Chemicals and Drugs Commons^™

Why Your Clothes Could Be Killing You: The Detection Of Bpa In Clothing Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Bella Bevel

Scholars Day Conference

Bisphenol-A, better known as BPA, is a carcinogenic compound found in many plastic-containing products due to its ability to add rigidity and strength to the plastic. However, BPA has been found in a wide variety of products not traditionally thought of as “plastic” including feminine hygiene products, printer receipts, and even clothing. Clothing containing a polyester/spandex blend, common in athletic wear, contains BPA, whereas traditional cotton clothing does not. Using flourospectroscopy, the presence of BPA in these types of clothing was confirmed, as well as measured over time. Strips of clothing containing polyester and spandex blends were submerged in a …

The Mental Health And Developmental Effects Of Bisphenol-A, Maryann Rettig

Scholars Day Conference

My directed study focuses on the mental health and developmental effects of bisphenol-A (BPA) on individuals in close contact with the chemical product. BPA is an organic chemical produced in large quantities that is used in the production of many polycarbonate plastics, feminine hygiene products, and epoxy resins that coat some metal food cans. Because of it being everywhere, BPA often leaches dermally and orally into the human body. The physical effects of BPA have been known and observed for years. However, its mental health effects specifically are not as commonly known. Therefore, in my directed study I would be …

Monitoring The Leaching Of Bisphenol-A From Feminine Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Madison Easley

Honors Theses

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a compound commonly used as a stabilizer in plastic products, including food storage containers and thermal paper receipts. Because BPA can bind to and activate estrogen receptors, it is linked to reduced fertility, altered development, and hormone-related cancers. A recent study at NYU Medical School confirmed the presence of BPA in pantyliners, pads, tampons, feminine washes and deodorants. This is concerning due to the high absorption capacity of the vulvar skin.

For the research performed in our lab this summer, the goal was to determine if fluorescence spectrophotometry could be used to determine the presence of BPA …

Zntppea As A Potential Photosensitizer In Photodynamic Therapy, Marly Welborn, Joseph E. Bradshaw

Scholars Day Conference

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging treatment that is used against certain types of cancer and other diseases. It functions using a photosensitizer in the presence of light that contributes to cell death in the desired tissues. This research centered on the development of a novel water-soluble porphyrin that could be utilized as a photosensitizer. Using ethanolamine the resulting compound, ZnTPP-EA, was created. Purification and characterization was carried out. The ZnTPP-EA was tested on the A549 lung cancer cell line using an MTT assay under light and dark conditions to assess the compound's effectiveness as a photosensitizer for PDT.

Effects Of Storage Conditions On Bpa Leanching From Infant Oral Hygiene Products Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Emma Bynum, Sara Hubbard

Scholars Day Conference

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a structural component in many plastic products, which acts as an endocrine-disruptor mimicking estrogen. This hormonal disruption has been linked to obesity, reproductive issues, cardiovascular problems, and neurodevelopment disorders. Infants are at the highest risk of BPA exposure compared to any other stage of life. Because an infant's endocrine system is developing, exposure to an endocrine-disruptor, such as BPA, can be especially harmful. While the FDA monitors products like baby bottles, canned goods, and plastic containers for BPA, infant oral hygiene products are not closely monitored.

Previous research in our lab used fluorescence spectroscopy to test several …

A Brief Discussion Of Gasdermin D'S Function In Multiple Sclerosis, Amie Brint

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that particularly affects the nerves of the central nervous system (CNS). MS results in the degradation of the myelin sheath surrounding the axon, which is crucial for effective transmission of nerve signals. MS can be detected using lumbar punctures to look for elevated oligoclonal levels and using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The MRI can screen for plaques in the CNS, indicating the severity and probability of progression of the disease. Plaques are regions of nerves where the myelin has been removed from the nerves, preventing them from conducting the electrical signals necessary for …

Combination Chemo-Pdt Ionic Nanomedicines As Enhanced Therapeutics For Cancer, Samantha Macchi

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Cancer remains as one of the leading causes of death in humans worldwide. Nanotechnology has made great strides in improving treatment for the disease. This work describes a simplistic approach to design self-assembled combination nanomedicines. A facile one-step ion exchange reaction is utilized to combine a chemotherapeutic (phosphonium) cation and photodynamic therapeutic (porphyrin) anion. An aqueous nanomedicine is prepared from the hydrophobic ionic combination drug via a single-step reprecipitation method. Upon conversion to ionic combination drug, improved photophysical properties of porphyrin were observed. These characteristics subsequently led to increased photodynamic therapeutic activity of nanomedicines—explained by greater singlet oxygen quantum yield. …

