Progress 09/01/04 to 08/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1) The USDA funded, Capacity Building Grant at Prairie View A&M University entitled "Development of Center for Biodegradable Polymer Systems", was a multidisciplinary program combining basic and applied research with educational programs. The establishment of the Capacity Building program at PVAMU successfully engaged thirteen Agriculture majors at PVAMU in a community of inquiry during the three summer months. Over twenty students were recruited and encouraged to submit complete applications by mid March of each year. Five, four and seven students submitted completed applications by the deadline in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. Five, four and seven students, who met all our criteria, were accepted into the program in 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively, but only four, three and six accepted and eventually participated in the summer research internship in the aforementioned years. In order to improve recruitment purposes, a brochure, a flyer and a poster were developed by the PI and Co-PI, Dr. Carson and Dr. Regisford, respectively. The brochure contained information about the program and research interests of individual faculty mentors. 2) Students lived on campus for the duration of the ten-week summer program and were assimilated into their respective research projects and labs, as well as campus life. 3) The program participants attended four seminars and participated in three field trips each year. Nine of the students presented their summer research findings in poster form at Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) each year. 4) PVAMU faculty mentors, graduate students and technicians actively engaged the participants in their respective lab meetings. Communication between the participants, mentors and the PI and Co-PI remained open and frequent. 5) Participants of the program attended two panel discussions and two workshops. Fieldtrips were taken to the Genome Center at Baylor College of Medicine, NASA Johnson, USDA in College Station and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. 6) Participants completed evaluation questionnaires on their opinions on the activities and their participation in basic biomedical research. PARTICIPANTS: Adam Anthony, mentored by Dr. R. Green, 2005, BS, ABRCMS, attending graduate school at PVAMU; Clarice Dearman, mentored by Dr. R. Griffin, 2005, BS, ABRCMS; Ronda Jackson, mentored by Dr. L. Carson, 2005, BS, ABRCMS, attending graduate school at PVAMU; Daphne Wiley, mentored by Dr. V.G. Stanley, 2005, BS, ABRCMS; Michael Washington, mentored by Dr. G.B. Stanley, 2006, left school; Ashley Alleyne, mentored by Dr. L Carson, 2006, ABRCMS, Senior at PVAMU; Ray Green, mentored by Dr. V.G. Stanley, 2006, ABRCMS, Senior at PVAMU; Dwain Stewart, mentored by Dr. V.G. Stanley, 2007, ABRCMS, BS, attending graduate school at PVAMU; Jose Turcois, mentored by Dr. A. Mora, 2007, Senior at PVAMU; Lionel Mosby, Jr., mentored by Dr. L. Carson, 2007, Senior at PVAMU; Sheldon Lamey, mentored by Dr. G. Regisford, 2007, ABRCMS, Junior at PVAMU; Robert McClintock, mentored by Dr. G. Regisford, 2007, ABRCMS, BS, working at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Seiffulah Schoffield, mentored by Dr. R. Griffin, 2007, ABRCMS, Junior at PVAMU. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The goal of this project was to establish a research project that would enhance biodegradable polymer systems using a multidisciplinary approach. While exposing Agriculture majors to research, this project exposed them to research that had not been undertaken at PVAMU Cooperative Agricultural Research Center. The impact that each specific aim provided follows: 1)Modify existing polymer systems and determine degradation times - Chitosan was used as the biodegradable polymer system. Papain, bacterial proteases and potassium persulfate were used as potential candidates to degrade chitosan. Initially bacterial proteases were chosen but later gel permeation chromatography studies indicated that potassium persulfate yielded the same molecular weights as bacterial proteases with a significant reduction in the degradation cost. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance both indicated that the chemical integrity was maintained. 2)Determine the effect of modified systems on soil after disposal and degradation - This objective was slightly changed and the effect of different soils on the degradation of chitosan was observed. The student researchers found that chitosan degraded fastest in clay due to chitosan's interaction with the clay. Further investigations on chitosan's interaction in different soils have been initiated. 3)Train twelve students from PVAMU over the three funding years in food and agricultural sciences and related fields - Thirteen students were engaged in research over the funding years of the project. 4)Provide opportunities for participants to obtain first-hand research experience in food and agricultural sciences and related fields - Thirteen students were engaged in research over the funding years of the project. 5)Provide opportunities for participants to learn more about food and agricultural sciences through seminars, field trips and research symposiums - Students visited the Genome Center at Baylor College of Medicine, NASA Johnson, USDA in College Station and Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. 6)Provide mentoring opportunities for research collaborations among students and faculty at PVAMU to address the retention of minority involvement in scientific research.
