Date of Award

Winter 2-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Molecular Science and Nanotechnology

First Advisor

Mark DeCoster

Abstract

With the recent creation of Metal Organic Biohybrids (MOBs) from the DeCoster lab group at Louisiana Tech University, a new class of nano and micro particles needs to be investigated. The amalgamation of metals such as copper and an amino acid have already shown promise for biomedical applications such as delayed drug delivery or time delayed anti-microbial effects1. In this study the effects of cobalt, copper, and zinc-based MOBs have been compared against silicon dioxide nanoparticles, a negative control, and copper oxide nanoparticles, a positive control, in order to observe their effects on cancerous glioma cells and healthy astrocyte cells. The cellular health was examined in terms of cell metabolism, calcium response intensity and nuclear morphology via MTT assay, DAPI staining and calcium imaging.

The study showed that all MOBs tested had desired negative effects on both the astrocyte and glioma cell lines. Of exception were CuHARs which were able to successfully decrease the astrocyte metabolism by 21% and the glioma was more harshly affected at 29%. Calcium imaging data of glioma also showed an initial suppression followed by agitation concluded by suppression when compared to control cells. When CuHARs were compared to CuNPs by concentration of copper mass present in the total dose of the material. the metabolism was 89 ± 0% CuNPs and 94 ± 0% CuHARs at 24Hrs. In summary, all MOBs tested showed promise and with alterations to dosages, amounts, and loadings they may be a key to a new cancer treatment method.

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