Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Ion-Imprinted Polymer-Based Sensors For Toxic Metal-Ion Detection In Water: Coordination Chemistry, Transduction Strategies, And Environmental Applications, Ghita Yammouri, Gymama Slaughter

Center for Bioelectronics Publications

Toxic metal contamination in aquatic environments remains a persistent threat to human health and ecosystems. Yet, the high cost, infrastructure demands, and centralized nature of conventional analytical methods constrain routine monitoring. Ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs), a subclass of molecularly imprinted polymers, have emerged as promising synthetic recognition materials for metal-ion sensing because they generate coordination-defined binding sites with high selectivity, chemical stability, low cost, and reusability. This review summarizes recent advances in Ion-imprinted polymer (IIP)-based sensing technologies for toxic metal-ion detection in water from 2016 to 2026. It examines the fundamental recognition chemistry of IIPs, major synthesis strategies used to generate …

External Validation Of A Knowledge-Based Clinical Toxicology Consultant For Diagnosing Single Exposures, Hugo Lerogeron, Joel D. Schipper, Jay L. Schauben, Laurent Guéguen, Valentine Lacotte, Kim An Nguyen

Publications

Introduction

Clinical prediction models assist healthcare providers in estimating disease likelihood using multiple patient-specific factors. While these models are increasingly used, few undergo the essential process of external validation, which limits their clinical utility. In toxicology, timely diagnosis is crucial and expertise scarce, making knowledge-based systems an excellent choice to support medical decision making. A knowledge-based system developed using data from the Florida Poison Information Center Network has shown promise but lacks external validation. This study aims to evaluate its performance using data from the Lyon Poison Information Center to assess its generalizability

Methods

To externally validate the Florida diagnostic …

Absolute Quantification And Identification Of Rna From Rna-Lipid Nanoparticles Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Jason C. Funderburk, Yasir A. Alshehry, Matthew S. Halquist Phd, Sandro R.P. Da Rocha Phd

Graduate Research Posters

Background

RNA therapeutics are a rising drug category with potential use for a range of conditions encompassing infectious diseases to therapies for cancer, diseases, and genetic disorders. RNA-lipid nanoparticles (RNA-LNPs) are the prominent delivery method for these therapeutics approved products include mRNA vaccines and polyneuropathy treatments. The emergency use authorizations and orphan drug status of current RNA-LNP drugs has allowed approval without finalization of the regulatory analytical procedures for quality monitoring. The objective of the study was to develop an LC-MS assay to simultaneously measure identity and concentration of two therapeutically relevant intact RNA constructs extracted from RNA-LNPs to enhance …

Harnessing Activated Sludge For The Treatment Of Hydrothermal Liquefaction Wastewater: A Proof-Of-Concept Study, Cyrus Li, Jiefu Wang, Meicen Liu, Yi Zheng, Sandeep Kumar, Isamu Umeda, Chandan Mahata, John Norton

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Although hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is the leading technology in converting wet biomass into bioenergy, the treatment of its toxic-laden aqueous phase wastewater presents a major challenge on its path toward commercial viability. This study presents the first-ever assessment of sewage sludge-fed HTL wastewater (SS-HTLWW) treatment and toxic compound removal using municipal activated sludge (AS) by optimizing its cultivation condition. It was found that AS with optimized pretreatment can remove up to 91.2% of the soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) in SS-HTLWW, of which up to 82% can be attributed to biological mineralization and adsorption of sCOD by AS. Conventional bioprocess …

A Hybrid Response Surface Methodology And Machine Learning Framework For Quantifying Effects Of Physicochemical Parameters On Pfas Distribution, Harsh V. Patel, Jazmin Green, Hyoshin Park, Stephanie Luster-Teasley Pass, Renzun Zhao

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Predicting PFAS adsorption across diverse adsorbents and environmental matrices remains challenging because adsorbent physicochemical properties, PFAS molecular descriptors, and operational conditions simultaneously influence adsorption. This study develops and evaluates a unified hybrid modeling framework that integrates Response Surface Model (RSM) with machine-learning algorithms to quantify how six key variables, surface area, Log K_ow, pH_pzc, pK_a, log dose, and log-initial concentration, affect PFAS distribution coefficients (Log K_d). A data set of more than 1000 adsorption observations spanning 15 PFAS compounds, multiple adsorbent types, and a broad operational range was compiled and preprocessed using …

Carbaryl Exposure Alters Gut Microbiome Composition Without Affecting Morphometrics In Eastern Purple Martin (Progne Subis Subis) Nestlings, Stephanie A. Gaspar

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Eastern purple martins (Progne subis subis) rely entirely on human-provided nesting structures throughout their breeding range in eastern North America. To control haematophagous mites that commonly infest these nests, many landlords apply the carbamate insecticide, carbaryl. Although effective at reducing ectoparasite populations, carbaryl exposure may have unintended effects on the gut microbiome, growth, and condition of developing birds. This study examined the effects of carbaryl exposure on gut microbial communities and morphometric condition in wild nestlings. Nests were experimentally treated with carbaryl, and nestling morphometrics and fecal microbiomes were compared between treated and untreated groups at 18 days …

