Tags: Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar


Modernity in Ancient Times: Copper Silicate Pigments from Historical Significance to Modern Applications

Egyptian blue is considered the first synthetic pigment, dating back to the 3rd millennium BC1. It is a layered calcium copper silicate material with the chemical composition CaCuSi4O10. Later, a related family of these layered silicates were discovered— Han blue (BaCuSi4O10), and Han Purple (BaCuSi2O6)2. The layered silicates EB, HB, and HP are known as historic pigments, but they also possess novel optoelectronic properties with strong…


Polymeric Biointerfaces for Tailored Interactions with Cells


Applications of Material Science in Support of Nuclear Forensics and Non-Proliferation

With globalization and the spreading availability of technologies, nuclear proliferation challenges continue to grow and evolve. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) works to counter proliferation by providing scientific and technological solutions, as well as expert advice to combat emerging threats. Working with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and other government agencies, SRNL’s Global Security Directorate provides…


Improving Ischemic Stroke Treatment with Functional Magnetic Nanomotor

The treatment of ischemic stroke remains a daunting task as few therapeutic strategies have proven to be effective. Systemic thrombolysis with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) remains the only proven treatment to improve clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke. But because of an increased risk of hemorrhage beyond 4.5 hours after onset of stroke, only certain stroke patients (1-2%) can benefit from tPA treatment.…


Sodium Chloride Nanoparticles as Bladder Cancer Therapeutics

The project is based on the hypothesis that SCNPs can break the osmotic balance across the plasma membrane of cancer cells. Ion homeostasis is essential for maintaining the integrity of the plasm membrane and sustaining the normal cell functions. Breaking the homeostasis could disrupt the potential balance and interrupt essential cellular processes. Instead of using organic ionophores, we explore SCNPs as a new strategy to carry ions across the…


Chemical Recycling To Monomers

With the ever rising production of plastic globally, a renewed focus has been cast onto the end of life fate of these persisting products.1 Within this sphere, chemical recycling to monomers is a high interest area that focuses on the application of depolymerization to return plastics into reusable monomers in order to produce a truly circular plastic recycling economy.2 Within this field, the two main focuses are on either finding novel…


Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances in Paper and Paperboard Food Packaging

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals commonly used in food contact paper and paperboard due to their unique ability to provide both moisture and oil/grease resistance. However, recently it is becoming evident that they resist degradation, contaminate water supplies, and are becoming environmental persistent.1 Some studies have shown long and short chain PFAS bioaccumulate in tissues and are linked to multiple health…


Cell-Derived Nanoparticles as Cancer Vaccines

Immune system protects our body from attacks by pathogens. Immune system can also accurately identify self and mutated peptides on cancer cells and amount an antitumor immune response.1 As a novel cancer treatment modality, cancer immunotherapy aims at training immune cells for antigen recognition or boosting antitumor immune response. Unlike conventional therapies, immunotherapy promises to eliminate both primary and distant tumors while…


BEYOND SURFACE Facilitates Electrocatalytic Reactions of Renewable Carbons

There has been growing interest to drive chemical reactions via the direct use of renewable electricity to address sustainability challenges. The success of the approach rests on the use of the right materials to efficiently catalyze electrochemical reactions. Thus, there have been intense efforts to engineer catalyst materials whose surface contains the desired active sites. Despite the success, there is still much room for improvement in the…


Unlocking the Power of Group 16 (and 17) in the Solid State

Solid-state materials chemistry focuses on metals and cationic substitutions, particularly those in oxide ceramics. Relative to oxides, chalcogenides and mixed anion systems have been relatively underexplored. The Macaluso Research Group aims to uncover the structural and electronic role of Groups 16 and 17 elements in solid-state materials. We employ laboratory X-ray diffraction, synchrotron and neutron scattering to elucidate local and average…
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