Abstract
This project joins researchers from different areas as Physics, Medicine, Odontology and Nutrition on the description of problems that needs multidisciplinary focus as the investigation of complex fluids and elastomers. Frontier knowledge will be obtained on the relationship of molecular and nanoparticle interactions which are directly related to the complex behavior of magnetic colloids, liquid crystals, elastomers and supramolecular assemblies of biologic and biochemical interest. The obtained results can provide the development of feed protocols and diagnostic methodologies of Arteriosclerosis and its relationship with Periodontitis and Diabetes. The team consists of researchers and collaborators with large experience on multidisciplinary work and joint publications. Several experimental techniques will be used covering linear and non-linear optics, x-ray diffraction and scattering and calorimetry. Our targets are self-assembly multicomponent systems on thermodynamic equilibrium as liquid crystals, magnetic colloids, micelles, protein-surfactant complexes and human lipoproteins and elastomers. In some cases, model systems on controlled conditions will be investigated in order to provide information on the intricate structure-function-dynamics relationship. The study of lipoproteins, on different in vivo conditions, may provide information on the oxidative processes and its implications on Atherosclerosis. The influence of pathologies like diabetes and periodontitis on the lipoproteins morphology and immune response will be investigated before and after specific interventions. The effect of omega-3 will be investigated on clinic trials in order to determine its influence on the health conditions of adults. The influence of periodontitis on the cardiovascular markers of patients with Diabetes Mellitus will be investigated. In addition, the benefits of the intake of biomass like green-banana by those patients will be evaluated and correlated to the characteristics of the lipoproteins. The research will be supported by nutritionist, who will determine the evolution of the lipid profile of each patient as well as the optic and structural properties of its lipoproteins will be determined before and after the intervention. Thermodynamic and structural characterization of amphiphilic systems and protein-surfactant complexes will be performed using calorimetry and spectroscopic techniques. An innovative approach is applied on these investigations and provides the basis for a quantitative description. Investigations on the interactions between lipids and small molecules will be performed. In this type of study it is necessary the determination of the binding affinity, absorption of the molecule on the lipid membrane as well as the induced structural changes on the overall structure. The study of proteins in directly in solution, which can be performed by x-ray scattering and light scattering, will permit the determination of structural parameters of the macromolecules close to native, in vivo, situation. The project proposes the investigation of physical, chemical and biological properties metallic nanoparticles with several sizes and shapes. The nanoparticles nucleation processes will be investigated and correlated to its general properties. One of our goals is to synthetize and characterizes new celluloid based materials with unique optical properties like the selective reflection of light. Those materials may have tunable photonic structure, either by the use of external electric field or temperature variation. Thermotropic liquid crystals molecules will be added to the celluloid based material in order to enhance structural and optical properties. New elastomeric materials will be synthetized based on PU/PBDO chains with and without the incorporation of magnetic nanoparticles. The mechanical and structural characteristics will be investigated with several experimental complementary techniques, in particular SAXS and DLS. (AU)
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