Ex Vivo Sensitivity Assays With Molecular Validation To Guide Preclinical Drug Selection For Schwann Cell Tumors, Ethan W. Hass

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Schwann cells are the glial cell of the peripheral nervous system. They are dependent on receptor tyrosine kinase-mediated RAS signaling, cell matrix adhesion, and cell-cell contact to proliferate during nerve development and repair. These pathways become deregulated with loss of function of the merlin tumor suppressor encoded by NF2, leading to benign tumors called schwannomas. Patients with NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN) develop bilateral vestibular schwannomas that cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and death from brainstem compression if untreated. Severe NF2-SWN causes multiple spinal and peripheral schwannomas and neuropathic pain. Schwannomas require careful monitoring, trial and error use of repurposed anti-cancer …

Investigating The Impact Of Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms On Freshwater Bivalves, Destiny Devlin

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) threaten freshwater ecosystems by producing toxins that disrupt aquatic organism functions and pose risks to human health. This study investigated how exposure to toxin-producing cyanobacteria affects the behavior and toxin accumulation of Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) under controlled laboratory conditions. Asian clams were collected from a freshwater site in New Jersey, maintained in greenhouse bins, and fed either Microcystis novacekii (non-toxin-forming, control N=3) or Microcystis aeruginosa (toxin-forming, experimental N=3) at 100,000 cells/mL for 28 days. Weekly behavioral assays were conducted to track shell opening, burying, clustering, valve closure, foot extension, and time to first opening. Toxin …

Considerations For The Analysis Of Urinary Environmental Chemical Concentrations During Pregnancy, Danielle R. Stevens, Kaleigh Hinton, Katie M. O'Brien, Jessie P. Buckley, Barrett M. Welch, Jason A. Watts, Antonia M. Calafat, Julianne C. Botelho, Elena Sinkovskaya, Ann Przybylska, George Saade, Alfred Abuhamad, Kelly K. Ferguson

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Faculty Publications

Background:

Pregnancy physiology may impact indicators of hydration, affecting exposure assessment in gestational studies with urinary chemical biomarkers.

Methods:

We aimed to characterize hydration and demonstrate the impact of different methods for standardizing urinary chemical biomarker concentrations on exposure descriptives in the Human Placenta and Phthalates Study (n = 303, 2017-2020), a prospective pregnancy cohort with eight study visits between 12 and 38 weeks of gestation. We assessed trajectories and predictors of hydration using urine flow rate (UFR) and specific gravity (SG). Likewise, we examined trajectories and predictors of mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), for which concentrations were unstandardized or standardized via …

Pharmacogenetic Hslco1b1*14-Guided Dosing Of Methotrexate In Transgenic Arthritic Mice Normalizes Exposure And Response., Felicia Gooden, Brennan D. Meier, Griffin D. Shaffer, Kim Gibson, Paul Toren, Nieko C. Punt, Sandhya Subash, Dilip K. Singh, Bhagwat Prasad, Laura Ramsey, Zachary L. Taylor

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that negatively affects ~100,000 children under the age of 16 in the United States. About ~30% of these patients fail first-line drug therapy with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) due to poor tolerability or lack of efficacy. The SLCO1B1*14 allele is associated with increased MTX clearance and has been linked to reduced overall drug exposure and nonresponse to MTX in JIA patients. Herein, we describe transgenic hSLCO1B1*14 and hSLCO1B1*1 DBA1/J mSlco1b2 knock-out mice, which we used to assess arthritic response to MTX using the collagen-induced arthritis model. Mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis revealed that …

The Disruption Of Gastrointestinal Hormonal Control Of Digestion In Nile Tilapia By Omeprazole, Rema Abutaha

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Stomach acidity is a critical feature of the digestive system, facilitating the breakdown of protein through the activation of the protease pepsin. Gastric acid is secreted by H⁺/K⁺ ATPase, the gastric proton pump. A previous study on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) showed that inhibiting the production of stomach acid using the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole (omz), reduced growth that correlated with an acceleration of the rate of gastric emptying. This contrasts with omz exposure studies in mammals in which there is a delay in gastric emptying and no impact on growth. To understand the mechanism …

Absolute Quantification And Identification Of Rna From Rna-Lipid Nanoparticles Using High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Jason C. Funderburk

Theses and Dissertations

RNA therapeutics are a rising drug category with potential use for a range of conditions encompassing infectious diseases to therapies for cancer, diseases, and genetic disorders. RNA-lipid nanoparticles (RNA-LNPs) are the prominent delivery method for these therapeutics approved products include mRNA vaccines and polyneuropathy treatments. The emergency use authorizations and orphan drug status of current RNA-LNP drugs has allowed approval without finalization of the regulatory analytical procedures for quality monitoring. The objective of the study was to develop an LC-MS assay to simultaneously measure identity and concentration of two therapeutically relevant intact RNA constructs extracted from RNA-LNPs to enhance quality …

