminescence was observed for the polymers due to relaxation of the exciton and also from the formation of excimers. The relaxation due to the exciton was observed at higher energy levels, while the one that is as a result of the excimer formation was seen at lower energy levels. Enhancement of the peak due to the excimer was observed when the compound is mixed with the nanoparticles in solution. When the analysis was done on the ITO coated glass substrate, it was found that zinc gallate does not lead to quenching of the emission of the polymers; hence it can not be used as an acceptor in this particular system. The electrochemical behaviour of the polyaniline derivatives was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Interaction of the polymers with the PCBM (acceptor) was investigated using UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. It was able to quench the photoluminescence of the polymers. Hence it was used as an acceptor in the construction of the photovoltaic cells. The polymers alone and with the nanoparticles were used in the formation of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells with PCBM as an acceptor. The photovoltaic behaviour was investigated and PANi was the one that displayed the highest efficiency.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / Glucose oxidase (GOx) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) are important enzymes for the development of amperometric enzyme linked immunosensors. The selectivity of each enzyme towards its analyte deepens its importance in determining the sensitivity of the resultant immunosensor. In designing immunosensors that have customized transducer surfaces, the incorporation with FAD and iron based enzymes ensures that electron kinetics remains optimal for electrochemical measurement. Various different immobilization strategies are used to produce response signals directly proportional to the concentration of analyte with minimal interferences. The combination of self-assembled monolayers and supramolecular chemistry affords stability and simplicity in immunosensor design. In this work, two electrochemical strategies for the detection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is presented. This involves the modification of a gold surface with a thiolated β- cyclodextrin epichlorohydrin polymer (βCDPSH) to form a supramolecular inclusion complex with ferrocene (Fc)-functionalised carboxymethyl cellulose polymer (CMC). Cyclic voltammetry indicated that ferrocene is in close proximity to the electrode surface due to the supramolecular complex formed with βCDPSH. Furthermore, strategy (a) for the detection of hCG used α-antihCG labelled (HRP) as reporter conjugate. Strategy (b) maintained the CMC bifunctionalised with Fc and recognition antibody for hCG hormone. However, the system was functionalised with a HRP enzyme and detection is done by using GOx reporter conjugates for in situ production of hydrogen peroxide. The reduction of H2O2 was used for the amperometric detection of hCG by applying a potential of 200 mV. The sensitivity and limit of detection of both strategies were calculated from calibration plots. For strategy (a) the LOD was found to be 3.7283 ng/mL corresponding to 33.56 mIU/mL and a sensitivity of 0.0914 nA ng-1 mL-1. The corresponding values for strategy (b) are 700 pg/mL (6.3 mIU/mL) and 0.94 nA ng-1 mL-1.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-08-20T17:10:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-03-20. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-20T17:25:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000844388.pdf: 2216610 bytes, checksum: b7dc50fc79fdd537eaddc4371293b716 (MD5) / No presente trabalho, a 3-cloropropil sílica gel (SG) foi preparada e organofuncionalizada com 4-amino-5-(4-piridil)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-tiol (APTT), o material obtido na funcionalização foi descrito como SGAPTT. O material obtido foi caracterizado por diferentes técnicas experimentais, tais como: espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de raios-X (EDX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Foi realizado a análise de área superficial e porosidade para o precursor SG e o produto SGAPTT. Após a caracterização estrutural e morfológica, foram realizados estudos de adsorção de íons metálicos (Cu 2+ ) para o SGAPTT em diferentes meios, tais como: água, etanol 42% e etanol 99% e em diferentes temperaturas, tais como: 25, 35 e 45°C. Determinou-se o tempo de equilíbrio de adsorção, onde para todos os meios estudados foi em média 40 minutos. Em seguida, determinou-se a capacidade de adsorção (N f max ) por intermédio de isotermas com diferentes concentrações molares de íons Cu 2+, os valores obtidos de N f max para o meio aquoso foram de 22,0×10 -5, 24,0×10 -5 e 28,0×10 -5 mol g -1 para as temperaturas de 25, 35 e 45°C, respectivamente. Para o meio etanólico 42% os valores de N f max foram de 31,4×10 -5, 39,4×10 -5 e 41,2×10 -5 e para o meio etanólico 99% os valores de (N f max ) foram de 47,17×10 -5, 50,3×10 -5 e 56,8×10 -5 mol g -1 nas temperaturas de 25, 35 e 45°C, respectivamente. Os valores de N f aumentaram de acordo com a seguinte ordem de solventes: água < etanol 42% < etanol 99%. O modelo de Langmuir foi o mais apropriado para descrever os dados de adsorção. