Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM)

Myrna Merced Serrano*, José O. Sotero Esteva, UPR-Humacao Robert Johnson**, A.T. Johnson, U. of. Pennsylvania
* Undergraduate Student (sophomore) ** Graduate Student
A FET device made with a single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) decorated with single-strand DNA (ss-DNA) has shown potential for use as a gas sensor.
Using […]

J. Santos, O. M. Suárez
UPRM Dept. of Engineering Science & Materials
In February 2007, UPRM PREM hosted more than 140 students, members of the five Materials Science and Engineering clubs formed in public schools under the auspices of PREM. The activity was organized by PREM’s Office of Outreach and Education led by Prof. J. Santos and […]

This represents the first nanoparticle-based fluorescence assay for probing single-strand DNA nuclease activity. Our simple assay with extremely high sensitivity will make it widely applicable and highly useful for convenient characterization of DNA/RNA cleavage reactions Given the simplicity, speed, and sensitivity of this approach, the described methodology could easily be extended to a high throughput format and become a new method of choice in HIV proteases and matrix metalloproteases (MMP) as well as the proteins involved in cellular apoptosis

One of the long-standing challenges is the development of organic compounds, which exhibits a large value of the 2PA cross section at wavelength(s) above 700 nm. We have designed a series of D-A Zn-porphyrin aggregates that possess exceptionally large Two Photon Absorption (TPA) cross sections at the desirable fundamental wavelengths of 1.1-1.5 m, which can be highly suitable candidates for the applications in biological imaging and photon dynamic therapy.

Scientists who understand the nature of a stabilizing force between molecules, or between parts of the same molecule, can incorporate this force systematically into the design of new materials. This molecular engineering can result in unique and beneficial stability or functionality. The McCurdy group at CSULA strives to generate new knowledge about a specific stabilizing force in protein-like molecules that will guide the development of materials with useful properties.

Certain antibiotics bind to specific receptors on bacterial cell walls blocking further growth and eventually leading to the bacterial death. Dr. Menake Piyasena (PREM Post-doc fellow) at CSULA has demonstrated a bead-based technique on a microfluidic format that can be used to monitor bacteria-antibiotic interactions. Proof of concept studies utilized a fluorescent dye labeled peptide that resembled the bacterial cell wall and the antibiotic teicoplanin which was covalently immobilized onto magnetic beads. In a microfluidic channel made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), teicoplanin-coated magnetic beads were packed and the binding of injected fluorescent peptide was monitored via fluorescent microscopy. The antibiotic-peptide interaction was further confirmed by flow cytometry and fluorometry. The concept we have developed can be used to monitor bacterial interactions with other drugs and also as a device for pathogen detection.