Chemistry Commons^™

Synthesis Of Novel Temozolomide-Fatty Acid Imide Hybrid Compounds For The Chemotherapeutic Treatment Of Glioblastoma Multiforme, Janice Pakkianathan

Honors Theses

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive form of brain cancer that originates from glial cells, which make up the supportive tissue surrounding neurons. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the current chemotherapeutic drug administered to treat GBM as it works to inhibit the growth of the cancer cells. This research study focused on developing a method for synthesizing novel hybrid compounds that combines TMZ with various fatty acids known to have anticancer properties, forming a series of imide compounds with potential chemotherapeutic effects. Before synthesizing the compounds, various methods for synthesizing an imide from a primary amide were tested to ensure that TMZ …

New Synthetic Methodology Using Base-Assisted Diazonium Salts Activation And Gold Redox Catalysis, Abiola Azeez Jimoh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, homogeneous Au(I) catalysis has been a valuable synthetic tool for activating a series of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds towards nucleophilic attack. Despite this progress, Au(I/III) redox chemistry has not been well explored. This is largely due to the challenges associated with the high oxidation potential of gold. Hence, the need for an efficient and safe method for Au oxidation.

Herein, a base-assisted diazonium salt activation has been used to facilitate Au redox reactions under mild reaction conditions. This oxidative coupling method afforded functional isoxazolines with good to excellent yields, while the alternative photoactivation method provided trace …

Antagonistic Roles Of Grk2 And Grk5 In Cardiac Aldosterone Signaling Reveal Grk5-Mediated Cardioprotection Via Mineralocorticoid Receptor Inhibition, Jennifer Maning, Katie Anne Mccrink, Celina M. Pollard, Victoria Desimine, Jennifer Ghandour, Arianna Perez, Natalie Cora, Krysten E. Ferraino, Barbara Parker, Ava Brill, Beatrix Aukszi, Anastasios Lymperopoulos

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Aldosterone (Aldo), when overproduced, is a cardiotoxic hormone underlying heart failure and hypertension. Aldo exerts damaging effects via the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) but also activates the antiapoptotic G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) in the heart. G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR)-kinase (GRK)-2 and -5 are the most abundant cardiac GRKs and phosphorylate GPCRs as well as non-GPCR substrates. Herein, we investigated whether they phosphorylate and regulate cardiac MR and GPER. To this end, we used the cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 and adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs), in which we manipulated GRK5 protein levels via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 and …

Battery Application Of Silver Molybdate Materials, Brendan Michael Godsel

Undergraduate Honors Papers

As the demand for renewable energy grows, the investigation of potential battery materials continues to progress hastily. Many devices and machines of present day are operated by battery technology, and their energy requirements warrant which kinds of batteries will power them. The battery in a phone requires hundreds, possibly thousands, of uses and needs to be able to recharge quickly. The battery in the implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), the battery by which this product was inspired, is only used once, but it must last years before it is replaced. The cathode of the ICD battery is comprised of a silver …

Direct Arylation Polymerization Of Indophenine-Based Monomers, Sarah Severson

Student Research, Papers, and Creative Works

Indophenine, a deep blue dye and a quinoidal compound, has shown potential as a monomer in donor-acceptor copolymer formation for use in energy and device applications. Despite the barrier of low solubility, we previously polymerized an indophenine-based monomer IQ to form PolyIQ-co-thiophene (PIQ) in a 95% yield using Stille coupling. Although PIQ has desirable electronic properties, Stille coupling is a particularly unsustainable method. In contrast, direct arylation polymerization (DArP) is a more sustainable polymerization method that reduces synthetic steps and toxic byproducts. Therefore, we now report the DArP of IQ to form PolyIQ-co-ProDOT (ProPIQ) in a 96% yield. ProPIQ boasts …

Isolation And Purification Of Lignin In Willow Wood, Nathaniel Dietlin

Student Scholars Day Posters

Currently increasing amounts of time and energy are spent in search for renewable resources with increasing focus on biomass. Of particular interest is the extraction and chemical ‘reforming’ of the lignin, a naturally occurring abundant organic polymer. If separated from cellulose and depolymerized, lignin could become a rich resource of chemicals. This project focuses on lignin separation from willow wood collected form GVSU agricultural project lot, and its purification. The lignin extracted from wood was analyzed via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. By comparing the IR results from four different willow wood to available literature data, it was confirmed that lignin was …

Synthesis Of Β-C-Glycosidic Ketones From Unprotected Sugars And Their Use In Aldol Condensations With Hydroxymethylfurfural, Jon Chiaramonte

