Digital Commons Network^™

Identification And Analysis Of Stereoselective Drug Interactions With Low Density Lipoprotein By High-Performance Affinity Chromatography, Matt Sobansky, David S. Hage

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Publications

Columns containing immobilized low density lipoprotein (LDL) were prepared for the analysis of drug interactions with this agent by high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC). R/SPropranolol was used as a model drug for this study. The LDL columns gave reproducible binding to propranolol over 60 h of continuous use in the presence of pH 7.4, 0.067 M potassium phosphate buffer. Experiments conducted with this type of column through frontal analysis indicated that two types of interactions were occurring between R-propranolol and LDL, while only a single type of interaction was observed between S-propranolol and LDL. The first type …

Using Photoactive Nanoparticles As Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapeutic (Pact) Agent To Treat Chronic Wounds, Chaitanya Poola

All Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study is to use photoactive vitamin nanoparticles as photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agent to treat patients with chronic wounds. Chronic wounds are considered as a pandemic health problem which affects millions of people and increases ~10 % annually. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the expense of treating chronic wounds constitutes over half of the total cost for all skin diseases. The main cause of chronic wounds is due to the existence of biofilms. Biofilms are complex microbial communities containing and are reported to be major factor contributing to multiple chronic inflammatory diseases. Owing to bacterial …

Detection Of Folate Receptor From Fr+ Cells, Gopikrishna Pinnaka

All Capstone Projects

Targeted drug delivery is a newer and less explored arena that has potential scope in tumor targeting because the regular chemotherapy has lethal effects on the normal cells also. Our present Work was an attempt to specifically target receptors on cancerous cells, especially the Folate Receptor (FR). Folate is important for cells for DNA synthesis and the tissues that rapidly divide require folate, cancer cells are no exceptions for this. To cope with the increased demand for the folate the cancer cells express greater FR on the cell surface. This very fact was our basis for the construction of our …

Folate Nanoparticle Conjugates, Safwat A. Masood

All Capstone Projects

The folate receptor is overexpressed on the surface of numerous cancer cell types including those of the breast, lung, kidney, ovary, and brain. Recent interest has exploded in the use of folate to deliver payloads and imaging agents to folate receptor positive cancer cells based on several positive clinical trials including phase III trials of EC-145, which is poised to become the first folate targeted, FDA approved drug. Given the success of EC-145 and numerous other agents in the pharmaceutical pipeline, there remains a great interest in the exploitation of this technology in the delivery of nanoscale agents to folate …

Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer (Pcet) With Bimetallic Systems, Maripaz A. Calderon ^, Dino Villagran *

COURI Symposium Abstracts, Spring 2012

Electron-transfer (ET) is one of the simplest chemical events, yet, it is a vital process for chemical reactivity. Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) is the concerted transfer of protons and electrons which is fundamental in chemical and biological systems and processes in electrochemistry, photosynthesis, and enzymatic activity. Similarly, mixed-valence (MV) systems are pervasive in nature and provide a platform for multiple electron transfers systems in nature. While both fields have been studied extensively, little work has been done on the intersection of the two. This project explores the elegant use of MV bimetallic systems through hydrogen bonded networks. A variety compounds …

Section Abstracts: Chemistry

Virginia Journal of Science

Abstracts of the Chemistry Section for the 90th Annual Meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science, May 23-25, 2012, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Virginia.

Photoisomerization And Relaxation Dynamics Of A Structurally Modified Biomimetic Photoswitch, Adam D. Dunkelberger, Ryan D. Kieda, Jae Yoon Shin, Riccardo Rossi Paccani, Stefania Fusi, Massimo Olivucci, F. Fleming Crim

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Recent experimental and theoretical studies on N-alkylated indanylidene pyrroline Schiff bases (NAIP) show that these compounds exhibit biomimetic photoisomerization analogous to that in the chromophore of rhodopsin. The NAIP compounds studied previously isomerize rapidly and often evolve coherently on the ground-electronic surface after reaction. We present the results of transient electronic absorption spectroscopy on dMe-OMe-NAIP, a newly synthesized NAIP analogue that differs from other NAIP compounds in the substituents on its pyrrolinium ring. Following excitation with 400 nm light, dMe-OMe-NAIP relaxes from the electronic-excited state in less than 500 fs, which is slower than in other analogues, and does not …

