Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Electrochemical Investigation Of Anthraquinone Tagged Oligonucleotides And Electrodes, Adam N. Mullenix

Doctoral Dissertations

The DNA double helix is one of the most studied structures in modern science. These molecules provide the basic blueprint for all life as it is presently known to exist. Continuing studies of this structure, and the implications that come with them, currently yield a constantly growing base of knowledge for the study of drug interactions, specifics in the role of the sequence of bases in the DNA chain, and an understanding of the small structural abnormalities and the resulting benefits and problems in the human genome. The research presented herein attempts to examine such interactions using anthraquinone-based modifications for …

Ellipsometric Measurement Of Swelling Properties Associated With Ph Responsive Hydrogels In Solution, James F. Patton

Masters Theses

Previous investigations have demonstrated that aqueous solutions containing hydrogels using 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA) as one of the monomer components swell reversibly under variable conditions of pH, temperature, and ionic strength, based upon weight gain ratios. A more unique approach will be employed to measure swelling properties associated with pH responsive hydrogels in buffered solutions, namely ellipsometry. Traditionally ellipsometry has been used to measure thickness of materials on a nanoscale dimension under ambient conditions. Finally, more novel approaches of employing hydrogel swelling response properties will be investigated; including response to glucose and enzyme loading schemes. The goal of our project will …

Effect Of Nanoscale Confinement On The Structure And Properties Of Single Conjugated Polymer Molecules, Pradeep K. Koyadankizhakkedath

Doctoral Dissertations

The research presented in this thesis was motivated by questions on the effect of nanoscale confinement on molecular conformation and related photophysical properties of conjugated polymers. Using microdroplet techniques as a method of isolating single molecules of various poly[phenylene vinylenes] we discovered that poly[2-methoxy-5- (2’-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and poly[2-Methoxy-5-(2'- ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-(cyanovinylene)phenylene] (CN-PPV) can be deposited on precleaned glass substrates with unique transition moment orientation. Structural investigation using a combination of fluorescence emission pattern imaging, atomic force microscopy and polarization anisotropy measurements revealed that individual polymer nanostructures had a high degree of intra-molecular with the long axis of the conjugated segment oriented …

Compatibilizing Polymer Blends Using Reactive Telechelic Oligomers And Copolymers, Charles Paul O'Brien

Doctoral Dissertations

The compatbilization of polymer blends via reactive compatibilization and block copolymers was studied. The result presented in this thesis suggest that the process of reactive compatibiliaztion provides a mechanism by which blocky copolymeric compatibilizers can be formed during processing, as demonstrated by the changes in the mechanical and optical properties of the phase separated polymer blends. The results also show, however, that the presence of unreacted smaller oligomers can act as a plasticizer in the blend and can thus detrimentally affect the mechanical properties of the blend if any remains after processing. Careful control of the mixing conditions or post …

Structural Studies Of Superacidic Systems Using Neutron And High Energy X-Ray Diffraction, Syliva Ellen Mclain

Doctoral Dissertations

The structure of two superacids in the liquid phase, hydrogen fluoride and fluorosulfuric acid, have been determined by neutron and high energy X-ray diffraction in this study. In addition the structure of a molecular Lewis acid, BF₃, has been determined for the liquid state as well as the supercritical state. Experiments were also performed on solutions of the hydronium ion in fluorosulfuric acid by neutron and X-ray diffraction as well as by Raman spectroscopy.

In addition this thesis presents the design and construction of sample cells for neutron and X-ray scattering experiments and the design and construction of …

A Parametric Reactive Distillation Study: Economic Feasibility And Design Heuristics, Craig Alan Hoyme

Doctoral Dissertations

The integration of reaction and distillation into a single column is called reactive distillation or catalytic distillation. Reactive distillation provides many benefits such as reduced capital and operating costs, circumventing non-reactive azeotropes, and overcoming equilibrium limited reactions. Industry has been successful in applying reactive distillation; however the integration of reaction and distillation is not applicable for all reaction/separation systems and it is not always clear when reactive distillation is a feasible design alternative.

Heuristics or rules-of-thumb are an integral part of process systems engineering and are used to provide initial guidance and insight for the analysis of process feasibility and …

Synthetic Studies On Anticancer Compounds: The Tylophorinines, Conrad Gracjan Kaczmarek

Masters Theses

This thesis describes synthetic studies in the area of alkaloid chemistry, specifically, potent anticancer compounds: the tylophorinines.

Tylophorinine is a naturally occurring compound found in the Monarch butterfly and plants of the genus Tylophora. Described here is a concise methodology for stereoselective synthesis of this compound, and analogs, starting from simple, naturally occurring compounds. The synthetic strategy represents a simplification in synthesizing tylophorinines, and would allow numerous other tylophorinines with similar chemical structure to be conveniently synthesized in an analogous fashion.

Further, the tylophorinines are convenient compounds for determining where a cancer cell may be most effectively attacked. Numerous …

Studies Of Reversible Inhibition, Irreversible Inhibition And Activation Of Alkaline Phosphatase By Capillary Electrophoresis, Angela Randall Whisnant

Masters Theses

Reversible inhibition, irreversible inhibition, and activation of calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (EC 3.1.3.1) have been studied by capillary electrophoresis. The capillary electrophoretic enzyme-inhibitor assays were performed by electrophoretically mixing zones of inhibitor and enzyme in a substrate-filled capillary. Enzyme inhibition was indicated by a decrease in product formation detected in the capillary by laser-induced fluorescence. Reversible enzyme inhibitors could be quantified by Michaelis-Menten treatment of the electrophoretic data. Reversible, competitive inhibition of alkaline phosphatase by sodium vanadate and sodium arsenate has been examined. The calculated K_i value for the capillary electrophoretic enzyme-inhibitor assays was 2.1 µM for sodium vanadate …

Development Of Novel Substrates And Sampling Techniques For The Analysis Of Drugs And Model Environmental Pollutants Via Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Sers), Marco Antonio De Jesús

Doctoral Dissertations

Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) has shown promise for the analysis of environmental and pharmaceutically relevant compounds due to its tremendous enhancement of Raman signals and the large amount of structural information provided by the technique. Despite these advantages, SERS has not been established as a routine analytical tool due to limitations in the analytical figures of merit such as reproducibility and linear dynamic range. This is due in part to the fact that the continuous irradiation of the laser beam over the SERS substrate can promote the rapid decomposition of sample analytes which significantly broaden and diminish the intensities …