Meet the Group!
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Rajnish Kumar
Ph.D. Chemistry (2018), CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad
Rajnish is developing nitric oxide-releasing hydrogels and mesoporous nanoparticles for therapeutic applications.
Graduate Students
Courtney Johnson
B.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry (2020), Kansas State University
Courtney studies the on-demand release of nitric oxide via light emitting diodes for antibacterial and wound healing applications. S-nitrosothiols are light sensitive NO donors that release NO upon irradiation. By exploiting a variety of wavelengths and irradiances, low concentrations (nM-pM) of NO can be released to promote wound healing or high concentrations (µM) are liberated for antibacterial activity.
B.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry (2020), Kansas State University
Courtney studies the on-demand release of nitric oxide via light emitting diodes for antibacterial and wound healing applications. S-nitrosothiols are light sensitive NO donors that release NO upon irradiation. By exploiting a variety of wavelengths and irradiances, low concentrations (nM-pM) of NO can be released to promote wound healing or high concentrations (µM) are liberated for antibacterial activity.
Sarah Nagy
B.S. Chemistry (2020), Shippensburg University
Sarah is developing a liposomal NO-releasing system for treatment of pulmonary Mycobacterium abscesses. She characterizes various liposomal systems as a function of lipid composition, formation conditions, and NO donor to control encapsulation, stability, and NO-release kinetics. She also evaluates therapeutic efficacy by performing in vitro bactericidal and cellular assays.
B.S. Chemistry (2020), Shippensburg University
Sarah is developing a liposomal NO-releasing system for treatment of pulmonary Mycobacterium abscesses. She characterizes various liposomal systems as a function of lipid composition, formation conditions, and NO donor to control encapsulation, stability, and NO-release kinetics. She also evaluates therapeutic efficacy by performing in vitro bactericidal and cellular assays.
Sami Picciotti
B.S. Chemistry (2020), University of Maryland, College Park
Sami's research is focused on developing NO-releasing linear and nanoparticle glycosaminoglycans for dermatology applications, including wound healing and acne treatment. She characterizes these novel materials with a variety of analytical techniques, such as FTIR, GPC, TEM, and CHN elemental analysis. She also evaluates the biological activity of these materials in vitro using both cellular and bacterial assays.
B.S. Chemistry (2020), University of Maryland, College Park
Sami's research is focused on developing NO-releasing linear and nanoparticle glycosaminoglycans for dermatology applications, including wound healing and acne treatment. She characterizes these novel materials with a variety of analytical techniques, such as FTIR, GPC, TEM, and CHN elemental analysis. She also evaluates the biological activity of these materials in vitro using both cellular and bacterial assays.
Maggie Purvis
B.S. Chemistry (2021), Texas Christian University
Maggie's project focuses on developing wound healing therapeutics utilizing the pro-wound healing activity of nitric oxide. She synthesizes and characterizes NO-releasing materials and evaluates their efficacy as a therapeutic. She aims to integrate NO donors into various bioactive scaffolds, such as biopolymers, hydrogels, and electrospun nanofibers.
B.S. Chemistry (2021), Texas Christian University
Maggie's project focuses on developing wound healing therapeutics utilizing the pro-wound healing activity of nitric oxide. She synthesizes and characterizes NO-releasing materials and evaluates their efficacy as a therapeutic. She aims to integrate NO donors into various bioactive scaffolds, such as biopolymers, hydrogels, and electrospun nanofibers.
Mikaylin Nogler
B.S. Biochemistry (2021), Fairfield University
Mikaylin is developing a highly selective nitric oxide sensor that can detect low concentrations of NO in complex media in vitro and measure NO in real-time in vivo. By investigating fluctuations of endogenous NO as a function of disease state, she hopes to elucidate the relationship of stored NO in diabetic in vivo models. Through this work, she aims to extend the lifetime of implantable glucose sensors by liberating endogenous stores of NO found within the skin.
B.S. Biochemistry (2021), Fairfield University
Mikaylin is developing a highly selective nitric oxide sensor that can detect low concentrations of NO in complex media in vitro and measure NO in real-time in vivo. By investigating fluctuations of endogenous NO as a function of disease state, she hopes to elucidate the relationship of stored NO in diabetic in vivo models. Through this work, she aims to extend the lifetime of implantable glucose sensors by liberating endogenous stores of NO found within the skin.
Tsian Ramrattan
B.S. Chemistry and B.A. Economics (2022), Emory University
Tsian works on hydrogel, drug releasing scaffolds for treatment of periodontal disease. She synthesizes and characterizes biocompatible hydrogel formulations for oral delivery of nitric oxide therapeutics.
B.S. Chemistry and B.A. Economics (2022), Emory University
Tsian works on hydrogel, drug releasing scaffolds for treatment of periodontal disease. She synthesizes and characterizes biocompatible hydrogel formulations for oral delivery of nitric oxide therapeutics.
Anna Lynch
B.A. Chemistry (2023), Smith College
Understanding the structure-function relationship of polymeric systems is crucial when designing novel therapeutics. Anna's project aims to elucidate the antibacterial properties of dendrimer scaffolds for the treatment of periodontal disease.
B.A. Chemistry (2023), Smith College
Understanding the structure-function relationship of polymeric systems is crucial when designing novel therapeutics. Anna's project aims to elucidate the antibacterial properties of dendrimer scaffolds for the treatment of periodontal disease.
Caz Scaefer
B.S. Chemistry (2024), Bellarmine University
B.S. Chemistry (2024), Bellarmine University
Joseph Metiva
B.S. Biochemistry (2024), Saginaw Valley State University
B.S. Biochemistry (2024), Saginaw Valley State University
Kacey Durkin
B.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry (2024), West Chester University
B.S. Chemistry and Biochemistry (2024), West Chester University
Luc Morgan
B.S. Chemistry (2024), Centre College
B.S. Chemistry (2024), Centre College
Undergraduate Students
Olivia Honeycutt
Tori Jenkins
William Sellers
Tori Jenkins
William Sellers
