Research Initiation Awards: Synthesis of biomimetic melanin-like multifunctional nanoparticles for pH sensitive magnetic resonance imaging and photothermal therapy

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)研究启动奖(RIA)为HBCU的STEM教员提供支持，让他们在自己的家乡机构、NSF资助的中心、研究密集型机构或国家实验室进行研究。RIA项目有望帮助教师进一步提高研究能力和效率，改善其所在机构的研究和教学，并让本科生参与研究体验。在国家科学基金会的支持下，杰克逊州立大学(JSU)将设计和开发对pH变化敏感、具有生物兼容性和低毒性的纳米颗粒，并可用于分子成像和治疗。拟议的项目将加强联合技术大学的教育和研究能力，加强化学系正在进行的研究，并建立内部和外部的合作。该项目将允许本科生将基础化学和材料科学与生物医学工程中的潜在应用联系起来。代表不足的少数民族接触尖端研究和仪器将导致学生为研究生院做好充分准备，并有资格在国家的STEM劳动力中竞争。该项目的目标是开发仿生纳米颗粒，以增强磁共振(MR)信号对pH的响应。具体地说，本研究的目标是：1)合成和表征具有pH敏感成分的聚N，N-二丙基多巴胺纳米颗粒(PDNPs)；2)开发新的方案来修饰PDNPs的表面，以改善其溶解性和进一步的功能化；3)通过本质上与铁(III)的络合来制备多功能PDNPs；以及4)通过与活细胞培养来评价纳米颗粒的生物相容性。PDNPs的开发将为制备具有pH敏感、MR特性和光热效应的类黑色素纳米颗粒提供一种方法。PDNPs的结构表征将为金属离子与邻苯二酚基团的相互作用机理提供信息。该项目不仅将加强生物医学工程研究，还将为JSU的本科生和研究生提供极好的教育和培训机会。这项工作将与圣路易斯的华盛顿大学合作进行。这些研究和教育活动将推动JSU的学术使命。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) Research Initiation Awards (RIAs) provide support to STEM faculty at HBCUs to pursue research at their home institution, at an NSF-funded Center, at a research intensive institution or at a national laboratory. The RIA projects are expected to help further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness, to improve research and teaching at his or her home institution, and to involve undergraduate students in research experiences. With support from the National Science Foundation, Jackson State University (JSU) will design and develop nanoparticles which are sensitive to pH change and have biocompatibility and low toxicity and can be used for molecular imaging and therapeutics. The proposed project will strengthen the educational and research capacity at JSU, augment the ongoing research being conducted in the Department of Chemistry, and build collaborations both internally and externally. The project will allow undergraduate students to connect basic chemistry and materials science with potential application in biomedical engineering. The exposure of underrepresented minorities to cutting-edge research and instrumentation will result in students who are well-prepared for graduate school and well-qualified to compete in the Nation's STEM workforce. The goal of this project is to develop biomimetic nanoparticles to enhance magnetic resonance (MR) signals in response to pH. Specifically, this study aims to: 1) synthesize and characterize poly(N,N-dipropyldopamine) nanoparticles (PDNPs) with pH sensitive components 2) develop new schemes to modify the surface of PDNPs to improve their solubility and for further functionalization; 3) prepare multifunctional PDNPs by intrinsically chelating with iron(III); and 4) evaluate the biocompatibility of nanoparticles by incubating with living cells. The development of the PDNPs will provide a procedure to prepare melanin-like nanoparticles with pH sensitive MR properties and photothermal effect. The structural characterization of PDNPs will provide information for the mechanisms of interaction of the metal ion with catechol groups. The project will not only enhance biomedical engineering research but also provide excellent education and training opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students at JSU. This work will be conducted in collaboration with the Washington University in St. Louis. The research and educational activities will advance the academic mission of JSU.