Targeted Degradation of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1 Using PROTAC Technology

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a heme-containing enzyme that catalyzes the first and 
rate-limiting step in the oxidative metabolism of tryptophan along the kynurenine pathway. 
Aberrant activation of this pathway is strongly associated with tumor immune suppression. 
Overexpression of IDO1 in tumor cells and antigen-presenting cells results in local depletion of 
tryptophan and accumulation of immunomodulatory metabolites such as kynurenine. These 

Type of Event:
Organic Seminar

Chemistry and Spectroscopy of
the HNCO+ and HNCS+ Ions -
Potential Precursors for Interstellar HNCO and HNCS

Isocyanic acid (HNCO) and isothiocyanic acid (HNCS), both relevant to prebiotic chemistry, have been detected in the interstellar medium, yet the formation pathways of these species remain largely unverified experimentally. Proposed mechanisms involve their cationic precursors (HNCO⁺, HNCS⁺) and hydrogen-loss products (NCO⁺, NCS⁺), none of which have been observed astronomically due to the lack of vibrational and rotational reference data.
 
Type of Event:
Physical Seminar

CaCO3 Nanoparticles to Promote the Tumor Infiltration and Maturation of cDC1s

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that initiate anti-tumor immunity, with cDC1s playing a critical role in cross-presentation and CD8+ T cell activation. However, within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), DC infiltration and maturation are often impaired, limiting effective immune responses. 

Type of Event:
Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar

Hansen Solubility Parameters as a Predictive Tool for Formulating Amorphous Solid Dispersions

 A major challenge in pharmaceutical development is the poor aqueous solubility of majority of the crystalline active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) generated in drug discovery.  Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) improve solubility by molecularly dispersing amorphous APIs within a glassy polymer matrix; however, their utility is often constrained by limited drug loading capacity and incomplete drug dissolution.

Type of Event:
Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar

Novel Bio-based Plasticizers for Poly(Vinyl Chloride)

Poly(Vinyl Chloride) is the third most synthesized and utilized commodity plastic. While its unplasticized form is used extensively in construction materials because of its toughness and rigidity, it is also desirable for biomedical and packaging applications due to its sterility and chemical resistance, requiring plasticization which accounts for 80% of the world's plasticizer usage.

Type of Event:
Materials Chemistry and Nanoscience Seminar

Oxidative Coupling Reactions of Phenols and Azines Via Cationic and Radical Intermediates

The photochemical oxidative coupling of phenols with a range of coupling partners will be described. Even though the reaction likely involves radical intermediates, selectivity can be controlled by selecting coupling partners with different oxidation and nucleophilicity profiles. In addition, the use of donor acceptor complexes permit coupling with partners that have lower oxidation potentials than the phenols. The use of solid photocatalysts and the removal of product to prevent overoxidation will be also be outlined. 

Type of Event:
Organic Seminar
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