2016FallSymposiumURCreativityEngagement

Combretastatin A-4 analogs have been proven to provide anti-inflammatory, antimitotic, anti-invasive, antibacterial and anticancer properties. Specifically, chalcone analogs- the least studied- have demonstrated positive bioactivity in the apoptosis of certain types of cancers. Derivatives of these analogs may lead to the production of pyrroles, particularly, Lamellarins. Chalcone derivatives with structural features parallel to those of the isolated natural product of the South African bush willow, Combretastatin A-4, maintain the function of binding to the β-tubulin, which interrupts vascular function in mitotic replication- including those of MDR cancer cells. This natural compound, however, is not soluble within the bloodstream. This research examines the synthesis of pyrrole analogs derived from tubulin binding chalcones. Specific substitutions of these chalcones, which were synthesized via the Claisen-Schmidt methodology, were established in order to prospectively increase the activity of this molecule within the bloodstream. The final product maintains the trimethoxy feature of CA-4 in order to bind to the colchicine binding site of the β-tubulin.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide variety of properties that can be utilized for industrial and academic functions. TiO2 is a common and non-toxic material that can be used in the photocatalysis of organic molecules. The most common forms of these particles are anatase and rutile. This experiment focused on the synthesis of the less common, brookite crystal structure. In addition, we looked at how different ratios of Oleylamine (OLAM) in the synthesis affect the growth of the nanocrystals. Synthesized particles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy

Current chemotherapy medications can not tell healthy cells and cancerous cells apart. This inability of distinction leads to healthy cell toxicity. Nanomaterials for drug delivery can be used to directly target cancer cells with a smaller dose of medication, reducing the risk of toxicity to the healthy cells. The most promising are Au NPs, which can be loaded with Paclitaxel. Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy medication used for breast cancer, and is regarded as one of the most effective chemotherapy medications. Intravenously (IV) administered Paclitaxel-coated NPs require no premedication before treatment, and can be administered in 30 minutes. In this presentation, synthesis and characterization of Paclitaxel-coated NPs is presented.