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos ΔG, ΔH e ΔS foram avaliados para o material SGAPTT e observou-se que as capacidades de adsorção aumentaram com o aumento da temperatura, indicando um processo endotérmico. Os valores de (ΔG < 0) indicam que o processo de... / In the present work, 3-chloropropyl silica gel (SG) was prepared and organofunctionalized with 4-amino-5-(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (APTT), and the material obtained of the functionalization was described as SGAPTT. The material obtained was characterized by different experimental techniques such as spectroscopy in the infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Was performed to analyze the surface area and porosity for the precursor and the SG SGAPTT product. After the structural and morphological characterization of metal ion adsorption studies were performed (Cu 2+ ) to SGAPTT in different media, such as water, ethanol 42% and 99% ethanol at different temperatures, such as 25, 35 and 45 ° C. Determined the adsorption equilibrium time, where for all media studied was on average 40 minutes. Then, we determined the adsorption capacity (N f max ) through isotherms with different molar concentrations of Cu 2+ ions, the values obtained for the N f max aqueous solution was 22.0 × 10 -5, 24, 0 × 10 -5 and 28.0 x 10 -5 mol g -1 for the temperatures 25, 35 and 45 ° C respectively. For the 42% ethanolic medium N f max values were 31.4 × 10 -5, 39.4 × 10 -5 and 41.2 x 10 -5 mol g -1 and 99% ethanolic medium values N f max were 47.17 × 10 -5, 50.3 × 10 -5 and 56.8 x 10 -5 mol g -1 at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 ° C respectively. The N f values increased according to the following order of solvents: water <42% ethanol <99% ethanol. The Langmuir model was the most appropriate to describe the adsorption data. The thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH and ΔS were evaluated for SGAPTT material, and it was observed that the adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature, indicating an endothermic process. The values of (ΔG <0) indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous and positive values of entropy indicate that there is an increase ...

Orientador: Devaney Ribeiro do Carmo / Banca: Newton Luiz Dias Filho / Banca: Tatiana Martelli Mazzo / Resumo: No presente trabalho, a 3-cloropropil sílica gel (SG) foi preparada e organofuncionalizada com 4-amino-5-(4-piridil)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-tiol (APTT), o material obtido na funcionalização foi descrito como SGAPTT. O material obtido foi caracterizado por diferentes técnicas experimentais, tais como: espectroscopia na região do infravermelho (FTIR), espectroscopia de energia dispersiva de raios-X (EDX), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Foi realizado a análise de área superficial e porosidade para o precursor SG e o produto SGAPTT. Após a caracterização estrutural e morfológica, foram realizados estudos de adsorção de íons metálicos (Cu 2+ ) para o SGAPTT em diferentes meios, tais como: água, etanol 42% e etanol 99% e em diferentes temperaturas, tais como: 25, 35 e 45°C. Determinou-se o tempo de equilíbrio de adsorção, onde para todos os meios estudados foi em média 40 minutos. Em seguida, determinou-se a capacidade de adsorção (N f max ) por intermédio de isotermas com diferentes concentrações molares de íons Cu 2+, os valores obtidos de N f max para o meio aquoso foram de 22,0×10 -5, 24,0×10 -5 e 28,0×10 -5 mol g -1 para as temperaturas de 25, 35 e 45°C, respectivamente. Para o meio etanólico 42% os valores de N f max foram de 31,4×10 -5, 39,4×10 -5 e 41,2×10 -5 e para o meio etanólico 99% os valores de (N f max ) foram de 47,17×10 -5, 50,3×10 -5 e 56,8×10 -5 mol g -1 nas temperaturas de 25, 35 e 45°C, respectivamente. Os valores de N f aumentaram de acordo com a seguinte ordem de solventes: água < etanol 42% < etanol 99%. O modelo de Langmuir foi o mais apropriado para descrever os dados de adsorção. Os parâmetros termodinâmicos ΔG, ΔH e ΔS foram avaliados para o material SGAPTT e observou-se que as capacidades de adsorção aumentaram com o aumento da temperatura, indicando um processo endotérmico. Os valores de (ΔG < 0) indicam que o processo de... / Abstract: In the present work, 3-chloropropyl silica gel (SG) was prepared and organofunctionalized with 4-amino-5-(4-pyridyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiol (APTT), and the material obtained of the functionalization was described as SGAPTT. The material obtained was characterized by different experimental techniques such as spectroscopy in the infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Was performed to analyze the surface area and porosity for the precursor and the SG SGAPTT