Chemistry

Atomically precise nanoclusters have numerous applications throughout many fields of chemical science, mostly because of their tunability and relative ease of synthesis. However, clusters that have non-noble metal cores are less stable, and therefore harder to synthesize. Despite this, working with transition metals is a promising avenue because of their wider tunability and increased applications in catalysis. Considering that the ... Read More

In the 60 years since cubane’s synthesis, the hydrocarbon cube has displayed considerable practicality within medicinal chemistry as a bioisostere to benzene. However, modern synthesis procedures of cubane call for known carcinogenic compounds, namely benzene, which can be a limitation for laboratories looking to synthesize cubane for research. In this study, researchers looked at a synthesis of cubane that substitutes ... Read More

During the recent pandemic, many people began to take different pharmaceuticals hoping to prevent the contraction of COVID-19 and to alleviate symptoms. After use, these pharmaceuticals can make their way in the environment through waste streams. Little research has been done to look at the prevalence of these pharmaceuticals in soil when used for their intended purpose, but the uptick ... Read More

The Lysyl oxidase family of enzymes (LOXF) plays a critical role in tumor progression by promoting extracellular matrix remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis. Upregulation of LOXF, particularly lysyl oxidase (LOX) and lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), is observed in hypoxic tumor microenvironments and is associated with increased invasiveness and metastasis. In this study, we report the chemical synthesis of a probe, ... Read More

This project studies the spanwise spreading of gypsum slurry with a foaming agent under a rotating roller, a process employed by many wallboard manufacturers. Different parameters are experimented on, such as roller speed, rotation, and foam concentration. A high-speed camera records the interaction between the slurry and the roller from the side and the top. A particle imaging velocimetry software ... Read More

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is an infectious parasitic disease caused by the bite of infected female sandflies and characterized by disfiguring, slow healing, and re-forming skin lesions that leave lifelong scars. The goal of our effort was to synthesize derivatives of a Benzoxazole to be tested by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) for their effectiveness in treating cutaneous leishmaniasis. Three ... Read More

Leishmaniasis, caused by Leishmania parasites, poses a significant health burden globally, particularly in tropical regions. Despite its prevalence and impact, current treatments are expensive, often requiring hospitalization, and face challenges such as drug resistance. This study aims to develop more effective and affordable treatments for various forms of leishmaniasis. Using the compound DNDI0003202883 as a starting point, two carboxylic acids ... Read More

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease that phlebotomine sandflies carry that typically affects impoverished tropical and subtropical regions, such as Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and southern Asian countries. Currently, 98 nations have endemic leishmaniasis (Bilal Zulfiqar et al., 2017). These sandflies carry protozoan parasites which can induce fever, weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and abnormal blood ... Read More

Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by infection, primarily spread by sandflies. Current treatments are unreliable, toxic, and expensive, making them unfeasible for many. A new treatment is being researched, using 5-chloro-1,3-benzoxazol-2-amine, a promising lead amine researched by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative's Open Synthesis Network. The synthesized analogs underwent Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Infrared Spectroscopy tests to ... Read More