Defying The Darkness: Countering Cancer With Light, Travis Hankins

Honors Theses

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) accounts for upwards of 15% of reported breast cancer cases. This subtype of breast cancer poses a greater threat to those diagnosed as compared to other types of breast cancer due to the lack of treatment options available. Additionally, TNBC grows and spreads faster, tends to be more aggressive, and has a greater chance of recurrence than its counterparts. Altogether, TNBC cases generally have a worse prognosis over other types of breast cancer. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is currently being researched as a way to treat TNBC. Photodynamic therapy agents are light-activated materials used for localized disease …

Lowering The Cost And Raising The Efficiency Of A Cure To Chagas Disease, Madeleine Peters

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Chagas disease, classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD), is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is an underfunded and under researched disease. The only FDA-approved drug in the United States is benznidazole which is expensive, harmful, and only effective in the illness’ acute phase. The goal is to create a more effective, lower costing and less harmful drug by using a condensation reaction to substitute different amines to diethyl squarate (DES) to make cycloalkylsquaramides. Both DES and the amines used are relatively low in price with a simple, efficient, and high yielding synthesis. Low synthetic cost and ability …

Synthesis Of N-Benzoyl-2-Hydroxybenzamides As Agents Utilized In Treatment Of Malaria, Brittany Krug, Gregory Naumeic

Arkansas Women in STEM Conference

Malaria is a disease that disproportionately affects several third world countries. It is a life-threatening illness that is transmitted by mosquitoes that act as vesicles for parasites. The parasites cause a febrile illness in those that are not immune. Children under five are most susceptible to the disease which can lead to multi-organ failure and death. The disease is preventable and curable, but according to the world health organization, countries disproportionately affected cannot afford these preventative care measures or have developed resistance to treatments. Therefore it would be advantageous to develop a new treatment for malaria that focuses on cost …

Determining The Presence Of Bpa In Vaping Mouthpieces, Jessica Cook-Snelgrove

Honors Theses

As more and more teenagers and young adults begin to vape, whether it be to quit smoking or to look cool, there is a potential for them to be exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA) through the plastic mouthpieces on the vapes. BPA is a molecule that is added in many plastics to make the plastic harder (Houlihan, Lunder, & Jacob, 2008). Unfortunately, BPA is structurally similar to estrogen as can be seen in Figure 1. The closeness of the structures can cause issues in humans such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and reproductive problems (Houlihan, Lunder, & Jacob, 2008). In recent years, …

Jwh-018 And Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors: Drug-Drug Interactions And Implications On Toxicity, Christopher O. Godwin

Honors Theses

Drug abuse has expanded from more well-known substances, such as cocaine and marijuana, to relatively new novel psychoactive substances. A group of these substances called synthetic cannabinoids have been increasing in usage throughout the 2000's, and these compounds carry significant and varying risks depending on the dose and composition of the synthetic cannabinoid. Patients have been observed having symptoms associated with high doses of synthetic cannabinoids when they take lower doses of the synthetic cannabinoid in addition to their antidepressant medication. In order to test the effects of co-administration of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRis) and synthetic cannabinoids, mice were …

Thrilling Monotony: A Summer Of Alzheimer's Research, Baronger Dowell Bieger

Honors Theses

The primary genetic risk determinant for late-onset Alzheimer's disease is the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). Variations in this gene produce three different isoforms of the apolipoprotein E protein (ApoE): ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4. ApoE# is the most common isoform, so rates of LOAD among other genotypes are indexed to this variant. ApoE2 is rather rare, but its carriers are less likely to get LOAD; when they do, they get it later. The second most common variant is ApoE4, and its carriers are significantly more likely to get LOAD. They also tend to succumb earlier. Once developed, LOAD is characterized by …

The Effect Of Cannabinoids On Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells, Haley Dahl

Honors Theses

Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a difficult type of cancer to treat because it is negative for progesterone, estrogen, and HER-2 receptors. Because TNBC is negative for these three receptors, it does not respond to normal hormonal therapies. The purpose of my experiment is to see if different cannabinoids, compounds from the cannabis plants, could be used as alternative treatment options. These experiments employed three different cannabinoids: ajulemic acid, cannabidiol, and hemp oil. Cell viability was measured after 72 hours of treatment using a MTT assay. The results showed that the three cannabinoids could be used to effectively destroy …

