Chemistry Commons^™

Investigation Of Temperature Response Of Photopolymer Material Used For Holographic Sensor, Muhammad Irfan, Tatsiana Mikulchyk, Suzanne Martin, Izabela Naydenova

Conference Papers

Recently, functionalised photopolymer has emerged as a versatile recording material in the field of optical holography due to its novel characteristics and potential use in the development of holographic based sensors, and optical elements. This work describes the temperature response of a newly developed photopolymer, containing of a monomer Nisopropylacrylamide (NIPA) which under photopolymerisation forms a temperature sensitive polymer - Poly(Nisopropylacrylamide) (PNIPA). The photonic sensor was developed by holographic recording of volume phase transmission gratings in a self-processing NIPA-based polymer with a 532 nm laser beam. A 633 nm probe beam was used to monitor real time diffraction efficiency (DE) …

Monitoring And Evaluation Of Terni (Central Italy) Air Quality Through Spatially Resolved Analyses, Lorenzo Massimi, Martina Ristorini, Marta Eusebio, Darla Florendo, Adeola Adeyemo, David Brugnoli, Silvia Canepari

Conference Papers

A study of spatial variability of PM10 elemental components was conducted in Terni city (Central Italy), situated in an intramountain depression characterized by the presence of several particulate matter emission sources. The meteorological conditions of the Terni basin limit the dispersion and enhance the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants. Thanks to the utilization of new smart samplers, used for the first time and working in parallel at 23 sampling sites, spatially resolved data were obtained. Localizations of the samplers were chosen in order to evaluate the impact of different local PM10 sources. Chemical composition of the samples was determined in combination …

Overview Of The Recent Fda Process Validation Guidance For Medicinal Product Development And Manufacture, Nuala Calnan (Editor)

Conference Papers

This conference paper presents an overview of the recently published FDA Process Validation Guideline for the development and manufacture of medicinal drug products. It discusses the impacts of conducting life cycle based validation activities and highlights the future challenges in meeting the ongoing 'Continued Process Validation' (CPV) expectations of the regulator. It also presents the latest information on the EU draft Process Validation Guidance - due for publication in late 2013 / 2014.

Unlocking The Knowledge: The Key To Delivering The Compliance And Business Benefits Outlined In Ich Q10 For Medicinal Product Manufacture, Nuala Calnan (Editor)

Conference Papers

This paper presents the challenges of delivering a holistic approach to the Pharmaceutical Quality System (Q10) expectations for medicinal product manufacture. It reviews the key findings from the recent ‘Operational Excellence in the Pharmaceutical Industry’ St. Gallen Uni. benchmarking report and explores the theme of 'Knowledge as the Key'. It explores how can we utilise familiar OPEX, Lean/ Six Sigma tools to capture this knowledge and deliver the expectations and opportunities for ICH Q10 and discusses this researchers study in the area of knowledge management and operational excellence.
It also includes a review of both the Regulatory Drivers and recent …

Human Heuristics: Understanding The Impacts For Pharmaceutical Quality Risk Management, Nuala Calnan (Editor)

Conference Papers

This paper addresses the influence of human heuristics (Biases) on the assessment of risk. A core principle underpinning effective Risk Management is the principle that Risk Management explicitly addresses uncertainty i.e., that it explicitly takes account of uncertainty, the nature of that uncertainty, and how it can be addressed. Heuristics are cognitive behaviours which come into play when we make judgements in the presence of uncertainty. How these behaviours are manifested is still the subject of much research, but there is evidence in the literature that heuristics are a source of significant bias and errors in judgement. Awareness of the …

Benchmarking The Pharmaceutical Industry: A Briefing On An Irish Research Study, Nuala Calnan (Editor)

Conference Papers

This paper presents an Irish research study currently being undertaken by the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Science Team at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) into the impact of new pharmaceutical regulatory guidance on the development and manufacture of medicinal drug products.

It launches a Pharmaceutical Industry Benchmarking Questionnaire designed to assess the impact and level of implementation of the ICH Tripartite Quality Guidance Q8, Q9 and Q10.

Development Of A Novel Humidity Sensor Based On A Polymer Silver Nanoparticle Composite, Aoife Power, John Cassidy, Tony Betts

Conference Papers

Humidity sensing is of particular concern for many industrial applications. Humidity sensors have typically been based on a reversible interaction between a polymer and water vapour. There is work published on gas sensors based on polymer gold nanoparticle composites, where the conductivity of the composite decreases on interaction with the gas. This happens because the swelling of the polymer which increases the electron hopping distance between the gold nanoparticles. The device in this work is a poly vinyl alcohol silver nanoparticle composite cast on an interdigital electrode array. On application of a dc bias, a current develops which is proportional …

Folate-Cyclodextrin Conjugate For Targeted Chemotherapy, Zlata Tofzikovskaya, Orla L. Howe, Mary Mcnamara, Christine O'Connor

