A CH 633 Seminar ft: Ebuka Anizoba and Maryam Nikpayam

Ebuka Anizoba

Title: Determination and characterization of pharmaceuticals sorbed onto the surface of nanoplastics using capillary electrophoresis 

Abstract: As plastics persist in the environment, they are broken down into smaller pieces through processes like UV degradation and mechanical forces. Nanoplastics have gained significant attention as they have been shown to cause harm to aquatic animals either by themselves or as vectors of organic pollutants. Therefore, analytical methods for the determination of the fate of and sorption of contaminants, like pharmaceuticals, to nanoplastics in the environment have become a focus of much study. Many methods have been proposed to quantify and characterize pharmaceuticals sorbed to nanoplastics, which include the use of laboratory instruments like fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. Although these instruments quantify sorbed pharmaceuticals and afford a useful limit of detection, they all require a filtration and drying step, which affects the equilibrium between the sorbed pharmaceutical and the nanoplastics. I will present a novel analytical method for the determination of sorbed diphenhydramine on polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics that improves on established methods, and demonstrate the applicability of this method to other pharmaceuticals. 

Biography: Ebuka Anizoba was born and raised in Lagos state, Nigeria. He received his BSc in Biochemistry from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun state in 2020. He currently works with Dr Remcho and Dr Bain where he is focused on developing better analytical methods to quantify and characterize micro and nanoplastics.

Maryam Nikpayam

Title: Exploring proteomic differences in breast cancer cells using mass spectrometry

Abstract: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant challenges in treatment due to its resistance to targeted therapies. Among the key players implicated in resistance is the Bcl-2 protein family, known for its role in modulating apoptosis pathways. This study aims to explore novel therapeutic strategies targeting Bcl-2 by testing and validating new Bcl-2 functional converters (BFCs) and identifying potential therapeutic targets through a comprehensive analysis of proteome changes using analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry.

Biography: Maryam Nikpayam was born and raised in Iran. She received her BC and MS in Polymer Engineering at Tehran Polytechnique University. In January 2022, Maryam started her PhD in Chemistry at Oregon State University. Her research is focused on proteomics analysis, employing advanced techniques in analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry. She investigates different types of cancer tumors, analyzing theirmicroenvironment and unraveling their complex proteomic profiles.