Optical And Electrochemical Sensors For The Detection Of Metal Ions And Nerve Gas Mimics Via Fluorescein And Coumarin Derivatives, Fasil Adefris Abebe

Dissertations

Trace element detection of metals, for example, iron, Copper and zinc, are important in biological systems and in the environment. Many of us are aware that our cells contain metal ions that are “tied” up in proteins. However, chelatable or “free” trace elements can also be found in small quantities, and can have a negative impact on our bodies. Despite the increasing surge in developing sensors for metals and nerve gas agents, efficient detection still remains a challenge. Among the various sensors developed so far, fluorescence sensors play an important role due to their simplicity. I design fluorescein-based chemosensors for …

Design Of In Vivo Assays For Study Of Transport, Biocompatibility And Toxicity Of Nanoparticles, Kerry Jean Lee

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This dissertation focuses on the design of new in vivo assays for study of transport, biocompatibility and toxicity of nanoparticles (NPs) in zebrafish embryos. We synthesized and purified spherical silver (Ag) NPs with diameters, ranging from 12 to 95 nm, that are stable (non-aggregated) in egg-water media. We developed new imaging approaches to characterize the sizes of single Ag NPs in zebrafish embryos at nanometer resolution by measuring their size-dependent plasmonic spectra and scattering intensity using dark-field optical microscopy and spectroscopy (DFOMS). We used single Ag NPs because they exhibit the high quantum yield (QY) of Rayleigh scattering and resist …

Optical And Electrochemical Properties Of Monolayer Protected Gold Clusters Modified With Fluorophores, Mary Sajini Devadas

Dissertations

My research focused on the synthesis, characterization and the investigation of the optical and electrochemical properties of monolayer-protected quantum-sized gold clusters. Significant research attention was focused on the solution phase optical and electrochemical properties of these clusters. Highly monodisperse Au clusters with different types of ligands were successfully synthesized with sizes varying from 1 nm to 13 nm. These preformed gold clusters were modified with fluorophores and pseudo-rotaxanes for developing better nonlinear optical materials for sensing and biological imaging purposes. We have tried to focus on the interaction of the outer ligand shell, made up of –S-Au-S-Au-S- bonds, with the …

Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer Is Unaffected By Modest Changes In Pressure, Benjamin Charles Webber, Christiane A. Carney, Mark Woods

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

ParaCEST (paramagnetic Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer) agents offer an unparalleled opportunity to perform quantitative molecular imaging by MRI. Agents that can alter the image contrast they generate in response to changes in local environmental parameters such as pH, glucose concentration or lactate concentration can be used ratiometrically to quantitatively describe the local tissue environment. However, when performing such quantitative measurements it is important that the results are not confounded by changes in a second environmental parameter. In vivo pressure varies quite considerably, both through the respiratory cycle and from tissue to tissue (tumors in particular have high interstitial pressures). Since …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Iron(Ii) Complexes Modeling The Active Site Structure Of Nonheme Iron Dioxygenases, Jacob Baus

Master's Theses (2009 -)

The aerobic degradation of polycyclic aromatic compounds, which are widespread contaminants in soils and groundwaters, is carried-out in large part by various Fe-containing dioxygenases that perform the cis-dihydroxylation and oxidative cleavage of aromatic rings. Recently, a new Fe dioxygenase family emerged that catalyzes a remarkable set of transformations; the distinguishing feature of these enzymes is that their monoiron(II) centers are coordinated by three histidines residues (i.e., imidazole ligands) in a facial geometry - a departure from the "canonical" 2-histidine-1-carboxylate facial triad that is dominant among nonheme monoiron enzymes. Members of the "3His family" are capable of oxidatively cleaving C-C bonds …

Synthesis And 1H-Nmr Characterization Of Amphiphilic Acrylate Block Copolymers To Investigate The Effect Of Chain Rigidity On Micelle Formation In Solution, David Arnold

