The parasite responsible for most cases of lymphatic filariasis is Wuchereria bancrofti, a mosquito-transmitted nematode that causes severe swelling of limbs and tissue (elephantiasis) by invading the lymphatic system. Despite its enormous global health burden, treatment remains reliant on long-term preventive chemotherapy, which has significant compliance and efficacy challenges.

Otu-Aboagye and Kwarteng’s research focuses on W. bancrofti dihydrofolate reductase (Wb DHFR), an essential enzyme for DNA synthesis and cell division, and a known drug target in other organisms. The goal is to identify antifolate compounds that selectively inhibit Wb DHFR without affecting the human version of the enzyme.

The team expressed a His₆-tagged Wb DHFR construct in E. coli LOBSTR cells, optimized for purifying histidine-tagged proteins. Following IPTG induction, they used a two-step purification process—first with methotrexate-agarose resin, then with Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Protein yield and purity were confirmed via Nanodrop and Bradford assays.

Watch David and Salma’s Presentation

Professors know that you’re new and that you’re learning. They’re excited about being a part of your process, which makes it easy to have the vulnerability to try new things in the lab and be unafraid to ask the questions you need to ask to grow as a scientist.

The students’ research choices reflect what they care about and problems they want to solve. “That’s where the passion comes from,” observes College of Science and Mathematics Dean Lora Billings. “Our faculty are very good at keeping projects moving, at teaching students resilience and persistence, and when things don’t go as planned, that there’s always a silver lining in there somewhere.”

Read more about what CSAM students are researching this summer!

Abstract

In this study, two green organic solvents are reported in LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (NMC111)-based slurry preparation and subsequent cathode fabrication for Li ion batteries. NMC111, conductive carbon and poly(vinylidene fluoride) binder composite slurries prepared with methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate (PolarClean) and dimethyl isosorbide (DMI) exhibit mechanically stable, crack-free uniform coating structures. Both slurries showed similar shear-thinning viscosity behavior that suggests similar processability during electrode casting and coating. When used as the cathode in Li/NMC111 half cells, the electrode slurries prepared with PolarClean show promising electrochemical performance metrics with an average specific charge capacity of 155 ± 1 mA h g−1 at C/10 over 100 cycles, comparable to the films (152 ± 3 mA h g−1 at C/10) prepared with traditional N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent. The use of PolarClean points to a potential route to replace toxic NMP in cathode fabrication without altering the manufacturing process. However, electrodes prepared with DMI demonstrate inferior electrochemical performance with an average charge capacity of 120 mA h g−1. Nonetheless, DMI may still offer some promising features and warrants further detailed investigation in terms of compatible electrolyte, tailoring the slurry preparation, and casting conditions.

Abstract

Protein cargos anchored on the lipid membrane can be segregated by fluidic domain phase separation. Lipid membranes at certain compositions may separate into lipid domains to segregate cargos, and protein cargos themselves may be involved in protein condensate domain formation with multivalent binding proteins to segregate cargos. Recent studies suggest that these two driving forces of phase separation closely interact on the lipid membranes to promote codomain formation. In this report, we studied the effect of cargo density on the outcome of the cargo phase separation on giant unilamellar vesicles. Proteins and lipids are connected only by the anchored cargos, so it was originally hypothesized that higher cargo density would increase the degree of interaction between the lipid and protein domains, promoting more phase separation. However, fluorescence image analysis on different cargo densities showed that the cooperative domain formation and steric pressure are at a tug of war opposing each other. Cooperative domain formation is dominant under lower anchor density conditions, and above a threshold density, steric pressure was dominant opposing the domain formation. The result suggests that the cargo density is a key parameter affecting the outcome of cargo organization on the lipid membranes by phase separation.

