Biochemistry Commons^™

Nanoparticle Conjugated Photosensitizer For Targeted Photodynamic Inactivation Of Cancer Cells, Symone D. Crowder

Honors College Theses

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is considered to be a potential replacement for traditional methods of chemotherapy. It includes the administration of photosensitizing agents (PS), which generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) upon excitation at a specific wavelength. With new outlooks and techniques, cancer research is advancing each day. It has allowed the progress of several theranostic drug delivery systems (DDS) exploring the area of nanomedicine.2 In the present work, a Rhodamine derivative, Rhodamine 6G (R6G) was used as the PS. In general, rhodamine compounds undergo cytotoxic reactions on photoexcitation by electron transfer reactions with folic acid within cells, making them a favorable …

Synthesis Of Trifluoromethyl Ketones By (Diethylamino) Sulfur Trifluoride (Dast)-Mediated Nucleophilic Trifluoromethylation Of Benzoic Acids, Michael A. Vescio

Honors College Theses

Within the past few decades, the presence of fluorine containing

organic molecules has increased significantly. Many of the

current industrial production methods are not cost-effective,

practical, or inherently safe. This work describes a new methodology

for the synthesis of trifluoromethyl ketones. Our new method involves

the use of benzoic acid and trifluoromethyl trimethylsilane (TMSCF₃) as starting

materials along with diethylamino sulfur trifluoride (DAST) as a reagent

to obtain moderate to good yields of expected products in a short

reaction times.

The Use Of Silica Nanoparticles For Controlled Drug Delivery Of Nicotine, Jennifer C. Iwenofu

Honors College Theses

Drug molecules can be administered in different ways to the human body. Nanotechnology stands out over other alternatives by delivering drugs to specific locations and reducing reactivity time. In this research, the hydrogen bond between silica nanoparticles and the drug molecule, nicotine, were studied to controllably deliver nicotine by varying pH values.

Analysis Of The Light Responsive Azobenzene Peptide Nucleic Acid Duplexes, Kat Nguyen

Honors College Theses

Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are oligonucleotide analogues in which the sugar-phosphate backbone has been replaced by a pseudopeptide skeleton. Since PNAs use the natural nucleobases (Adenine, Thymine, Cytosine, Uracil, and Guanine) found in either DNA and/or RNA, they are able to hybridize according to Watson-Crick base-pairing to form duplexes. PNA is a promising therapeutic agent because they can function as antigene or antisense chemical agents. To further enhance their utility, we aim to incorporate a photoswitchable moiety using azobenzene. Here, we report the results of the synthesis and purification of a photoswitchable 11 mer PNA along with initial characterization efforts.

Physiological And Biochemical Thermal Stress Conditions Of The Ribbed Mussel, Geukensia Demissa, From Exposed And Less Exposed Areas In The Intertidal Salt Marsh On Tybee Island, Georgia., Jody E. Erber

Honors College Theses

Geukensia demissa, the ribbed mussel, is a keystone species of Georgia’s coastline that is at risk of experiencing detrimental thermal stress due to climate change. G. demissa interacts positively with a species of salt marsh cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora. Mussels form aggregates beneath salt marsh cordgrass stems where they are shaded and less exposed to sun rays. However, some mussels end up in areas which lack cordgrass and are directly exposed to sun rays. Body temperatures of mussels from exposed areas were found to be higher than mussels from less exposed areas. Thermal stress levels of mussels can be …

Structural And Functional Characterization Of Two Poly(Aspartic Acid) Hydrolases, Amanda Jansch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Due to the accumulation of polymers in the environment, biodegradable alternatives should be used in place of commonly used polymers like poly(carboxylates). Poly(carboxylates) are water-soluble polymers (WSPs) that make up a variety of consumer products, such as detergents, descaling agents, and superabsorbent materials commonly found in diapers and feminine hygiene products. While the visible accumulation of these products may not be obvious, it is necessary to reduce the amount entering the environment. Poly(aspartic acid) (PAA) is an alternative WSP that is biodegradable through the action of three different enzymes, PahZ1_KT-1, PahZ2_KT-1, and PahZ1_KP-2. Originally …

Development Of Novel Pyridazine Derivatives And Drug Delivery Systems Against Dengue, Janae A. Culmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The lack of approved vaccines, medications and treatment regimens has significantly contributed to the rapid spread of mosquito-borne viruses such as Dengue and Zika virus. The complex immunopathology of these viruses presents limitations for the development and implementation of a definitive, safe and effective approach to combat infections.Previous research has demonstrated that vector control strategies such as the elimination of larval habitats, larviciding with insecticides, the use of biological agents and the application of adulticides have been unsuccessful in the reduction of viral transmission leading to the need for the continued development of antivirals. This research proposes an approach for …

