Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

nsf-logo[1]

  • About
    • About AAAS
    • About the NSF
    • About the Conference
    • Partners/Supporters
    • Project Team
  • Conference
  • Abstracts
    • Abstract Submission Process
    • Presentation Schedules
    • Abstract Submission Guidelines
    • Presentation Guidelines
    • Undergraduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Graduate Abstract Locator (2020)
    • Faculty Abstract Locator (2020)
  • Travel Awards
  • Resources
    • App
    • Award Winners
    • Code of Conduct-AAAS Meetings
    • Code of Conduct-ERN Conference
    • Conference Agenda
    • Conference Materials
    • Conference Program Books
    • ERN Photo Galleries
    • Events | Opportunities
    • Exhibitor Info
    • HBCU-UP/CREST PI/PD Meeting
    • In the News
    • NSF Harassment Policy
    • Plenary Session Videos
    • Professional Development
    • Science Careers Handbook
    • Additional Resources
    • Archives
  • Engage
    • Webinars
    • Video Contest
    • Video Contest Winners
    • ERN 10-Year Anniversary Videos
    • Plenary Session Videos
  • Contact Us

Multifunctional Methods to Synthesize Metallic Nanoparticles and Their Antimicrobial Properties

Graduate #79
Discipline:
Subcategory: Materials Science

Aiesha L. Ethridge - Tuskegee University
Co-Author(s): Amir I. Mills, Demetrius A. Finley, and Michael L. Curry, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL



The current state of nanoparticles fabrication via polymer or solid state means is limited by the instability of the formed nanoparticles against self-aggregation and the ability to produce monodispersed nanoparticles on the macro-scale. Hence, motivation for this project is to construct a solid state nanoreactor that uses multifunctional reduction methods (chemical reduction and photoreduction) to produce technologically relevant monometallic and multimetallic nanoparticles with controllable shapes and sizes and with specific designed cores and shell compositions at the macroscale ‘gram scale’. In particular, this design will take advantage of polymeric means (Dendrimers and high temperature polymers such as PEI) to control the growth modes of CuNi, and CuNiCo particles during formation. The resulting morphologies and structures of the formed nanoparticles were characterized by UV-vis, TEM, and XRD. TEM results showed 4 nm spherical particles. Biological studies were also done to test the toxicity of the nanoparticles formed. Furthermore, future tests will be conducted to establish the influence of the particle’s composition and structure on its bioaccumulation in the environment, its solubility in water and in various buffer solutions, and measure free ions by ICP after being suspended in water for various periods of times and its effect on other biological systems.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): The authors gratefully acknowledge the following grants: CHE-1503408; AGEP HRD-1433005; NSF EPS-1158862; NSF HRD-1137681; The Department of Chemistry; and The Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Tuskegee University.

Faculty Advisor: Michael L. Curry, currym@mytu.tuskegee.edu

Role: I synthesized the polyethyleneimine metallic nanoparticles. I performed XRD and UV-vis on the nanoparticles, and freeze dried the nanoparticles. I made agar plates, grew and inoculated the bacteria to perform the biological studies.

ERN Conference

The 2022 ERN Conference has been postponed.

Full Notice

What’s New

  • Congratulations to Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy on her 2021 AAAS Fellowship
  • Event Vaccination and Liability Policy
  • Webinars
  • Events|Opportunities
  • AAAS CEO Comments on Social Unrest, Racism, and Inequality
  • Maintaining Accessibility in Online Teaching During COVID-19
  • In the News
  • HBCU/CREST PI/PD Meeting

Conference Photos

ERN Conference Photo Galleries

Awards

ERN Conference Award Winners

Checking In

nsf-logo[1]

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.

AAAS

1200 New York Ave, NW Washington,DC 20005
202-326-6400
Contact Us
About Us

The World's Largest General Scientific Society

Useful Links

  • Membership
  • Careers at AAAS
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Focus Areas

  • Science Education
  • Science Diplomacy
  • Public Engagement
  • Careers in STEM

 

  • Shaping Science Policy
  • Advocacy for Evidence
  • R&D Budget Analysis
  • Human Rights, Ethics & Law
© 2022 American Association for the Advancement of Science