BBSI project: interaction of organo-platinum compounds with immobilized oligonucleotides and cDNA on microarrays
The cancer drug molecule cis-platin is a well known and often used chemotherapeutic for the treatment of brain tumors. Cis-platin interacts with DNA by intercalating in a major (W-H) or minor (W-C) groove. It also reacts with the N7 position of the guanine residues of DNA forming a permanent covalent bond (see for example Wang et al, 2001). Its proposed mode of action is to bind with duplex DNA, stabilizing it from further replication. What is the influence of cis-platin on the stability of hybridized DNA? The efficacy of this reaction in vitro has been shown to be influenced by the saline content [Cl-] of the reaction medium. What are the physicochemical specifics of interaction of cis-platin and other organo-platinum compounds with DNA? How may we use post-hybridization oligo and cDNA microarrays to study the sequence specificity of organoplatinum compounds?

Other research interests:
Research interests are in the areas of science, technology and applications of biotechnical polymers (i.e., polymers of biotechnical significance). General description of areas of research interest in the fields of polymer materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and biotechnology:

1. Structure/property relations in polymeric thin films: bio mimetic films/membranes and organized supramacromolecular assemblies with emphasis on small molecule, ion, and electron transport.
2. Biosensors and bioelectronics: electroactive and electrically conducting polymers with conferred biospecificity. Direct biosensors.
3. Surface chemistry of polymers related to bio-immobilizations and biocompatability.
4. Polymer coatings for corrosion protection of metallic and semiconductor substrates in implant and in vivo devices.
5. Biochips: microfabricated solid state devices containing transducer-active elements based upon organic supramacromolecular assemblies and chemically responsive polymers for DNA hybridization.

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