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Amphiphilic block copolymers are composed of distinct segments exhibiting different chemical properties. In solution, block copolymers may self-assemble to form micelles when triggered by a change in the environment. The effect of chain rigidity can be investigated in better detail if the molecular weights are controlled, as the polymer’s ability to aggregate is also influenced by polymer size. Acrylate and methacrylate monomers were chosen for their similar chemical properties but their difference in reported glass transition temperature (T_g) ¹H-NMR methods were developed to measure molecular weight of poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(t-butyl acrylate) homopolymers to corroborate size-exclusion …

Hrc Enews — 2012 Spring, Megan M. Iudice

Publications (HRC)

This issue contains staff accomplishments and announcements, event listings, and a "new faces" listing for new staff, affiliates, and researchers.

Synthesis And Cellular Investigations Of The 131-Lysyl Derivative Of Chlorin E6, Stewart Wynn Humble

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Beyond Cell Penetrating Peptides: Designed Molecular Transporters, P. A. Wender, Christina B. Cooley, E. I. Geihe

Chemistry Faculty Research

Inspired originally by peptides that traverse biological barriers, research on molecular transporters has since identified the key structural requirements that govern cellular entry, leading to new, significantly more effective and more readily available agents. These new drug delivery systems enable or enhance cellular and tissue uptake, can be targeted and provide numerous additional advantages of significance in imaging, diagnostics and therapy.

Assignments Of Backbone 1h, 13c And 15n Resonances In H-Ras (1–166) Complexed With Gppnhp At Physiological Ph, Casey O'Connor, Evgenii L. Kovrigin

Chemistry Faculty Research and Publications

The small GTPase Ras is an important signaling molecule acting as a molecular switch in eukaryotic cells. Recent findings of global conformational exchange and a putative allosteric binding site in the G domain of Ras opened an avenue to understanding novel aspects of Ras function. To facilitate detailed NMR studies of Ras in physiological solution conditions, we performed backbone resonance assignments of Ras bound to slowly hydrolysable GTP mimic, guanosine 5′-[ß, γ-imido]triphosphate at pH 7.2. Out of 163 non-proline residues of the G domain, signals from backbone amide proton, nitrogen and carbon spins of 127 residues were confidently assigned with …

Strawberry Growth, Yield, Fruit Nutrition, And Control Of Verticillium Wilt With Pre-Plant Soil Fumigants, Ozone, And Biological Control, Justin J. Scurich

Master's Theses

Verticillium wilt is a widespread soilborne disease of strawberry historically controlled by soil fumigation with methyl bromide (MB). MB was banned by the United Nations in 1995 and will be completely phased out by 2015. Research has concentrated on alternative methods of disease control without finding a single alternative able to replace MB in widespread disease control and yield increase. For the current study, strawberries were greenhouse grown in container pots filled with soil from both infested and non-infested areas of a commercial strawberry field in Watsonville, CA. Treatments included pre-plant soil fumigation with commercially available formulations of methyl bromide, …

Interaction Between Humic Acid And Dna, Sree Divya Bikki

All Student Theses and Dissertations

Humic acid (HA) are widely dispersed, naturally occurring biopolymers most commonly found in soil, drinking water, and plants. Humic acid is soluble in alkali and insoluble in an acidic medium or water. In the present study the interaction of Humic acid with DNA is determined by the calculation of the binding constant of humic acid with CT-DNA and the quenching phenomenon of humic acid in the presence of DNA is also studied using Stern Volmer Relationship.

The Influence Of Aliphatic Side Chain Of Anacardic Acid On Molecular Recognition Properties Of Imprinted Polymers, Jyn Philip, J Buchweishaija, Ll Mkayula, L Ye

Tanzania Journal of Science

The objective of this work was to determine the influence of the aliphatic side chain of anacardic acid on molecular recognition properties of imprinted polymers made from anacardanyl methacrylate (AnMcr). Salicylic methacrylate (SaMcr), a structural analog of AnMcr, was synthesized and used as a functional monomer to prepare imprinted polymers for comparison with AnMcr-based polymers. Using divinylbenzene (DVB) as a cross linker and racemic propranolol as a model template, irregular monolithic particles of poly(SaMcr-co-DVB)m were synthesized in toluene, and spherical beads of poly(SaMcr-co-DVB)b and poly(AnMcr-co-DVB)b weresynthesized in acetonitrile by precipitation polymerization. Although imprinted irregular monolithic particles, poly(SaMcr-co-DVB)m, tested in toluene …

