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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado Mar 2022

Attempted Synthesis & Antibacterial Properties Of Apt-6k Against Ndm-1 K. Pneumoniae, Alec Bofetiado

Honors Theses

NDM-1 K. pneumoniae is a highly resistant bacterial organism that is capable of causing debilitating nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients. Only "last-resort" antibiotics--such as colistin--work against this organism. Therefore, new antibiotics are needed to help fight against these types of infections. APT-6K is a novel compound that was demonstrated to be effective against MRSA with nanomolar concentrations in a prior study. Novel methods of APT-6K synthesis and its testing for antibiotic effects against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae were attempted in this research. APT-6K synthesis was unsuccessful. Commercially-prepared APT-6K also did not demonstrate growth inhibition against NDM-1 K. pneumoniae nor against a …


Comparisons Of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Methods By Microwave And Non-Microwave Using Hydrogen Gas As A Reducing Agent, Sofia Erech Hanapin Apr 2021

Comparisons Of Silver Nanoparticle Synthesis Methods By Microwave And Non-Microwave Using Hydrogen Gas As A Reducing Agent, Sofia Erech Hanapin

Honors Theses

Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles are of current interest. This research project describes a simple and rapid synthesis of silver nanoparticles upon reduction of Silver (I) oxide (Ag2O) by molecular hydrogen (H2) at elevated temperature (70 – 100 °C) and a pressure of > 1 atmosphere by heating the aqueous mixture using a common kitchen microwave. This reaction generates naked silver colloids that contain no foreign stabilizers other than metal particles in aqueous media. Its application of an antibacterial effect was monitored by using biological cultures using the Kirby-Bauer Test.


Finding Optimal Opa-Iblc Derivatized Amino Acid Analysis Parameters With Three-Dimensional Fluorometric Scans For Hplc Method Validation, Aaron Jacobs Apr 2021

Finding Optimal Opa-Iblc Derivatized Amino Acid Analysis Parameters With Three-Dimensional Fluorometric Scans For Hplc Method Validation, Aaron Jacobs

Honors Theses

Three-dimensional fluorometric scans of OPA-IBLC derivatized glutamic acid and histidine solutions revealed that decreasing concentration maintained maximum λem but produced different maximum λex. In pH 0.4 M sodium borate buffer (pH 10.4), 50 μM derivatized amino acid solutions had maxima around 350- to 450-nm λex-λem where 12.5 μM solutions had maxima around 230- to 450-nm λex- λem. In the lower concentration, the λex peak at 230 nm was about 80% higher than 350 nm. Thus, collecting spectra with 230 nm λex would provide better LOD and LOQ. Results inform HPLC standard concentrations since differential quenching effects may produce non-linear calibration …


Thermodynamic Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimer Synthesis, Ryutaro Einar Jacobson Apr 2021

Thermodynamic Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimer Synthesis, Ryutaro Einar Jacobson

Honors Theses

The objective of this research was to determine kinetic and thermodynamic data about the reaction between ethylene diamine and methyl acrylate which is used in the production of PAMAM dendrimers. Establishing a rate law and finding values such as rate constant, activation energy, and Arrhenius coefficient will help in determining the best possible conditions for the reaction. A rate law was established through the method of initial rates, comparing the rates of reactions with different initial concentrations to one another. Additional reactions were run with active cooling to observe the effects on rate and reaction progress, and finally reactions were …


Assessing Amino Acid Racemization In Avian Eggshells Through Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography, Nikitha Nelapudi Apr 2020

Assessing Amino Acid Racemization In Avian Eggshells Through Reverse Phase Liquid Chromatography, Nikitha Nelapudi

Honors Theses

The extent of amino acid racemization (AAR) observed in organic material offers insight into geochronology. Within the scope of AAR research, Avian eggshells are reliable sources of data due to retention of indigenous amino acids through calcification. This project develops a robust quantification methodology for up to 9 D/L amino acids using reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) with precolumn derivatization. Reliable quantitation is established via statistical assessment of detectability and calibration curves. Progress has focused on obtaining adequate enantioseparation and reproducible data of single D/L amino acids.


Design Of A Novel Isoxazoline Class Drug For The Suppressive Treatment Of Malaria, Peyton Ware Apr 2020

Design Of A Novel Isoxazoline Class Drug For The Suppressive Treatment Of Malaria, Peyton Ware

Honors Theses

Design of a novel isoxazoline class drug for the suppressive treatment of erythrocytic malaria through the inhibition of Plasmodium Falciparum Gylceraldehyde-3-phosphate Dehydrogenase (PfGAPDH) gave rise to creation of a synthetic plan for the proposed target molecule α-amino- 3-bromo-4,5-dihydroisoxazol-5-yl propionic acid. A literature-based analysis of the moieties targeting the PfGADPH active site led to the design of the target molecule. Subsequently, an exploration of the literature yielded a possible bifold synthetic plan. Attempts at a model epoxidation reaction using mCPBA and further efforts towards the synthesis of a 3- bromoisoxazoline were shown to be successful using GCMS analysis.


Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan Apr 2020

Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan

Honors Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that originates from glial cells, which make up the supportive tissue surrounding neurons. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current chemotherapeutic drug administered to treat GBM as it works to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells. This research study focused on developing a method for synthesizing novel hybrid compounds that combines TMZ with various fatty acids known to have anticancer properties, forming a series of imide compounds with potential chemotherapeutic effects. Before synthesizing the compounds, various methods for synthesizing an imide from a primary amide were tested to ensure that TMZ …


Design And Synthesis Of A Novel Lsoxazoline As A Potential Pam-Agonist, Josselyn Roosenberg Apr 2019

Design And Synthesis Of A Novel Lsoxazoline As A Potential Pam-Agonist, Josselyn Roosenberg

Honors Theses

Progression of Alzheimer's disease is associated with a loss of Ml receptor activation in the brain. However, a lack of clinical success following attempts to activate the Ml receptor at the orthosteric site has contributed to a transition towards the allosteric pocket of the receptor. Here, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) interact to potentiate the acetylcholine response. Recent research proposes that optimization of PAM activity at the expense of intrinsic agonism may posit a means to limit adverse side effects. Therefore, this project proposes a design and synthesis of a novel isoxazoline as a potent PAM agent with weak intrinsic agonism.


Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Gergana Milkova Apr 2019

Analysis Of Dl-Amino Acid Ratios In Eggshells Using Reverse Phase-High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, Gergana Milkova

Honors Theses

HPLC methodology was developed to determine the concentrations and ratios of D to L amino acids in emu and ostrich eggshells treated with heat at different temperatures . We aimed to determine an internal standard and how ratios were affected under different conditions. An HPLC method was determined that gave consistent retention times and satisfactory enantioseparation . Calibration curves for each amino acid were developed from single and multi-amino acid containing dilution series producing a model that most closely replicates the eggshell-extracted amino acids.


Isolation And Characterization Of Novel Arginine-Derived Heterocyclic Amines, Nathaniel Srikureja Apr 2019

Isolation And Characterization Of Novel Arginine-Derived Heterocyclic Amines, Nathaniel Srikureja

Honors Theses

Most known heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are potent mutagens present at significant concentrations in cooked meats, and can be synthesized from burned mixtures of L-creatin(in)e with various amino acids. We hypothesize that novel mutagenic HCAs may be synthesized from a heated plant-based food simulating binary amino acid mL'\:ture: L-arginine and L-threonine. A two-part solid phase extraction was used to separate nitrogen heterocycles from byproducts followed by prep­ HPLC and the Ames mutagenicity assay using Salmonella TA98 to determine the mutagenicity of various isolates. The results indicate that this binary amino acid mixture does not yield a mutagenic sample.


Synthesis Of An Ideal Inhibitor For The Lpxc Enzyme, Taejun Lee Apr 2019

Synthesis Of An Ideal Inhibitor For The Lpxc Enzyme, Taejun Lee

Honors Theses

Due to the growing need of antibiotics in modern day medicine, this study attempts to apply a method of medicinal chemistry that would create a novel inhibitor for a lesser known target of gram negative bacteria, the LpxC enzyme. This study proposes that a synthetic plan which consists of combining components of different molecules would create a more effective inhibitor. These components include a binding group for the active site of the enzyme, a hydrophobic chain which has been shown to interact with an allosteric site on the LpxC enzyme, and the isoxazoline ring which interacts with the zinc ion. …


Evaluating Mutagenicity Of Burned Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines And Anti-Mutagenicity Effect Of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Rayford C. Alva Apr 2018

Evaluating Mutagenicity Of Burned Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines And Anti-Mutagenicity Effect Of Chinese Medicinal Herbs, Rayford C. Alva

Honors Theses

From the unexpected finding that cooked grains and meat substitutes elicit a mutagenic response in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, our work has been aimed at deconstructing this finding via a survey of heated binary amino acid combinations, involving arginine, a plant-based amino acid. secondly, our work has looked towards sing phytochemical extracts from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs to inhibit the mutagenic activity of heterocyclic amines (main culprit for mutagenicity in meat). Two fractions from the burned products of arginine and phenylalanine (RF-HCA-06 and -07) were statistically significant inducers of mutagenesis; Scutellaria barbata and Oldenlandia diffusa, both separately and together, were statistically …


Synthesis Of Oxygenated Boronic Acid Substituted A-Cyanostilbenes For Use As Antibacterial, Yewon Kim Apr 2018

Synthesis Of Oxygenated Boronic Acid Substituted A-Cyanostilbenes For Use As Antibacterial, Yewon Kim

Honors Theses

Stilbenes are naturally occurring compounds that have exhibited antibacterial activity, although the biological effect of various stilbenes differs for Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of bacteria. In prior research, cyanostilbenes have shown slight antibacterial activity (Brownlee, et al. 1943). This project aims to explore whether hybrid oxygenated a-cyanostilbenes possessing a boronic acid pharmacophore exhibits significant antibacterial activity (Das et al. 2013). The biological activity against Staphylocococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) was tested using the Kirby-Bauer text. No inhibition of E. coli growth was shown while S. aureus was partially inhibited.


Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim Dec 2017

Prep-Hplc Method Development To Isolate Potentially-Carcinogenic, Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Victoria S. Kim

Honors Theses

Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are carcinogenic molecules generated from the reaction of creatin(in)e and amino acids at high cooking temperatures in meat. Previous research has shown that replacing creatine with arginine leads to new, uncharacterized HCA molecules. This research entails implementing and optimizing the preparative HPLC analysis of extracts from multiple burnings of arginine with phenylalanine. Isolated fractions from the prep-HPLC analysis were further analyzed using the Ames test to identify mutagenic compounds. Prep-HPLC provides quality control to the burning process along with isolation of larger quantities of materials for further characterization and molecular structure identification.


Molecular Mass Of L-Arginine-Based Potentially Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines, Irene S. Hwang Apr 2017

Molecular Mass Of L-Arginine-Based Potentially Carcinogenic Heterocyclic Amines, Irene S. Hwang

Honors Theses

Investigation of cancer-inducing molecules in cooked foods has led to the discovery of mutagenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) in meat. The amino acids creatin(in)e and L-phenylalanine form the precursors for these HCAs. Recent research here at Andrews University have found similar mutagenic HCAs produced from plant-based proteins when L-arginine, rather than creatin(in)e, is substituted in high temperature reactions (simulated cooking) with L-phenylalanine. Our research focused on developing HPLC methods to isolate individual candidates that are then screened for mutagenicity via the Ames test. Mass spectroscopy methods were also developed to identfy the molecular structure of these lead mutagenic L-arginine-based HCAs.


Fluorescence Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimers, Ansel Nam Apr 2017

Fluorescence Analysis Of Pamam Dendrimers, Ansel Nam

Honors Theses

Despite their lack of conjugation, polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers are intrinsically fluorescent, and this fluorescent is somewhat manipulable through altering the dendrimer's solvent. This level of fluorescence is dependent on a number of the dendrimer's qualities: the pH of the solvent, the mass percent concentration of the dendrimer in solvent, and the generation size of the dendrimer. In past studies, fluorescent intensity increased as generation size increased and pH decreased. Thus, this research project will attempt to replicate those results as well as further analyze the efficiency of fluorescence of PAMAM dendrimer in comparison to fluorescein.


Synthesis, Isolation, And Characterization Of Potentially Carcinogenic Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Zachary Reichert Mar 2016

Synthesis, Isolation, And Characterization Of Potentially Carcinogenic Arginine-Based Heterocyclic Amines, Zachary Reichert

Honors Theses

Previous research demonstrates that meat cooked at high temperatures produces heterocyclic amines (HCAs)—a class of carcinogenic molecules—from burned creatin(in)e and amino acids. However, research performed in our lab, as well as in the peer-reviewed literature, suggests that substituting arginine for creatin(in)e may lead to HCA formation. Arginine is structurally similar to creatin(in)e and can be found abundantly in soy-based food products. Therefore, we have burned arginine and phenylalanine to investigate the potential formation of arginine-based HCAs. The present study attempts to isolate and characterize these potential arginine-HCAs.


Hydroxyl Number Determination Of Dendritic Polyols Utilizing Nir Spectroscopy, Seth Stacey Jan 2015

Hydroxyl Number Determination Of Dendritic Polyols Utilizing Nir Spectroscopy, Seth Stacey

Honors Theses

The goal of this project was to investigate the use of NIR-spectroscopy to quantify the number of OH functional groups attached to poly(amido amine) or PAMAM dendrimers in a manner that is quick, cost effective and easily reproducible. Obtaining the approximate number of hydroxyl functional groups (OH#) in a dendrimer is crucial in determining what role it can play in bonding and reactivity to other molecules. NIR-spectroscopy has the potential to allow for the recovery of the sample or at least to minimize the amount needed for analysis while providing an accurate determination of the OH# of a dendrimer.


Synthesis And Reactivity Of Alpha-Azido Acylals, Gretchen Bell Jan 2010

Synthesis And Reactivity Of Alpha-Azido Acylals, Gretchen Bell

Honors Theses

alpha-Azido -Azido acylals are a novel combination of azide (N3) and acylal [R-C(OOCR)2] functional groups. Since these compounds are new chemical entities, little is known in the chemical literature about their physical, chemical, and biological properties. This synthetic methodology investigation sought to (1) develop a one-pot, two reaction method for preparing alpha-azido acylals and (2) investigate the chemical reactivity of alpha-azido acylals with phosphine reagents. Progress has been made and will be discussed regarding both the synthesis and reactivity of alpha-azido acylals. This work developed methods and processes that will have significant impact in our broader objective of exploring the …


Fluoride As A Therapeutic Drug In Osteoporosis Treatment, Rita Priyadarshani Francis Jun 1987

Fluoride As A Therapeutic Drug In Osteoporosis Treatment, Rita Priyadarshani Francis

Honors Theses

The use of fluoride as a therapeutic drug is not a novel idea. Studies dealing with the effects of fluoride on the skeletal system date back to the late 1960's. This paper will define osteoporosis, examine methods of detection, and will discuss various methods of treatment with emphasis on the use of fluoride supplements in the form of tablets or fluorinated drinking water.