Household and industrial markets for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have dramatically expanded in recent years despite the environmental persistence of these ‘forever chemicals’. PFAS are found in ground, surface, and drinking waters and, in high concentrations, have been associated with serious health effects such as liver and thyroid disease and cancer. Thus, water decontamination efforts focused on mitigating the environmental and health impacts of hazardous PFAS must be considered. Current PFAS removal techniques rely on sorbent materials (e.g., activated carbon and ion exchange resins) for their reasonable removal rates and low costs. Yet, these common sorbents suffer from poor selectivity, low affinity, and slow adsorption kinetics when faced with PFAS at environmentally-relevant concentrations, and the sorbent regeneration processes are energy-intensive. Advanced sorbent materials that exhibit selective and rapid removal of PFAS with inexpensive regeneration are urgently needed. This project examines the use of fluorinated macromolecules with tunable functionalities, porosities, and controllable hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions for advanced sorbent design. The design approach prioritizes manufacturing simplicity to eliminate the need for costly post-synthetic transformations and complex instrumentation. The investigation will focus on understanding the complex interfacial phenomena governing the separation of PFAS from drinking water using the polymer sorbent material. This project also serves as an educational platform for developing graduate-level course materials and engaging undergraduate and K-12 students in STEM research.

The goal of this project is to develop a low-cost, mass-scale sorbent production strategy using a novel fluorinated block copolymer. The polymer candidate leverages its self-assembly at solid-liquid interfaces to facilitate the elimination of toxic PFAS from drinking water. The porous polymer sorbent will be synthesized from inexpensive, commercially-available monomers and does not require post-synthetic transformation to achieve its desired functionality. The sorbent design is inspired by the underlying interfacial phenomena, where small-molecule adsorption and balanced hydrophobic/hydrophilic interactions can be controlled concurrently. To that end, the project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the working principles of the porous polymer sorbent. The approach will examine the interplay of (i) hydrophilic interactions of sorbent functionality to the short-chain PFAS and water molecules, (ii) balanced hydrophobic carbon-fluorine—fluorine-carbon interactions at solid-liquid interfaces, where the polymer sorbent is “solid” and long-chain PFAS dissolved in water is considered a “liquid” phase, and (iii) tuning thermodynamically-driven self-assembly phenomena. PFAS elimination performance will be tested with “control” and drinking water samples collected from various areas of New Jersey. This project will also establish a sustainable approach for green solvent-based recycling and reuse of spent sorbents. To convey the scientific findings to a broader audience, the investigator will form an Undergraduate & K-12 Research Team at ����vlog. This team will participate in (i) fieldwork to collect drinking water samples from nearby industrial zones for sorbent testing and (ii) educational outreach by presenting an interactive “Visual Color Code Sorbent Demonstration” among communities having limited technical knowledge. Insights gained from this research will also be integrated into a graduate course to increase students’ interests in the fields of polymers and interfacial science and engineering.

In a second grant major success, Dr. Gao, with Drs. Wu, Goodey, Deng and Rotella have been awarded $449,969 for Major Research Infrastructure – specifically for the purchase of a High-Resolution Accurate-Mass Orbitrap LC-MS System.

Mass spectrometry (MS) is one of the key analytical methods used to identify and characterize small quantities of chemical species in complex samples. An instrument with a liquid chromatograph provides additional structural identification power by separating mixtures of compounds before they reach the mass spectrometer. The tandem capabilities, which couples together two mass analyzers, increase the ability of the mass spectrometer to analyze chemical samples.

The instrument will enhance research and education at all levels. It is especially useful for quantifying and characterizing glycan, proteins and glycoproteins as well as identifying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cyanotoxin, lipids and biopolymers. The instrumentation is also used for characterizing potential drug candidates and their metabolites and for the identification of and quantification of emerging contaminants and their transformation products in water and wastewater. The instrument also serves researchers characterizing genotoxic impurities in drug substances and other products.

Kayla is thrilled to be working on a novel polymer synthesis project employing ring opening polymerization and microwave induced Diels Alder Cycloaddition under supervision of Professor Sarkar. Her research will lead to the development of a novel and greener alternative of organics used in Li-ion batteries.

This fellowship not only reinforces and solidifies her desire to pursue a PhD degree in organic chemistry but supports her in taking the necessary steps of advancing women in STEM.