Student Scholars Day Posters

C-glycosides are a growing interest in synthetic chemistry for their use in the pharmaceutical industry as important drug pharmacophores and their potential use in chemical industry as surfactants. Previous literature describes the synthesis of C-glycosides using many steps and toxic reagents, often involving the use of protecting groups. The extra steps result in lower yields, require more reagents and produce more waste, which limits the environmental sustainability of the overall synthesis. This study aimed to reproduce the literature synthesis of β-C-glycosidic ketones from acetylacetone and monosaccharides without the use of protecting groups. These ketones were further reacted in aldol condensations …

Predicting The Properties Of Materials And Biomolecules With Computer Modeling, Gladys Greene, Yao Houndonougbo

2020 Symposium Posters

Abstract:

The advance of theoretical chemistry methods and the increase in computing power have resulted in the frequent use of computer in chemistry, material science, and biology. Zeolitic imidazole frameworks (ZIFs) are a subclass of MOFs which are materials that are made by coordinating transition metal ions to organic ligands to form porous network structures. We have performed Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations to study the equilibrium selectivity for an equimolar mixture of CO₂ /CH₄ in ZIF-93 at 298K and for pressures up to 80 bar. The results of the simulations revealed the role of pressure in the …

Testing The Ancestral Function Of Divergent Candida Albicans Virulence-Associated Proteins Via Expression In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Mutants, Curtis Mack

Student Scholars Day Posters

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and a member of the normal human microbiota. It is closely related to the harmless fungus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Some genes associated with the virulent nature of C. albicans are similar to genes in S. cerevisiae. Three of these genes, PHO13, NRG1, and TUP1 are known to repress the change from yeast to filamentous growth in C. albicans, an important virulence trait. However, similar genes in S. cerevisiae are known to have functional differences. Our goal was to see if the ancestral function of these genes have drifted apart by examining …

Structural And Functional Characterization Of New Clinically Relevant Enzymes Involved In Antibiotic Resistance, Micah Fernando

Student Scholars Day Posters

Resistance to β-lactam drugs such as penicillins and cephalosporins has become a worldwide health problem. The World Health Organization has listed multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii as requiring “top priority for new antibiotic development.” Such antibiotic resistance derives primarily from β-lactamases, including Acinetobacter-derived cephalosporinase (ADC), which bind and destroy antibiotics. A recent study of clinical A. baumannii infections identified the most prevalent ADC β-lactamases conveying antibiotic resistance. This research study seeks to determine the structure and function of two clinical ADC variants: ADC-30 and ADC-162. Using X-ray crystallography and enzyme kinetics, we aim to relate the small changes in structure to …

Sulfur Dioxide From The Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Satellite, Doug Cameron

College of Sciences Posters

The version 4.0 dataset from the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment – Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) on SCISAT, released in March of 2019, has sulfur dioxide (SO₂) volume mixing ratio (VMR) profiles as a routine data product. From this dataset, global SO₂ distributions between the altitudes of 10.5 km and 23.5 km are analyzed. The global distribution of all SO₂ VMR data by altitude is broken down into 30° and 5° latitude zones. Seasonality of the global SO₂ distribution is explored. Volcanic SO₂ plumes are isolated in the dataset and compared with extinction data from the …

Periodic Table Club, Makayla Gill, Kailynn Jensen

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is dedicated to teaching the generation of future scientists the periodic table. This is designed to be a unique take on a STEM club that uses the periodic table as a backbone for a solid foundation in chemistry.

Monitoring And Identifying The Rhodamine 6g-Hydroxide Ion Reaction Using In-Situ, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy, Ryan Lamb

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

An effective method for monitoring chemical reactions is necessary to better understand their mechanisms and kinetics. Effective reaction monitoring requires a spectroscopy technique with fast data acquisition, high sensitivity, structure-to-spectrum correlation, and low solvent interference. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) provides these features, which makes it a valuable tool for monitoring reactions. To obtain the Raman enhancement, metallic nanostructures typically made of silver or gold are aggregated using a salt. The nanoparticles aggregates must then be stabilized using a surfactant to use this method in situ due to eventual nanoparticle precipitation. In this study, gold nanoparticles stabilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate …

Synthesis And Molecular Mechanics Study Of Platinum Triamine Complex With N-Acetyl-L-Methionine And Guanosine 5’Monophosphate, Nitin Tanajirao Katare

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cisplatin and its analogues have been used and tested over decades for cancer treatment, but because of the serious side effects, it is important to find ways to overcome those side effect by synthesizing a novel platinum molecule. We have synthesized triamine complex and conducted its reaction with biomolecules such as 5’GMP and Methionine in the lab as well as conducted molecular mechanics (MM). MM methods are used for predicting and designing new structures and properties, and to model geometries of small molecules. MM and dynamics calculations have been used to study the 9 Ethylguanine and N-Ac-Lmethionine complexes with platinum …

