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International audienceKeywords: Ion track grafting Radiografting Swift heavy ions Proton conductivity Polymer electrolyte membrane Proton exchange membrane fuel cell a b s t r a c t Proton conductive individual channels through a poly(vinyl di-fluoride) PVDF matrix have been designed using the ion track grafting technique. The styrene molecules were radiografted and further sulfonated leading to sulfonated polystyrene (PSSA) domains within PVDF. The grafting process all along the cylindrical ion tracks creates after functionalisation privileged paths perpendicular to the membrane plane for proton conduction from the anode to the cathode when used in fuel cells. Such ion track grafted PVDF-g-PSSA membranes have low gas permeation properties against H 2 and O 2. A degree of grafting (Y w) of 140% was chosen to ensure a perfect coverage of PSSA onto PVDF-g-PSSA surface minimizing interfacial ohmic losses with the active layers of the Membrane Electrolyte Assembly (MEA). A three-day fuel cell test has been performed feeding the cell with pure H 2 and O 2 , at the anode and cathode side respectively. Temperature has been progressively increased from 50 to 80 • C. Polarisation curves and Elec-trochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) at different current densities were used to evaluate the MEA performance. From these last measurements, it has been possible to determine the resistance of the MEA during the fuel cell tests and, thus the membrane conductivity. The proton conductivities of such membranes estimated during fuel cell tests range from 50 mS cm −1 to 80 mS cm −1 depending on the operating conditions. These values are close to that of perfluorosulfonated membrane such as Nafion ® in similar conditions

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These results demonstrate the potential of these functionalized nanoparticles for targeting tumor angiogenesis and their possible use as multifunctional platform for cancer treatment if coupled with therapeutic agents.

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International audienceAngiogenesis plays a critical role in both growth and metastasis of tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endogenous mediator of tumor angiogenesis. Blocking associations of the VEGF with its corresponding receptors (KDR) have become critical for anti-tumor therapy. Acyclo-peptide (CBO- P11), derived from VEGF, able to inhibit the interaction between the growth factor and its receptor, was synthesized in our laboratory to provide a target for angiogenesis. We have prepared biocompatible poly(vinylidenefluoride (PVDF) nanoparticles in order to obtain long blood circulating systems. Electron-beam (EB) irradiation was used to activate the PVDF nanoparticles. From electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements, we studied the radical stability in order to optimize the radio-grafting of acrylicacid (AA). Further functionalization of PVDF-g-PAA nanoparticles with the cyclo-peptide via a spacer arm was also possible by performing coupling reactions. High resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS NMR) and MALDI mass spectrometry allowed us to follow each chemical step of this peptide immobilization. We designed a new nanodevice suggesting a great potential for targeting angiogenesis

The tptz molecule is reduced by potassium into its anion-radical in the compound K(tptz)(2) (), whereas it is reductively coupled by SmI(2) and UI(3)(py)(4) into the bis-triazinide ligand in the dinuclear complexes [Sm(2)(tptz-tptz)(DMF)(8)][I](4).3.5DMF (.3.5DMF) and U(2)I(6)(tptz-tptz)(MeCN)(2).2MeCN (.2MeCN) where each metal ion occupies a pentadentate N(5) cavity of the [tptz-tptz](2-) ligand.

International audienceEconomic and easy methods to tune surface properties of polymers as Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) without altering bulk properties are of major interest for different applications as biotechnological devices, medical implant device. . . UV irradiation appears as one of the simplest, easy and safe method to modify surface properties. In the case of self-initiated grafting, it is generally assumed that the pretreatment of the PVDF surface with UV irradiation can yield alkyl and per-oxy radicals originating from breaking bonds and capable of initiating the subsequent surface grafting polymerizations. Surprisingly, the present work shows that it is possible to obtain polymer grafting using low energetic UV-A irradiation (3.1-3.9 eV) without breaking PVDF bonds. An EPR study has been performed in order to investigate the nature of involved species. The ability of the activated PVDF surface to graft different kinds of hydrophilic monomers using the initiated surface polymerization method has been tested and discussed on the basis of ATR FT-IR, XPS and NMR HRMAS results