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Characterizing the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase from Lactobacillus brevis on primary and secondary alcohol biofuel precursors

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The R-specific alcohol dehydrogenase (RADH or LVIS_0347) from Lactobacillus brevis LB19 was found to possess activity on several short chain aldehydes and ketones. This broad substrate specificity was previously uncharacterized. To demonstrate its relevance to the biofuels industry as well as its broader utility for chiral reductions, a detailed characterization…

The R-specific alcohol dehydrogenase (RADH or LVIS_0347) from Lactobacillus brevis LB19 was found to possess activity on several short chain aldehydes and ketones. This broad substrate specificity was previously uncharacterized. To demonstrate its relevance to the biofuels industry as well as its broader utility for chiral reductions, a detailed characterization was performed to further investigate the activity and function of RADH.
ContributorsHalloum, Ibrahim (Co-author) / Pugh, Shawn (Co-author) / Nielsen, David R. (Thesis director) / Rege, Kaushal (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor)
Created2015-05
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Molecular Engineering of Novel Polymeric Agents for Targeted Cancer Gene Therapy

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Abstract Molecular Engineering of Novel Polymeric Agents for Targeted Cancer Gene Therapy Dana Matthews Cancer gene cell therapy is a strategy that involves the administration of genes for correcting the effect of mutated cancer cells in order to induce tumor cell death. In particular, genes that encode for pro-apoptotic proteins…

Abstract Molecular Engineering of Novel Polymeric Agents for Targeted Cancer Gene Therapy Dana Matthews Cancer gene cell therapy is a strategy that involves the administration of genes for correcting the effect of mutated cancer cells in order to induce tumor cell death. In particular, genes that encode for pro-apoptotic proteins can result in death of tumor cells. Prostate cancer is a very common cancer among males in America, and as highly destructive chemotherapy and radiation are generally the only treatments available once the cancer has metastasized, there is a need for the development of treatments that can specifically target and kill prostate cancer cells, while demonstrating low toxicity to other tissue. This experiment will attempt to create such a treatment through gene therapy techniques. The parallel synthesis and DNA binding affinity assay utilized in these experiments have produced a polymer that surpasses pEI-25, a gene delivery polymer standard, in both transfection efficacy and low cytotoxicity and trafficking of polyplexes in the cell, and finding methods to increase the transfection efficacy and specificity of polyplexes for PC3-PSMA cells.
ContributorsMatthews, Dana (Author) / Rege, Kaushal (Thesis director) / Linton, Rebecca (Committee member) / Huang, Huang-Chial (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2008-12
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Amino Acid Templated Gold Nanoparticles as Sensors of Ionizing Radiation

Description
This research addresses the need for improvement in radiation sensors for applications of ionizing radiation such as radiotherapy. The current sensors involved are polymer gel dosimeters, MOSFETs, radio-chromic films, etc. Most of the sensors involved require expensive equipment's and processing facilities for readout. There is still a need to develo…

This research addresses the need for improvement in radiation sensors for applications of ionizing radiation such as radiotherapy. The current sensors involved are polymer gel dosimeters, MOSFETs, radio-chromic films, etc. Most of the sensors involved require expensive equipment's and processing facilities for readout. There is still a need to develop better sensors that can be clinically applied. There are numerous groups around the world trying to conceive a better dosimeter. One of the radiation sensors that was developed recently was based on fluorescence signal emitted from the sensor. To advance the field of radiation sensors, a visual indicator has been developed in-lab as a method of detect ionizing radiation. The intensity of change in color is directly dependent on the amount of incident ionizing radiation. An aqueous gold nanoparticle sensor can be used to accurately determine the incident amount of ionizing radiation1. A gold nanoparticle sensor has been developed in lab with the use of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (C16TAB) as the templating molecule. In the presence of ionizing radiation, the colorless gold salt is reduced and templated, creating a dispersion within the fluid1. The formation of suspended nanoparticles leads to a color change that can be visually detected and accurately analyzed through the employment of a spectrometer. Unfortunately, the toxicity of C16TAB is high. It is expected the toxicity can be reduced by replacing C16TAB with an amino acid, as amino acids can act as templating molecules in the solution and many are naturally occuring2. The experiments included a screening of 20 natural amino acids and 12 unnatural amino acids with the gold salt solution in the presence of ionizing radiation. Stability and absorbance testing was conducted on the amino acid sensors. Additional screening of lead amino acid sensors at various concentrations of irradiation was conducted.
ContributorsGupta, Saumya (Co-author) / Rege, Kaushal (Co-author, Thesis director) / Pushpavanam, Karthik (Co-author, Committee member) / Chemical Engineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05