To Probe Full And Partial Activation Of Human Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors By Pan-Agonist Chiglitazar Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations., Holli-Joi Sullivan, Xiaoyan Wang, Shaina Nogle, Siyan Liao, Chun Wu

College of Science & Mathematics Departmental Research

Chiglitazar is a promising new-generation insulin sensitizer with low reverse effects for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and has shown activity as a nonselective pan-agonist to the human peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) (i.e., full activation of PPARγ and a partial activation of PPARα and PPARβ/δ). Yet, it has no high-resolution complex structure with PPARs and its detailed interactions and activation mechanism remain unclear. In this study, we docked chiglitazar into three experimentally resolved crystal structures of hPPAR subtypes, PPARα, PPARβ/δ, and PPARγ, followed by 3 μs molecular dynamics simulations for each system. Our MM-GBSA binding energy calculation …

Crystallization At Droplet Interfaces For The Fabrication Of Geometrically Programmed Synthetic Magnetosomes, Matthew Gromowsky, Michael Stoller, Maddee Rauhauser, Marcus Judah, Abhiteja Konda, Christopher Jurich, Stephen Morin

UCARE: Research Products

Many organisms rely on the precise growth, assembly, and/or organization of inorganic crystals to achieve vital functions, for example, three-dimensional structural support (i.e., skeletal systems based on calcite) or environmental sensing (i.e., magnetosomes based on magnetite). Mimicking the production of the complex products observed in these biomineralization processes, synthetically, remains challenging. Herein, a method for the synthesis of artificial magnetosomes with programmable magnetic domains was developed. Specifically, precursors were compartmentalized inside different surfactant-stabilized aqueous-phase droplets suspended in oil and microfluidic technologies were implemented to control their interactions precisely. When reactive droplets were brought into contact with one another, a lipid …

Organic Waste Compounds In Butte Area Surface Waters, Deliliah Friedlander

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

As human dependence on pharmaceuticals and household products containing a broad variety of organic compounds increases, so does the discharge of residual components of these compounds into surface and groundwaters. Organic wastewater chemicals (OWCs) result when human or animal discharge appears in the environment through a variety of waste disposal mechanisms. Historically environmental standards for organic wastewater chemicals have not been a concern when compared to biological hazards, metal contamination, acid/base hazards and radioactive hazards. At present, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have standards for organic wastewater chemicals for surface waters; it is imperative that research be …

Mercury And Other Trace Metal Analysis In Bat Guano, Amanda Lee Houchens

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Heavy metal pollution in the environment pose risks to ecosystems and the populations that reside in them. Mercury, lead, and cadmium negatively impact humans by way of neurological disorders, various cancers, and damage the reproductive organs, kidneys, and lungs. Bats have been studied as a bioindicator species to identify possibly elevated levels of these metals in the environment. Previous studies have identified correlation between metal concentrations within bat tissues and fur. Many bat species are endangered or at risk due to white-nose syndrome so collection of tissues and fur for analysis can impose stress on bat colonies. This study investigates …

An Analysis Of Factors Influencing Chemistry Students’ Choice Of Major And Career, Jennifer Marie Ribble

Masters Theses

In recent years there has been a push to increase the number of STEM graduates in the United States in order for the nation to retain its position as a global leader in the sciences. If educators are to address recruitment and attrition issues in STEM fields it is important to understand student perspectives related to choosing both a major and a career in chemistry. The present study explores the decision-making process students utilize to choose chemistry as a major and as a career, their perception of what careers are available to someone with a degree in chemistry and what …

Mathematical And Physical Description Of Conical Intersections, Nicholas Dewey

Honors Projects

Conical intersections (CIs) are points of degeneracy between two or more potential energy surfaces. Due to the intersection point, it is much easier for molecules to transition their electronic, vibrational, and rotational energies between surfaces. Therefore, CIs are critical to the study of excited states, particularly in the context of photochemistry. However, they are difficult to study because they interfere with traditional thermodynamics and deviate from the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The purpose of this review is to explain why that is the case by exploring the foundation for the mathematics and physics behind CIs. Also included is an application of how …

Chemistry 104 Laboratory Manual, Boris Kalmatsky

Open Educational Resources

No abstract provided.

