Polymeric Micelles
 Honors & Awards Biomaterials Summer Award, 2005, New Jersey Center for Biomaterials |
PhD Candidate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Fall 2004-present) BS Agricultural Chemistry (2001) University of the Philippines - Los Banos My research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of anticancer drug conjugates of our amphiphilic scorpion-like macromolecules (AScMs). The aim of this project is to enhance the water solubility, stability, sustained release and therapeutic efficacy of the hydrophobic anticancer drugs doxorubicin and camptothecin by chemically binding them to the hydrophobic chains of the AScMs. The drug-AScM conjugates aggregate into polymeric micelles in aqueous solution; the anticancer drugs are bound to the micellar core, while the micellar hydrophilic shell enables water solubilization of the drug. Currently, the therapeutic efficacy of these drug-AScM conjugates are being evaluated using in vitro cytotoxicity experiments in human colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma cells. |
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MS Candidate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Fall 2006-present) BS Chemistry (2006) Hacettepe University (Ankara, Turkey) My research encompasses different areas, all related to polymers for drug delivery. Major parts of my research include synthesis and functionalization of Amphiphilic Scorpion-like Macromolecules (AScMs), which are self-assemble to form unimolecular micelles and Amphiphilic Star-like Macromolecules (ASMs), which can only exist as unimolecular micelles for biomedical applications and evaluation of their solution stability in physiological conditions, in the presence of enzyme and protein. The remaining challenges are micellar drug loading, in vitro drug release studies, and cancer cell cytotoxicity (MTT Assay) of drug-loaded micelle systems. |
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Honors & Awards GAANN Felllowship, 2007-09, Rutgers University |
PhD Candidate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology (Fall 2006-present) BS Chemistry (2006) Union College (Schenectady, NY) My research is focused on the synthesis and functionalization of our Amphiphilic Scorpion-like Macromolecules (AScMs). Currently, I am modifying the polymers accordingly to use them as a potential treatment for Atherosclerosis, to deliver nucleic acids, and to follow stem cell differentiation using quantum dots. For potentially treating Athersclerosis we work in collaboration with the Moghe group in Biomedical Engineering on the study and optimization of AScMs as selective inhibitors of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) uptake by the scavenger receptors on macrophages to slow the atherogenic process. The deliver mucleic acids we functionalize the polymers to incorporate amines that can electrostatically interact with the nucleic acids to form complexes. Working in collaboration with the Roth group, also in Biomedical Engineering, we have found that by increasing the number of amines we can successfully transfect cells as well as knockdown a gene using oligonucleotides. Finally, more recently I have been working on pacifying the surface of quantum dots with our polymers with the end goal of utilizing them to follow stem cell differentiation. |
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PhD Candidate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology |
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PhD Candidate, Chemistry & Chemical Biology |