product. After the structural and morphological characterization of metal ion adsorption studies were performed (Cu 2+ ) to SGAPTT in different media, such as water, ethanol 42% and 99% ethanol at different temperatures, such as 25, 35 and 45 ° C. Determined the adsorption equilibrium time, where for all media studied was on average 40 minutes. Then, we determined the adsorption capacity (N f max ) through isotherms with different molar concentrations of Cu 2+ ions, the values obtained for the N f max aqueous solution was 22.0 × 10 -5, 24, 0 × 10 -5 and 28.0 x 10 -5 mol g -1 for the temperatures 25, 35 and 45 ° C respectively. For the 42% ethanolic medium N f max values were 31.4 × 10 -5, 39.4 × 10 -5 and 41.2 x 10 -5 mol g -1 and 99% ethanolic medium values N f max were 47.17 × 10 -5, 50.3 × 10 -5 and 56.8 x 10 -5 mol g -1 at temperatures of 25, 35 and 45 ° C respectively. The N f values increased according to the following order of solvents: water <42% ethanol <99% ethanol. The Langmuir model was the most appropriate to describe the adsorption data. The thermodynamic parameters ΔG, ΔH and ΔS were evaluated for SGAPTT material, and it was observed that the adsorption capacity increased with increasing temperature, indicating an endothermic process. The values of (ΔG <0) indicate that the adsorption process is spontaneous and positive values of entropy indicate that there is an increase ... / Mestre

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / HIV and AIDS are among the world's pandemics that pose serious concern to almost every individual in the world. With the current level of availability of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs and the ease of accessibility of treatment in many countries such as South Africa, the disease can be controlled by suppressing the viral load of an infected individual. These anti HIV drugs such as delavirdine are metabolised by enzymes which are found in the liver microsomes, particularly those of the cytochrome P450 family. Due to the fact that the metabolic rate of a patient determines the effect of the drug, the drug could either have a beneficial or an adverse effect once it is administered. It is therefore imperative that the metabolic profile of a patient is determined at point-of-care is necessary for proper dosing of the ARV drugs. In this project a nanobiosensor system was devised and used for the determination of the metabolism of delavirdine, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) ARV drug. The nanobiosensor was prepared by the entrapment of the isoenzyme CYP3A4 into a pre-formed electro active carrier matrice consisting of a dendrimeric copper generation-2 poly (propylene imine)-co-polypyrrole star copolymer (Cu(G2PPI)-co-PPy). The metallo-dendrimer was used as a host for the enzyme and provided thenecessary bio-compatible environment that allowed the direct transfer of electrons between the enzyme's active centres and platinum electrode surface. Copper was the choice of metal used in the study due to its properties. Copper is a malleable, ductile and a good conductor of both heat and electricity. It is a better conductor than most metals. Silver which also belongs to group 1b in the periodic table is a better electrical conductor than copper but copper has better corrosion resistance and is a more abundant and hence it is a cheaper material to use. Cu(G2PPI)-co-PPy was prepared by the incorporation of the copper metal into the G2PPI and the electropolymerization of pyrrole onto the Cu(G2PPI). The incorporation of Cu into G2PPI was determined by FTIR which did not show the presence of the Cu but showed an increase in the intensities of the peaks after the incorporation. The surface morphology of Cu (G2PPI) was confirmed by the use of HRSEM which showed a difference in the surface morphology of the dendrimer moiety with the addition of the copper metal. The HRSEM images after Cu incorporation resulted in the change from rough surface to smooth surface with open cavities which were essential for the entrapment of the biological systems (CYP3A4). Energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and HRTEM were used to confirm the presence of spherically shaped copper nanoparticles in the Cu (G2PPI) and were found to have a size distribution of 12-17 nm with an average particle size of 15nm. The star copolymer (Cu(G2PPI)-co-PPy) was characterised using cyclic voltammetrywhere it was confirmed that the material was electroactive and conducting due to electron movement along the polymer chain. A diffusion co-efficient (D₀) value of 8.64 x 10⁻⁵ cm²/s was determined for the material indicating a slow electron transfer kinetics within the diffusion layer. The constructed nanobiosensor was developed using copper poly (propylene imine) – polypyrrole star copolymer, bovine serum albumin and glutaraldehyde coupled to the enzyme CYP3A4. The resultant nanobiosensor parameters include a dynamic linear range (DLR) of 0.01-0.06 nM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.025 nM and a sensitivity value of0.379 μA/nM.