Conference Papers

A general disadvantage of chemotherapy is that the drugs cannot discriminate between fast-growing cancer cells and normal healthy cells which causes many side-effects such as hair loss. An ideal solution to current methods of chemotherapy would be the development of a carrier for an anticancer drug which would be able to transport the drug and therefore target only cancer cells and release the drug molecules inside the cells. In this work folic acid (FA) is attached to an aminoalkane derivative of b-cyclodextrin (CDEn) with a view to developing novel drug delivery systems for therapeutic purposes. Cytotoxisity of folate-conjugate (CDEnFA) is …

Localised Galvanic Corrosion Processes In Thermal Spray Coated/Cast Aluminium Alloy Systems, David Culliton, Tony Betts, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

Cast Aluminium Alloys, because of the propensity of aluminium to react with impurities and alloying elements, are prone to developing IM impurities during the solidification process. These IM phases can act, in some fluids, as initiation sites for localised corrosion processes, resulting in degradation phenomena, such as pitting. Whilst Thermal Spray coatings can improve the wear resistance of Cast Aluminium Alloys, their corrosion performance may be hampered by the presence of through porosity within the coating.

The present work details some preliminary studies of the localised corrosion processes occurring at the interface area between a Thermal Spray coating and a …

Targeted Drug Delivery Systems For Cancer Therapy, Antonio Clementi, Christine O'Connor, Mary Mcnamara, A. Mazzaglia, M. C. Aversa, A. Giuffrida

Conference Papers

The role of cyclodextrin’s (CD) in drug delivery has advanced in recent years and this may be attributed to its biocompatibility and well established synthesis. Chemical modification of CDs has shown to extend the physicochemical properties and the host capacity for a variety of drugs. β-CD has been widely used in the early stages of pharmaceutical applications because of its ready availability and its cavity size suitability for a wide range of drugs. Chemical modification of β-CD has proven to enhance aqueous solubilisation, microbiological stability and reduced toxicity in previous studies.1 Folate Receptors are over-expressed in several human cancers including …

Optimising Design Parameters Of Enzyme-Channelling Biosensors, Dana Mackey, Tony Killard

Conference Papers

Two mathematical models for an electrochemical biosensor are proposed and compared with a view to determining the ratio of two immobilized enzymes which maximizes the amperometric signal amplitude.

Enhancing Forensic Science Context-Based Laboratory Activities For Undergraduate Chemistry Students, Sarah Cresswell, John Fox, Claire M. Mcdonnell, Christine O'Connor, Cora O'Donnell, Michael K. Seery

Conference Papers

This paper discusses the development of student centred context-based practical activities for use in third level Forensic Science/ Chemical Analysis courses.

Continuous Improvement In E-Learning: Investigating The Effect And Impact Of Our Webct Chemistry Support Initiative (Csi) And Implications For Further Enhancement Of The Virtual Learning Environments (Vles) Developed, Christine O'Connor, Claire M. Mcdonnell, Michael K. Seery

Conference Papers

A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) was developed using WebCT software and was piloted in 2004 in the School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences in DIT by the authors. This was one of a number of measures introduced with the aim of supporting and retaining first year undergraduates on the Science ordinary degree programme and was designed as a Chemistry Support Initiative (CSI) for first year Chemistry learning and teaching (O’Connor, 2005). This work was supported through funding from the DIT Learning and Teaching Centre which allowed a summer research assistant to be taken on. Since the launch of the first …

Implications Of Mass Education On Chemistry Higher Education, Christine O'Connor

Conference Papers

The following paper discusses the implications of government policy on widening of participation at third level institutes. The increase in ‘non-traditional’ students has been widely recognised on an international scale; however some inequality issues still exist. The ‘struggles’ associated with widening of participation and creating a ‘new’ student type is discussed in particular reference to chemistry education. A change in mindset of staff on their pedagogical approach to cater for a diverse student body with a broad range of learner types is required. This must be supported from a departmental and institutional level. A look at the literature to investigate …

Promoting Learning Through Peer Group Work, Christine O'Connor, Renli Ma

Conference Papers

The session aimed to help the Summer School participants develop tasks and assessment strategies of peer group work in their own teaching.

Wearable Electrochemical Sensors For Monitoring Performance Athletes, Kevin J. Fraser, Vincenzo F. Curtin, Shirley Coyle, Benjamin Schazmann, Robert Byrne, Fernando Benito-Lopez, Roisin M. Owens, George C. Malliaras, Dermot Diamond

Conference Papers

Nowadays, wearable sensors such as heart rate monitors and pedometers are in common use. The use of wearable systems such as these for personalized exercise regimes for health and rehabilitation is particularly interesting. In particular, the true potential of wearable chemical sensors, which for the real-time ambulatory monitoring of bodily fluids such as tears, sweat, urine and blood has not been realized. Here we present a brief introduction into the fields of ionogels and organic electrochemical transistors, and in particular, the concept of an OECT transistor incorporated into a sticking-plaster, along with a printable “ionogel” to provide a wearable biosensor …