Improving Propagation Success Of Dalbegia Melanoxylon (African Blackwood) In Tanzania (I): Characterization Of Mycorrhizal Associated With D. Melanoxylon (African Blackwood) In Tanzania, Wba Washa, Ams Nyomora, Hvm Lyaruu

Tanzania Journal of Science

Dalbergia melanoxylon is a plant with valuable wood in the world and therefore is over harvested for timber while its regeneration is very low. The propagation efforts by techniques such as tissue culture or mycorrhiza have not been investigated which instigated conduction of this study. Soil and cuttings were collected from Kilwa, Kilosa and Babati for rooting test, potting media and soil characterization. The results showed that fresh soil improved rooting characteristics while sterilized soil did not due to the presence of mycorrhiza in fresh soil compared to none in sterilized media. The overall rooting in fresh soil in non-mist …

Synthesis Of Organoamine-Silica Hybrids Using Cashew Nut Shell Liquid Components As Templates For The Catalysis Of A Model Henry Reaction, Sc Msigala, Jeg Mdoe

Tanzania Journal of Science

Organoamine-silica hybrids were prepared by a co-condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and different aminoalkoxysilanes, namely, 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, N-(3(trimethoxysilyl)propyl)-ethylenediamine and 3[2(2-amino)ethylamino]propyl trimethoxysilane, at different ratios using cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) components as templates. Of the major components of CNSL tested, only cardanol was found to be efficient as a template as it yielded 66% of the hybrid. The prepared materials were characterized by diffuse reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy and acid titration. Results indicated that indeed the organoamine groups were attached onto the silica surface, with a maximum loading of 2.9 mmol organic group per g silica. The materials …

Oxidative Stress In Hpv-Driven Viral Carcinogenesis: Redox Proteomics Analysis Of Hpv-16 Dysplastic And Neoplastic Tissues, Federico De Marco, Elona Bucaj, Cesira Foppoli, Ada Fiorini, Carla Blarzino, Kozeta Filipi, Alessandra Giorgi, Maria Eugenia Schininà, Fabio Di Domenico, Raffaella Coccia, D. Allan Butterfield, Marzia Perluigi

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Genital infection by high risk Human Papillomavirus (HR-HPV), although recognized as the main etio-pathogenetic factor of cervical cancer, is not per se sufficient to induce tumour development. Oxidative stress (OS) represents an interesting and under-explored candidate as a promoting factor in HPV-initiated carcinogenesis. To gain insight into the role of OS in cervical cancer, HPV-16 positive tissues were collected from patients with invasive squamous cervical carcinoma, from patients with High Grade dysplastic HPV lesions and from patients with no clinical evidence of HPV lesions. After virological characterization, modulation of proteins involved in the redox status regulation was investigated. ERp57 and …

Importance Of Aerosol Composition, Mixing State And Morphology For Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation: A Combined Field And Laboratory Approach, Kelly J. Baustian, Daniel J. Cziczo, Matthew E. Wise, Kerri A. Pratt, Gourihar Kulkarni, A. Gannet Hallar, Margaret A. Tolbert

CUP Faculty Research

In this study chemical compositions of background aerosol and ice nuclei were examined through laboratory investigations using Raman spectroscopy and field measurements by single-particle mass spectrometry. Aerosol sampling took place at Storm Peak Laboratory in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (elevation of 3210 m). A cascade impactor was used to collect coarse-mode aerosol particles for laboratory analysis by Raman spectroscopy; the composition, mixing state, and heterogeneous ice nucleation activity of individual particles were examined. For in situ analysis of fine-mode aerosol, ice nucleation on ambient particles was observed using a compact ice nucleation chamber. Ice crystals were separated from unactivated aerosol using …

Polystyrenesulfonate-Catalyzed Synthesis Of Novel Pyrroles Through Paal-Knorr Reaction, Mandira Banik, Bianca Ramirez, Ashwini Reddy, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Bimal K. Banik

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Background: The classical Paal-Knorr reaction is one of the simplest and most economical methods for the synthesis of biologically important and pharmacologically useful pyrrole derivatives.