Vactosertib Antagonizes Abcg2-Mediated Multidrug Resistance, Zheshen Li

Theses and Dissertations

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major barrier to effective chemotherapy, largely driven by the overexpression of the ATP binding cassette transporter ABCG2, which actively extrudes anticancer drugs and reduces intracellular drug accumulation. In this study, we examined whether vactosertib, a potent ALK5 (TGF β type I receptor) inhibitor, could overcome ABCG2 mediated MDR and explored its underlying mechanisms. Using drug selected resistant cell lines (NCI H460/TPT10, S1 M1 80) and ABCG2 transfected HEK293 variants, we found that vactosertib at non-toxic concentrations markedly restored sensitivity to mitoxantrone and topotecan, achieving a reversal effect comparable to Ko 143. In a long-term 3D …

Thyroid Storm At Sea: A Case Report Of Algae-Induced Thyrotoxicosis, Alynna Knaub, Amanda Cecchini, John Janousek, Laura Strojny, Jairo Noreña, Zachary Pawlikowski

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis (IIT), also known as the Jod-Basedow phenomenon, is a rare yet recognized cause of hyperthyroidism. While iodinated contrast is the most frequent trigger, iodine-rich supplements such as seaweed products or supplements can also precipitate thyrotoxicosis, particularly in individuals with prior chronic iodine deficiency or preexisting thyroid nodular disease. We present a case of thyroid storm following short-term ingestion of Irish sea moss as part of a “crash diet.” A 37-year-old woman with type 1 diabetes mellitus, well controlled on subcutaneous insulin therapy, presented with nausea and vomiting after 6 days of following a restrictive diet consisting solely of …

Microplastics, Nanoplastics, And Obesity: Current Evidence And Biological Mechanisms, Maram Albandak, Sanam Rabeeah, Ahmad Mahdi Zahidi, David A. Johnson

Department of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity is a rapidly growing global health concern. The pathogenesis is complex and cannot be fully explained by lifestyle factors alone. The increasing attention towards this concern has finally been directed towards environmental contributors which may influence metabolic regulation. Microplastics and nano-plastics (MNPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that have recently been detected in food, drinking water, air, and human biological samples, raising concerns about their potential role in metabolic disorders, including obesity. Chronic exposure to MNPs may interfere with metabolic homeostasis through multiple biological pathways. Emerging evidence, including both experimental and animal studies, reports alterations in lipid metabolism, body weight, …

Matter Of Life And Disease: An Iucn Red List Assessment Of Disease-Related Threats Across Taxonomic Groups And Extinction-Risk Categories In The United States, Lindsey Powell, Jai Morton-Cox, Matthew Heard

Science University Research Symposium (SURS)

Infectious diseases can contribute to population declines and increased risk of extinction in animals across the world. However, its impacts vary between species depending on differences in their physiology, immune systems, and life-history strategies. One widely used resource to evaluate the threat of infectious diseases for animals is the IUCN Red List database. In this study, we utilized the IUCN Red List to determine how animal species that live in the United States are threatened by disease, with the aim of investigating patterns in disease-related threats across taxonomic groups and conservation categories. We hypothesized that disease becomes a greater risk …

Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (Pfos)-Induced Disruption Of Mitochondrial Activity And Cell Adhesion In Liver Cells, Phuong Dam Nam Tran

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent environmental pollutant associated with potential hepatoxic effects and other health risks. Despite its widespread distribution, the mechanisms underlying its toxicities remain to be fully understood. To investigate PFOS toxicology, my study utilized HepG2 and THLE-2 human hepatic cell models to replicate conditions reflecting PFOS accumulation in the liver. Cell viability, cell stress, and cell death assays were conducted to assess the toxicological influence of the chemical on both cell lines. Total RNA extraction was performed, followed by cDNA sequencing, and RT-qPCR. The XTT viability assay revealed a dose-dependent decrease in number of viable cells …

Comparative Bioassay-Guided Fractionation Of Citrus Species: Phytochemical Characterization And Nanoformulation Of A Polyphenol-Rich Leaf Fraction From Citrus Aurantifolia For Skin Anti-Aging Applications, Noha Swilam, Khaled Nematallah, Amgad Albohy, Noha Badawi, Sameh S. Gad, Maha M. Shouman, Saeed S. Al-Ghamdi, Nahla Ayoub

Pharmacy

Background: Skin aging is driven by oxidative stress and ultraviolet (UV) exposure, leading to extracellular matrix degradation and loss of skin elasticity. This study aimed to identify the most biologically active Citrus species using a bioassay-guided approach and evaluate its potential for dermal applications. Methods: Hydroalcohol extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of Citrus sinensis, Citrus aurantifolia, and Citrus reticulata leaves were screened for antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, and polyphenol content. The most active fraction was characterized by UPLC-PDA and LC–MS/MS, formulated into Span-based nanovesicles, and evaluated for physicochemical properties and drug release. Biological activity was assessed using an in vitro scratch wound-healing …