Publications
- Carson, L., Kelly-Brown, C., Stewart, M.*, Oki, A., Regisford, G., Luo, Z., Bakhmutov, V. I., 2008 Synthesis and Characterization of Chitosan Carbon Nanotube Composites, Mater Lett, 2009, 63,6-7, 617-620.
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The USDA funded, Capacity Building Grant at Prairie View A&M University entitled Development of Center for Biodegradable Polymer Systems, is a multidisciplinary program combining basic and applied research with educational programs. Dwain Stewart, Seifullah Schoffield, Jose Turcois, Lionel Mosby, Jr., Sheldon Lamey and Robert McClintock participated in the ten week summer internship program here at Prairie View A&M University. Orientation began on June 1 and students were introduced to their research mentor. Mentors meet with their students for an hour discussion every week in addition to working closely with students on a daily basis. At this meeting, participants discuss their projects, specifically the rationale, methods and expected results. These meetings are focused on the progress and/or problems in research projects. Fieldtrips were taken to the Genome Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in College Station, Texas
and United Stated Department of Agriculture in College Station. Students presented their work at ABRCMS in Austin Texas and the local symposium held at Prairie View A&M University. Some of these students also attended MANRRS. Since the project is focused on biodegradable polymer systems as well as getting students involved in research, each student worked on a project involving the use of chitosan and its degraded derivative
PARTICIPANTS: During the ten week summer program, fieldtrips were taken to the Genome Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine in College Station, Texas and United Stated Department of Agriculture in College Station. These trips were taken to expose the participants to the diverse areas of research. Students were given the opportunity at these meetings to discuss issues ranging from graduate school to career choices. The participants in the project were Dwain Stewart, Seifullah Schoffield, Jose Turcois, Lionel Mosby, Jr., Sheldon Lamey and Robert McClintock. Dwain, Seifullah and Robert selected to remain with the program and continue to perform research. Dwain, Lionel, Robert are graduating Seniors and have applied for graduate school here at Prairie View. Jose is classified as a Junior and has continued to perform research at the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center. Seifullah and Sheldon are Sophomores and plan to participate in
another summer research internship elsewhere. Sheldon continue to perform research at the Cooperative Agricultural Research Center.
Impacts
The goal of this project is to develop a center that will produce enhanced biodegradable polymer systems using a multidisciplinary approach. It is hypothesized that these enhanced biodegradable polymer systems will have significantly shorter degradation times, will continue to be safe products when used as food packaging; and therefore will not adversely affect our food , our health and our environment. To date, we have shown that chitosan can be degraded enzymatically and the degraded derivative has a potential to inhibit the growth of microorganisms and possibly inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer cells
Publications
- Dwain Stewart, Selamawit Woldesenbet, DVM and Dr. Victor Stanley, The Antimicrobial Effects of Pure Chitosan on the Survival of E.coli 0157:h7 and Salmonella Typhimurium In Vitro. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, Austin, TX, Nov 7-10, 2007.
- Everton Brown, Sheldon Lamey, Cordella Kelly-Brown, Laura Carson, Ph. D., The Effects of Chitosan Treatment on the Expression of TGF-beta in Ca-OV3 Cells. Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students, Austin, TX, Nov 7-10, 2007.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The USDA funded, Capacity Building Grant at Prairie View A&M University entitled Development of Center for Biodegradable Polymer Systems, is a multidisciplinary program combining basic and applied research with educational programs. Four Agriculture majors at Prairie View A&M University, Adam Anthony, Clarice Dearman, Ronda Jackson and Daphne Wiley participated in the program for ten weeks during Summer 2005. Orientation began on May 31 and students were introduced to their research mentor. Mentors met with their students for an hour discussion every week in addition to working closely with students on a daily basis. At this meeting, participants discussed their projects, specifically the rationale, methods and expected results. These meetings were focused on the progress and/or problems in research projects. Fieldtrips were taken to the Genome Center at Baylor College of Medicine, NASA Johnson, USDA in College Station. Students have presented their work at ABRCMS in
Atlanta, Georgia and the local symposium held at Prairie View A&M University. Students will also present at MANRRS. Since the project is focused on biodegradable polymer systems, chitosan has been enzymatically degraded to give low molecular weight fractions. Studies are being performed to determine if chitosan decrease the growth rate of ovarian cancer cells.
Impacts
The goal of this project is to develop a center that will produce enhanced biodegradable polymer systems using a multidisciplinary approach. It is hypothesized that these enhanced biodegradable polymer systems will have significantly shorter degradation times, will continue to be safe products when used as food packaging; and therefore will not adversely affect our food , our health and our environment. Additionally, this project will expose students at PVAMU to research involving biodegradable polymers systems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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