Chemistry

Modern life is composed of compartmentalization, genetics, metabolism, and self- replication. The precursors to all of this are thought to be protocells, simpler cells that have a lipid membrane with RNA on the inside. This report focuses on the lipid membrane aspect of protocells. Protocells can be made spontaneously if the right environmental conditions are met (eg. pH and concentration ... Read More

This project involved the 1-step synthesis and characterization of osmium complexes following the chemical formula, (R-,R′-bpy)Os(Cl)2(=O)2, where R represents a variety of carbon-based groups such as tert-butyl (–C(CH3)3), methoxy (–OCH3), and trifluoromethyl (–C(CF3)3). These osmium complexes are a marked improvement over osmium tetroxide, which is volatile and extremely hazardous. Furthermore, previous studies of these complexes were limited to stoichiometric use ... Read More

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become widely used due to the rapid growth of electronic devices and vehicles. However, the resulting waste of these spent batteries pose many risks to the environment. LIBs consist of cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, where electrolytes typically present many risks due to its potential release of toxic compounds. Current disposal methods of spent electrolytes aggravate environmental ... Read More

Chronic mycetoma, a neglected tropical disease, is a suppurative and inflammatory fungal (eumycetoma) or bacterial (actinomycetoma) infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissue. Due to the poor economic situation in most affected countries, mycetoma is neglected and currently treated with medications that are expensive, cytotoxic, or have a poor route of administration. The non-profit organization DNDi (Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative) ... Read More

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a strain of bacteria resistant to many common antibiotics, such as methicillin and penicillin. It is a common cause of severe infections, including pneumonia and sepsis.

Antibiotics like Ceftaroline have shown significant efficacy against MRSA. However, their high costs and limited accessibility make them less viable for underserved populations. In contrast, while widely available and ... Read More

Mycetoma is a deadly disease that most commonly affects areas that are unable to obtain treatment for it in time. It is most often caused by a fungus called Madurella mycetomatis, but it can also be caused by bacteria called actinomycetoma or fungi called eumycetoma. The most common location for mycetoma is usually on the foot, with it usually affecting ... Read More

This paper aims to find and evaluate optimal catholytes materials for Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries (AORFBs) through using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation and other techniques. DFT is an atomistic modeling method that can provide accurate performance predictions of electrodes, electrolyte and membranes, significantly reducing experimental time and cost. The organic material I chose to focus on is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl ... Read More

Hypoxic tumors consist of areas that have reduced oxygen levels in the tissue due to insufficient blood flow or poor vascularization. As a result, the tumor becomes more aggressive, spreading to other parts of the body, and being harder to treat with chemotherapy or radiation. Determining the oxygenation at the time of diagnosis will enable more effective treatment planning and ... Read More

Cryptosporidiosis is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium, posing a significant health risk to immunocompromised individuals and young children in low-resource settings. Current treatment options are limited, underscoring the urgent need for novel therapeutics. This project investigates thioredoxin reductase (CpTrxR), an essential enzyme in Cryptosporidium's redox homeostasis, as a potential drug target. We evaluated a panel ... Read More