Ten Weeks With Green Beans...And Then Some: Determination Of Bisphenol-A (Bpa) In Canned Goods From Arkansas Markets Using Fluorescence Spectrophotometry, Rachel Pruett

Honors Theses

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical widely used in production of consumer goods. It has come under scrutiny recently after being labeled as an endocrine disruptor (ED), mostly causing adverse effects in infants and young children. It has been associated with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and abnormal maturation. Because it is so commonly used in product development, humans are exposed to BPA through various means, such as ingestion or dermal absorption. It is a concern that the combined exposure could cause serious effects even in small doses.

In canned foods, the chemical is made into an epoxy resin to provide a …

The Influence Of A Coiled-Coil Isoleucine Zipper On The Trimerization And Endosomolytic Activity Of The E5-Tat-Mcherry Protein, Valerie Nickel

Honors Theses

The E5-TAT-mCherry protein is designed to initiate cellular uptake through endocytosis and react to the acidification of the endosomes by causing membrane lysis and cytosolic delivery. The cell penetrating peptide TAT from the HIV transcription activator binds to the cellular membrane and transports attached or coincubated cargo into the cell through endocytosis. E5 is a derivative of the fusogenic peptide HA2 from the influenza hemagglutinin protein and reacts to the acidification of the endosomal lumen by inserting into the membrane and increasing membrane permeability. The attached red fluorescent protein mCherry serves as a convenient biological probe for cell based assays. …

Computational Docking Simulations Of Nitroanisole And Nitrophenol With Cyp2e1, Kasa B. Cooper, Martin "Marty" D. Perry Jr., Grover P. Miller

Honors Theses

Studies have shown that CYP2E1, a cytochrome P450 enzyme containing two primary binding sites, plays a substantial role in the oxidative metabolism of many foreign substances, including the detoxification reaction of 4-nitroanisole to 4-nitrophenol. Through the advancements of the computational docking software Tripos Sybyl7.2, it has been possible to investigate the mechanism of oxidation of 4-nitroanisole. Docking modules of Sybyl7.2 software, including Surflext and molecular dynamics, have created the ability to ascertain the likely binding configurations of 4-nitranisole and its constitutional isomers in either the distal or proximal binding sites of CYP2E1. Knowing the relative binding relationships of 4-nitroanisole to …

The Effects Of Ajulemic Acid On The Metatastic Potential Of Ewing's Sarcoma, Nolan J. West

Honors Theses

Ewing's Sarcoma belongs in the Ewing's Sarcoma Family of Tumors (EFST) which represents approximately 2% of all cancers found in children and young adults. These tumors are generally treated by chemotherapy along with either surgery or radiation therapy which can themselves have debilitating effects on the patients. Dr. Lori Hensley's research has shown that ajulemic acid (AJA), a synthetic cannabinoid compound, exhibits extraordinary anti-tumor effects. In addition, AJA has not expressed any psychotropic side effects typically seen with other cannabinoids. Furthermore, ajulemic acid has been shown to eliminate the tumors by apoptosis, the preferred method of cell death. The purpose …

Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis, John Gibson

Honors Theses

Solid phase peptide synthesis is a relatively new biochemical process for polymerization of amino acids. It involves the selection of amino acids, blocking groups, and resins. This procedure was first investigated by R. B. Merrifield in an attempt to simplify previous methods of peptide synthesis. Since other methods involved amino acids, peptide esters, and diketopiperazines, peptide synthesis had been limited by amino acid selection and a host of technical problems. Solid phase synthesis alleviates many of these difficulties and limitations by supplying a faster and simpler stepwise addition of a wide variety of naturally occurring and synthetically prepared amino acids …

Hallucinogenic Drugs, James S. Watkins

Honors Theses

Hallucinogenic drugs have been used for centuries by primitive. man to produce mystic effects usually in religious rites. Perhaps these drugs would not have obta:lned the forefront. they had for while if two Harvard professors, Dr. Timothy Leary and Dr. · Richard Alpert, had not conducted campus experiments with undergraduate students. Working mainly with mescalnie and psilocybin, Leary and Alpert were trying to observe the emotional impact of the drugs and the consciousness broadening power of the drugs. No one, seemed to realize that Alpert and Leary were convinced that the mystic insight one could get from psilocybin would be …