From Proposal to Performance to Presentation: Collaborative Performance Learning in the

Sciences

Paris Barnes, Anne Rammelsberg, and Jennifer Schroeder

Millikin Interdisciplinary Faculty Conference

February 20, 2015

Performance Learning in the Sciences

Presentation Proposal Performance

Using Nanoscience to Fight Cancer

Innovator – Caitlin Klimavicz (Presidential, JMS, Leighty) Idea – Treat cancer noninvasively by combining the emerging area of nanoscience and natural toxins Proposal – Submitted to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2008

Engineering a Possible New Cancer Treatment

“Soldiers” Cantharidin

“Trojan Horse” Liposome-nanoshell composite

Treating Cancer Non-Invasively

Student Tasks

• Synthesize gold nanoshells.

• Fabricate the “Trojan Horses.” • Test the effects of components of the nanoshell-

liposome composites and other chemotherapeutic agents on several breast cancer cell lines.

• Understand nanoshell stability in media that simulates in vivo conditions.

• Learn how to release the “soldiers.”

Onto the Biology…

Why did we test all of the components of the nanoshell-liposome composites?

To understand the toxicity of the components.

+ MTT + DMSO

Crystal Violet in MeOH + SDS +

Travis Mansur

• Initiated studies with gold nanoparticles, checking toxicity using the crystal violet assay (SURF).

• Identified flaws with the crystal violet assay and compared it to the MTT assay.

• Presented his work at the Millikin Undergraduate Research Poster Symposium as well as twice regionally at the Illinois Symposium for Reproductive Science.

Danny Damiani, Herald & Review

Katie Kern

• Focused upon comparing the effects of cantharidin to two known chemotherapeutic drugs.

• Presented her work at two Undergraduate Research Poster Symposia and once regionally at the Illinois Symposium for Reproductive Science.

• Published a manuscript as the first author in the International Journal of Breast Cancer (2014).

Lindsey Baxter

• Synthesized liposomes and composites. Proved cantharidin did not leak from the composites (SURF).

• Assessed the safety of the composites as well as their toxicity with breast cancer cells.

• Honors:

– 2013 Judith & Richard G. Locke First Place Award

– 2014 Judith & Richard G. Locke Overall First Place Award

– Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the 2014 Sigma Zeta National Convention

Now the Chemistry…

0 h 0.5 h 10 h 16 h

Examine the stability of gold nanoparticles in a variety of media and at various temperatures.

Brian Kane

• Designed experiments to investigate the effects of temperature and environment (in plasma) on gold nanoshell stability.

• Completed analysis of gold nanoshells before and after heating at the Seitz Materials Research Facility (University of Illinois).

• Presented at 2014 Sigma Zeta National Convention and 248th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Current Contributors

Olivia Waszczuk (Junior - Leighty) • Examined safety of nanoparticles long-

term in breast cancer cells and short-term in bacteria.

• Presented her work as a junior at a regional reproductive biology conference.

Danny Damiani, Herald & Review

Ebony Hughey (Senior – LV Scholar)

Synthesized nanoshell-liposomes containing a dye inside and attempting to release contents using nanoshells that are temperature sensitive.

Outcomes

• 21 total presentations, including six at regional meetings and five at national meetings.

• Six awards, including one national overall oral presentation award.

Beyond Performance

One publication and two manuscripts in preparation

Acknowledgements

Twelve students involved. – 6 currently involved (1 with employment offer)

• Ebony Hughey (Senior – LV Scholar)

• Olivia Waszczuk (Junior – Leighty)

• Peter Piers (Junior)

• Aaron Fleming (Junior - JMS)

• Alex Cardascio (Sophomore – Honors)

• James Mangis (Junior)

– 6 graduates (2 enrolled in and 3 applying for professional education)

• Caitlin Klimavicz

• Ryan Friedrich

• Brian Kane

• Travis Mansur

• Katie Kern

• Lindsey Baxter