Using Electrocoagulation To Remove Perfluoroalkyl And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) From Contaminated Water, Amy Yanagida

UCARE: Research Products

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of manmade chemicals that are used to improve the quality of several commercial products by making them resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease and water. Unfortunately, the chemical properties that make PFAS useful from an industrial perspective also make them mobile and recalcitrant once released into the environment. We used electrocoagulation to run a direct current through contaminated water to generate a zinc floc to precipiate PFAS out of water.

Senior Project: An Investigative Study Into The Bacterial Contamination Of Little Black Creek, Margaret I. Brenneman

Honors Projects

An investigation of Escherichia coli concentrations in a west Michigan stream was conducted to determine sources of fecal contamination that impact water quality. Little Black Creek (LBC) is located in Muskegon County and discharges into Lake Michigan at the P.J. Hoffmaster Campground Beach. Often referred to as an “indicator bacteria,” water contaminated with E. coli has a high probability to contain other enteric pathogens as well. Beach water testing in 2020 using Colilert-18 methods revealed E. coli levels of 579 cfu/100mL in the creek discharge area that exceeded total body contact criteria of 300 cfu/100mL. A follow-up study of the …

Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Of Gold Nanostars For Encoding Molecular Information, Samantha E. Curry

Honors Thesis

Increases in the selling of illicit goods warrant a subsequent need for even more sophisticated methods to prevent counterfeit products from being sold. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has the potential to be a powerful tool to thwart counterfeiters because the unique security tags fabricated with this method are difficult to reproduce without knowing the “secret” recipes used in their preparation. In this work, gold nanostars are used as SERS active substrates since their branched structure allows for strong coupling between the light and plasmonic nanoparticles. As a result, Raman signals of trace amount of chemicals can be easily detected. The …

A Public Health Perspective On Gen X Contamination In Drinking Water, Allison Stevens

Honors Capstone Enhancement Presentations

No abstract provided.

Heavy-Atom Tunneling, Samuel Powell

Honors Capstone Enhancement Presentations

No abstract provided.

Gel Permeation Chromatography Purification And Surface Chemistry Of Technologically Relevant Colloidal Quantum Dots, Adam Roberge

Theses and Dissertations

Semiconductor quantum dots have received extensive research interest due to the size tunable band gap, large extinction coefficient, and ease of synthesis. These nanocrystals possess large surface to volume ratios and the chemistry at the surface of the nanocrystal greatly influences the resultant optoelectronic properties. Therefore, after synthesis, purification of the quantum dot samples to remove synthetic by-products that may alter these properties is of great importance. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), a form of size exclusion chromatography, has been shown to reproducibly purify CdSe quantum dots. This work focuses on the expansion of purification by gel permeation chromatography to other …

Structure-Activity Relationship Of Novel Diphenyl Ureas Targeting Mycobacterium, Piper Burghduf

Student Scholars Day Posters

In 2017, the World Health Organization reported that 10 million people were infected with tuberculosis, 1.6 million of whom died. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily infects an individual’s lungs. Unfortunately, failure to adhere to the long and arduous drug regimen has contributed to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis. Therefore, the need for novel antibiotics is imperative to saving millions of lives. Our lab has recently developed a family of diphenyl ureas that exhibited increased antimicrobial activity toward Mycobacterium. Reported herein is the continuation of our previous research involving the synthesis of …

Structural And Functional Characterization Of New Clinically Relevant Enzymes Involved In Antibiotic Resistance, Violet Ruiz

Student Scholars Day Posters

The rise of antibiotic resistance is a global health threat requiring development of novel treatments. β-lactamase enzymes found in many multi-drug resistant bacteria contribute to resistance of β-lactam antibiotics. The enzyme cleaves the β-lactam ring, preventing the drug from reaching its cellular target. A class of β-lactamases, Acinetobacter-derived cephalosporinases (ADCs) are found in the multi-drug resistant bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii. Specific ADCs were selected from a group of antibiotic-resistant infections. With no known structures of these newly identified ADCs, it is key to discern how minor differences in sequences between ADCs contribute to drug resistance. In this project, structural …

Investigating The Role Of Iron-Sulfur Signaling In Yeast Transcriptional Regulation, Malini Gupta

Theses and Dissertations

As an essential cofactor in a myriad of cellular processes, uptake and mobilization of iron must be tightly controlled. Iron homeostasis in fungi involves balancing iron uptake and storage with iron utilization to achieve adequate, non-toxic levels of this essential nutrient. Extensive work in the non-pathogenic yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe have uncovered unique iron regulation networks for each organism that control iron metabolism via distinct molecular mechanisms. The activities of all fungal iron-sensing transcription factors characterized to date are regulated via iron-sulfur cluster signaling.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, expression of iron uptake, utilization and storage genes is primarily regulated …