Robert L. Stiles P'71 University Fellows Endowment

Cancer starts at a molecular level, when multiple mutations within the DNA of a cell cause uncontrolled cellular division without triggering apoptosis, or scheduled cell death. Pharmaceutical companies have developed chemotherapeutics that stop cancer by using molecules called intercalators to target DNA directly. Intercalators are small, planar molecules that force themselves between DNA base pairs, warping the tightly coiled double helix until it breaks.

The purpose of this project was to determine the steady state concentration of microplastics in freshwater clams, collected from various aquatic bodies in upstate New York. The concentration of microplastic in clam soft tissue as well as in clam fecal matter was determined through the chemical digestion procedure that utilized in situ Fenton’s reagent to break down organic material. Results showed that the mass of clam soft tissues have a positive correlation with the amount of reagent that had to be added.

Acridine dyes are commonly used for DNA-drug interaction studies because their polycyclic, planar, and aromatic structures can intercalate between adjacent DNA bases, stopping transcription and serving as potential chemotherapeutic agents. In my research, I have prepared a number of acridine derivatives to understand DNA-ligand interactions and structure-activity relationships better.

Cancer is caused by cellular malfunction resulting in unchecked cell growth. When cells grow uncontrollably, they can crowd out nearby cells and spread to other parts of the body. The major cause of cancer is gene mutations, often caused by external carcinogens, which alter the DNA and other biological machinery required to keep our cell growth balanced.  Many cancers are hard to treat, and researchers are still trying to find selective anticancer drugs with mild or no side effects.