Biomimetic Synthesis Of Palladium Nanoparticles For Catalytic Application, Emily A. Groover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) using materials-directed peptides is a novel, nontoxic approach which exerts a high level of control over the particle size and shape. This biomimetic technique is environmentally benign, featuring nonhazardous ligands and ambient conditions. Nanoparticles are extremely reactive catalysts, boasting a large surface-to-volume ratio when compared to their bulk counterparts. The rational design of these nanoparticles using peptides has been very successful in aqueous environments, but no research has been done to apply it in organic systems. As such, the biomimetic synthesis of Pd NPs in an organic system is here investigated, with ethanol …

Synthesized Tripodal Amine As Potential Anti-Cancer Therapeutic, Abigail G. Mcnamee

Honors College Theses

Cancer remains a prevalent disease today. This disease may manifest itself in many different ways and affect a variety of tissues with everything from the brain to the blood. With this wide diversity of cancer types, treatment can be complicated since there is not a “one size fits all” treatment for the disease. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are all options that must be weighed with their benefits and side effects. Ultimately though, there are not enough effective treatment options available for every type of cancer. This leaves many with the grim prognosis of never being cured. With this clear need …

Investigating The Toxicology Of Intramuscular Injected Cnt-Ab In Mice Followed By Microwave Hyperthermia., Conner Clark

Honors College Theses

The advent of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has led to a wide range of research in various fields including cancer therapy for targeting specific localized and site-specific treatment. Carbon nanotubes bound to tumor specific antibodies (Ab) offers specific treatment for cancer cells without affecting surrounding tissue. This treatment makes use of infrared absorptive properties of nanotubes to incinerate both the nanotube and its associated tumor in vivo. We seek to affirm the initial results of CNT in cancer therapy by investigating the toxicological effect in mice injected with CNT-Ab followed by microwave hypothermia. After 1-week post-injection, mice were sacrificed followed …

Determination Of Optimal Mild Organic Solvents Of Pdnps For Carbon-Carbon Coupling Reactions, Trina Biswas

Honors College Theses

The synthesis of nanoparticles is an increasingly popular field of interest. The application of nanoparticles is especially popular in the field of nanocatalysts. Metal nanoparticles (NPs) are favorable for catalysis because of the large surface area to volume ratio, which allows them to catalyze a variety of reactions using lesser amounts of active material. As the field of nanoparticle research expands, efforts are being made to create more sustainable approaches to the synthesis of these particles. This research sought to translate the benefits of peptide-based synthesis to organic solvents and use less toxic organic solvents for carbon-carbon coupling reactions, like …

Wetland Biogeochemical Responses To Predicted Climate Change Scenarios, Angela R. Shaffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands are one of the world's largest known carbon sinks while comprising only a small amount of the Earth's surface. However, the amount of carbon sequestered by wetlands is shrinking as droughts and human disturbance increases. Carbon in wetlands is stored through the contrast of decomposition and sedimentation of organic matter and absorption of CO₂ from the atmosphere by soil microbes. Understanding how changing hydrological regimes and increased wildfires will affect wetland soil and microbial processes is important in the face of predicted climate change for future wetland conservation practices. Specifically, I seek to understand the response of southeastern …

Small Molecule Disruption Of Ros-Regulating Pathways In Human Carcinoma, Rebecca E. Mccall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gold (I) coordinated N-heterocyclic carbenes containing appended redox cycling moieties were designed and analyzed for their ability to target the antioxidant network via multiple mechanisms in various human cancer cell models. Complexes containing either ferrocene or naphthoquinone redox cycling moieties were screened for inhibition of cell growth, inhibition of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), and accentuation of exogenous ROS. The cell death pathway employed was determined by flow cytometry via detection of Annexin-V FITC. Furthermore, differential gene expression between treated cells and untreated cells revealed the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways.

Patterns Of Chemosensory Behavior In A Closed Population Of Wild African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana), Russell W. Blogg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Chemosensory behaviors are used by many mammalian species to assess chemical signals in the environment. These chemical signals may contain important information about reproductive state, identity, status, or location of conspecifics. Elephants are a long-lived species and males reproduce at a much later age than females, which provides a protracted developmental period for males. This study examined chemosensory behaviors in a population of African elephants living in Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa and demonstrated that patterns emerge as elephants develop and approach sexual maturity. Older pubescent males (15-19 year olds) performed more chemosensory behaviors than younger pubescent males (10-14 …