Results: Polystyrenesulfonate-catalyzed simple synthesis of substituted pyrroles following Paal-Knorr reaction has been accomplished with an excellent yield in aqueous solution. This method also produces pyrroles with multicyclic polyaromatic amines.

Conclusions: The present procedure for the synthesis of N-polyaromatic substituted pyrroles will find application in the synthesis of potent biologically active molecules.

Correction To Fully Enclosed Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices, Kevin M. Schilling, Anna L. Lepore, Jason A. Kurian, Andres W. Martinez

Chemistry and Biochemistry

There is an error in the units of the concentrations of potassium iodide and trehalose described in the experimental details on page 1581. The correct concentrations are 0.6 M potassium iodide and 0.3 M trehalose.

Chemical Mechanism Of Udp-Galactopyranose Mutase From Trypanosoma Cruzi: A Potential Drug Target Against Chagas' Disease, Michelle Oppenheimer, Ana Lisa Valenciano, Karina Kizjakina, Jun Qi, Pablo Sobrado

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the conversion of UDP-galactopyranose to UDP-galactofuranose, the precursor of galactofuranose (Galf). Galf is found in several pathogenic organisms, including the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas' disease. Galf) is important for virulence and is not present in humans, making its biosynthetic pathway an attractive target for the development of new drugs against T. cruzi. Although UGMs catalyze a non-redox reaction, the flavin must be in the reduced state for activity and the exact role of the flavin in this reaction is controversial. The kinetic and chemical mechanism of TcUGM was …

Design And Construction Of Functional Metal-Metalloporphyrin Frameworks, Le Meng

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Porous metal-organic frameworks are a new type of functional materials with potential applications for gas storage, gas separation, catalysis, biomedical and chemical sensors. This thesis describes several porous metal-metalloporphyrin frameworks (MMPFs), which were synthesized with a series of transition metals and 5,15-bis(3,5-dicarboxyphenyl)-10,20-bis(2,6-dibromophenyl)porphine. Among these MMPFs, the cobalt MMPF (CoBrPTC) has a fcu structure, which represents the first porphyrin-based MOF with this topology. CoBrPTC was evaluated as heterogeneous catalyst and demonstrated interesting catalytic performances.

Crystal Structures And Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering Analysis Of Udp-Galactopyranose Mutase From The Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus Fumigatus, Richa Dhatwalia, Harkewal Singh, Michelle Oppenheimer, Dale B. Karr, Jay C. Nix, Pablo Sobrado, John J. Tanner

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) is a flavoenzyme that catalyzes the conversion of UDP-galactopyranose to UDP-galactofuranose, which is a central reaction in galactofuranose biosynthesis. Galactofuranose has never been found in humans but is an essential building block of the cell wall and extracellular matrix of many bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. The importance of UGM for the viability of many pathogens and its absence in humans make UGMa potential drug target. Here we report the first crystal structures and small-angle x-ray scattering data for UGM from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, the causative agent of aspergillosis. The structures reveal that Aspergillus UGM has several …

Structural Basis For Ca 2+-Induced Activation And Dimerization Of Estrogen Receptor Alpha By Calmodulin, Yonghong Zhang, Zhigang Li, David B. Sacks, James B. Ames

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

The estrogen receptor α (ER-α) regulates expression of target genes implicated in development, metabolism, and breast cancer. Calcium-dependent regulation of ER-α is critical for activating gene expression and is controlled by calmodulin (CaM). Here, we present the NMR structures for the two lobes of CaM each bound to a localized region of ER-α (residues 287–305). A model of the complete CaM·ER-α complex was constructed by combining these two structures with additional data. The two lobes of CaM both compete for binding at the same site on ER-α (residues 292, 296, 299, 302, and 303), which explains why full-length CaM binds …