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Browsing Honors Program by Subject "Anti-infective agents"
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Item Analysis of Metal-Organic Framework Stability, Antimicrobial Properties, and Dental Applications(Florida Southern College, 2022-05) Marusko, Benjamin; Eubank, Jarrod F.; Langford, Melanie L.The development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), an analysis of their properties, and exploration of their potential biomedical applications, specifically dental, are areas of modern biochemical interest focus on through this study. Previous research has shown these frameworks (and/or their components) have the potential for antimicrobial properties, and we hypothesized that they may be used on dental implants to inhibit the growth of oral bacteria responsible for peri-implantitis. This project has consisted of the development and structural analysis of several different novel frameworks with a high potential for microbial inhibition. Through the incorporation of antimicrobial metal ions, bridging ligands, and possibly terminal ligands there is the potential for a synergistic antimicrobial effect greater than any of the individual components. Structural stability has been monitored under varying environmental conditions, such as humidity; changes have been recorded and analyzed for potential functional applications in biological conditions. A common characteristic of MOFs is the modularity of components, which could allow for the addition of drug compounds or ligands with higher antimicrobial effects for a stronger inhibition of bacterial growth. Key MOFs were selected for antimicrobial analysis through Kirby-Bauer inhibition tests on the common oral bacteria, Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). The frameworks presenting significant bacterial inhibition were then tested for the potential of growth directly onto the titanium implants used in a majority of oral surgeries. Our research project has resulted in novel MOFs with antimicrobial properties that can be further functionalized and grown directly onto titanium implants for the prevention of infection immediately post oral surgery.Item Biomedical Applications of Antimicrobial Metal-Organic Frameworks(Florida Southern College, 2019-04) Marusko, RobIn recent years, the field of metal-organic frameworks has seen dramatic increases in exploration. Metal-organic frameworks, commonly referred to as MOFs, have been shown to be excellent candidates for the storage of fuels (e.g., methane and acetylene), capture of gasses (e.g., hydrogen or carbon dioxide), and catalyzing reactions. With more than 20,000 different MOFs being reported and studied within the past decade, the focus of their applications has been constantly broadening and shifting. One area that has burgeoned more recently is the biomedical applications of these frameworks (particularly as antimicrobial agents) which has direct correlations and implications to the fields of medicine and dentistry, the particular interest of this project. One purpose of this particular project was to study the design and synthesis of metal-organic frameworks, in general, and tailor them toward biomedical applications, specifically. Upon the design and synthesis of suitable materials (e.g., biocompatible or bioactive), state-of-the-art structural analysis techniques (e.g., powder and single-crystal x-ray diffraction) were utilized for structure and phase confirmation. The expected bioactive materials were then evaluated for their antimicrobial properties. These materials are well-known for their modularity, and the explored structures were tailored to access/include different moieties (e.g., metal/ligand substitution, functionalization, etc.) with hopes of contributing to increased antimicrobial effectiveness.Item An Inquiry into the Synthesis of Zinc/Chelidonate-based MOFs and Their Potential Uses in the Prevention of Hernia Mesh Infections(Florida Southern College, 2022-05) Vassalotti, Ryan; Eubank, Jarrod F.A hernia is one of the most common medical issues that occurs in the entire world, affecting millions of people yearly. As part of the surgery to repair a hernia, the physician will often insert a mesh material to prevent recurrence of the hernia. Despite their high efficacy in preventing recurrence of the hernia, these hernia meshes are unfortunately prone to infection. Hernia mesh infections affect thousands of people every year and cost the individuals large amounts of unnecessary time and money. The field of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) has opened up a promising path towards solving this issue. The successful synthesis of antimicrobial MOFs and biocompatible MOFs demonstrates that there is merit in pursuing biomedical applications. With the help of antimicrobial materials like MOFs it may be possible to prevent these postoperative infections. Synthesis of a Zn-based analogue to a previously characterized antimicrobial Cu-basedMOF, me137, was successful. The results of this study indicate that control of both morphology and structure in Zn-based MOFs is possible. Additionally, the Zn-based MOFs appear to be more chemically stable than similar Cu-based MOFs. Antimicrobial assays have demonstrated that the Zn-based MOFs are capable of inhibiting the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. Early adhesion tests have shown that growth of Compound 1 (RV22) onto unmodified polypropylene is not an interaction that readily occurs. Thus, methods for modifying polypropylene to take on a form more conducive to MOF adhesion was investigated. A method for oxidizing polypropylene with the use of KMnO4, NaOH, and heat was found to be successful, but adhesion of Compound 1 onto the oxidized polypropylene has not yet been achieved.