The PR-CLIMB site will incorporate seven weekly four hour hands-on workshops designed to instruct students on the operation of state-of-the-art instrumentation and application of modern techniques that will prepare them for developing experimental design and analytical skills useful for their research projects during the summer. The topics of the workshops address the research areas included in the proposal regarding the engineering of materials and biomolecules for potential applications in water purification, energy storage, sensing, drug design, and drug delivery. Learning such techniques will serve a greater purpose: it will empower the REU students in learning about tools and techniques used in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry while preparing them for graduate studies in the fields of biotechnology and materials science. Faculty members of the chemistry graduate program will organize the hands-on workshops offered to PR-CLIMB REU students. Each instructor is an expert in the technique delivered.
List of topics and description
W-1. Sample preparation fundamentals for chromatography (Instructor: Dr. Liz Díaz) In this workshop students will learn about the complex nature of biological sample analysis due to the presence of multiple interferences. Emphasis will be placed on the quality of sample preparation. The most important sample preparation methods used for preparing samples for analysis by chromatographic techniques will be discussed. These will include: 1. QuEChERS sample preparation 2. Solid Phase Micro Extraction (SPME), 3. Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) 4. Headspace sampling, 5. Pressurized Liquid Extraction, 6. Accelerated Solvent Extraction, 7. Soxhlet Extraction 8. Liquid/ liquid Extraction.
W-2. Bioactive peptides and the solid phase synthesis of peptides (Instructor: Dr. Arthur Tinoco)
In the two hour lecture portion of this workshop students will learn about peptides, especially certain key bioactive peptides and how they perform the roles that they play and can be engineered to execute other roles. They will also be taught about the chemistry of solid phase peptide synthesis including the process of isolating, purifying, and identifying the peptides. In the two hour hands on portion of this workshop, the students will be taken to the peptide synthesis facility and be introduced to a CEM Liberty Blue peptide synthesizer, which applies microwave technology to rapidly synthesize peptides using the solid phase technique. The students will have the opportunity to synthesize a short peptide and cleave it from the solid resin. They will then be given an overview of the general approach to the purification and characterization of the peptides in this facility.
W-3. Two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy (Instructor: Dr. Jose Prieto)
Students will be given an introduction to two-dimensional NMR for structure elucidation, specifically COSY and NOESY. With the assistance of the instructor, students will evaluate the 2D NMR spectra collected for a natural product and/or research compound of intermediate complexity. Students will then have an opportunity to see the NMR facility, which includes 500 MHz and 700 MHz instruments.
W-4. Crystal structure determination of small molecules (Instructors- Dr. Dalice M. Piñero Cruz and Dr. Vilmalí López Mejías)
In this workshop students will be introduced to X-ray diffraction experiments, one of the most powerful characterization techniques for the identification and structural determination of molecules and polymers in a crystaline lattice. Students will be offered an overview on X-ray diffraction covering powder (PXRD) and small molecules single crystal XRD. The first part of the workshop will include instruction on the basic principles of crystallography and X-ray diffraction experiments. The second part of the workshop will offer students a hands-on experience in techniques for growing X-ray quality crystals, sample preparation for PXRD, and a general overview of instrument operation and the solving of crystal structures. Instrumentation available for the workshop: APEX II Siemens CCD single crystal diffraction system and a Rigaku PXRD.
W-5. Electroanalytical Techniques for the Study of Redox Properties (Instructor- Dr. Ana Guadalupe)
Electrochemistry deals with the production of energy from redox chemical reactions and the use of energy to drive non-spontaneous redox chemical reactions. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce undergraduate students to basic concepts of electrochemistry and the use of electrochemical techniques to study bio(chemical) systems. Students will learn how to use a BAS 100B/W Electrochemical Analyzer and BAS Epsilon Potentiostat/Galvanostat.
W-6. Assessing the colloidal properties of bio/nanomaterials (Instructor: Dr. Eduardo Nicolau)
In this workshop participants will acquire hands-on experience on the use of dynamic light scattering and zeta potential devices to determine critical properties of colloidal structures such as: hydrodynamic radius and the overall charge of the colloidal system. These properties are of utmost importance to a wide variety of fields including catalysis, pharmaceuticals, and drug delivery among others. At the end of the workshop participants will be able to decouple the difference between molecular radii and their effective hydrodynamic radii. They will also learn how to determine the overall effective charge of the colloidal structure from zeta potential measurements. Samples will include: protein formulations, catalytic nanoparticles, and polymers.
W-7. Morphological Studies of Modified Au Interdigital Electrode Array Surfaces by Scanning Probe MicroscopyInstructor- Dr. Carlos R. Cabrera) Students will learn the basics of scanning electron, scanning tunneling, and atomic force microscopies to examine different biomaterial modified surfaces. They will be introduced to the techniques for sample preparation and will do a practice experience by modifying a Au interdigital electrode array surface with self-assembled monolayers of thiolated and covalently attached DNA and proteins. The students will examine some morphological features of the modified Au electrodes.