Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Giulia Stewart, Junior Luke Paget, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Giulia Stewart
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Arts and Sciences
Faculty Mentor Name
Foram Madiyar
Abstract
Considering melanin’s wide range of properties, this project aims to combine these and optimize the use of melanin-based products for biomedical applications. In particular, melanin has been found to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), toxic by-products that induce tissue damage and are linked to disease mechanisms and aging processes. Melanin acts as an antioxidant in two ways: 1) it limits radiation-induced ROS and RNS by absorbing a portion of incoming radiation; 2) it neutralizes ROS and RNS already present in tissues. This project aims to investigate these antioxidant properties by synthesizing drug-loaded melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) and investigating their antioxidant potential in mice cancer cells ATCC-CRL3210 using an antioxidant assay kit and α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl hydrazyl assays. In a secondary study, the antioxidant potential of PEG-MNPs will also be determined in the case of radiation exposure. Considering that ROS and RNS production is a common side-effect of cancer treatments, developing an MNP-based drug delivery system may help neutralize those side effects and improve patient treatment and recovery.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Ignite Grant
Investigating Antioxidant Properties of Melanin Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Countering Cytotoxic Effects of Free Radicals
Considering melanin’s wide range of properties, this project aims to combine these and optimize the use of melanin-based products for biomedical applications. In particular, melanin has been found to regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), toxic by-products that induce tissue damage and are linked to disease mechanisms and aging processes. Melanin acts as an antioxidant in two ways: 1) it limits radiation-induced ROS and RNS by absorbing a portion of incoming radiation; 2) it neutralizes ROS and RNS already present in tissues. This project aims to investigate these antioxidant properties by synthesizing drug-loaded melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) and investigating their antioxidant potential in mice cancer cells ATCC-CRL3210 using an antioxidant assay kit and α,α-diphenyl-β-picryl hydrazyl assays. In a secondary study, the antioxidant potential of PEG-MNPs will also be determined in the case of radiation exposure. Considering that ROS and RNS production is a common side-effect of cancer treatments, developing an MNP-based drug delivery system may help neutralize those side effects and improve patient treatment and recovery.