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RISE:2019 at Northeastern University
April 4, 2019
RISE:2019 took place in Northeastern University (Boston, MA) as a conference engaging the innovation along both undergraduate and graduate students in campus. More than 2000 industry leaders, researchers and invertors of different fields were united together with the aim to find innovative approaches.
Our team was able to present two of our researchers by David Medina and Ada Vernet-Crua. Moreover, Ada was selected as one of the finalists for the RISE Awards!
Spring 2019 ACS National Meeting and Expo
March 31 - April 4, 2019
ACS National Meetings are where chemistry related professionals meet to exchange knowledge and ideas. During this edition, which took place in Orlando (FL), more than 14,000 attendees were able to share their passion for chemistry, and make and advancement in their careers in this ever-changing global economy.
This year theme was “Chemistry for new frontiers” encouraging the research of new chemical routes and products which can solve different problems that the world is facing nowadays. In addition, special sessions were held in order to commemorate the 50anniversary of the Apollo program.
David Medina and Ada Vernet-Crua were able to find a spot on the conference to give an oral and poster presentation about some of our green-synthetized nanoparticles!
New Green Chemistry Lab paper!
March 27, 2019
Our latest research entitled "Starch-mediated synthesis of mono- and bimetallic silver/gold nanoparticles as antimicrobial and anticancer agents" has been published in the International Journal of Nanomedicine. Good job team!
Abstract:
Background and aim: Bimetallic silver/gold nanosystems are expected to significantly improve therapeutic efficacy compared to their monometallic counterparts by maintaining the general biocompatibility of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) while, at the same time, decreasing the relatively high toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) toward healthy human cells. Thus, the aim of this research was to establish a highly reproducible one-pot green synthesis of colloidal AuNPs and bimetallic Ag/Au alloy nanoparticles (NPs; Ag/AuNPs) using starch as reducing and capping agent.
Methods: The optical properties, high reproducibility, stability and particle size distribution of the colloidal NPs were analyzed by ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and ζ-potential. The presence of starch as capping agent was determined by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The structural properties were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging was done to determine the morphology and size of the nanostructures. The chemical composition of the nanomaterials was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. To further study the biomedical applications of the synthesized nanostructures, antibacterial studies against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) were conducted. In addition, the NPs were added to the growth media of human dermal fibroblast (HDF) and human melanoma cells to show their cytocompatibility and cytotoxicity, respectively, over a 3-day experiment.
Results: UV–visible spectroscopy confirmed the highly reproducible green synthesis of colloidal AuNPs and Ag/AuNPs. The NPs showed a face-centered cubic crystal structure and an icosahedral shape with mean particle sizes of 28.5 and 9.7 nm for AuNPs and Ag/AuNPs, respectively. The antibacterial studies of the NPs against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains presented a dose-dependent antimicrobial behavior. Furthermore, the NPs showed cytocompatibility towards HDF, but a dose-dependent anticancer effect was found when human melanoma cells were grown in the presence of different NP concentrations for 72 hours.
Conclusion: In this study, mono- and bimetallic NPs were synthesized for the first time using a highly reproducible, environmentally friendly, cost-effective and quick method and were successfully characterized and tested for several anti-infection and anticancer biomedical applications.
The Green Chemistry Lab at the Northeast Bioengineering Conference in Rutgers University
March 22, 2019
The Northeast Bioengineering Conference (NEBEC) brought together undergraduate students, graduate students, postdocs, professors, and industry leaders from the world on bioengineering, with a special focus on a wide variety of subjects including assist devices, regenerative medicine, imaging, microfluidics, cancer studies, and tissue engineering.
Besides new and established professors, different students were able to give and attend talks and poster presentations.
David Medina was selected for a podium presentation in a 15-minute talk in which he exposed different updated related to the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using bacteria and human cells.
Green Chemistry representation in the 6th International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid, and Nanomaterials
March 11-15, 2019
The 6th International Conference on Multifunctional, Hybrid, and Nanomaterials took place in Sitges (Barcelona, Spain) during the week from 11-15thMarch. The meeting was organized by Elsevier in partnership with Materials Today with the aim to bring together different fields of nanotechnology. A selected program with keynote talks on multidisciplinary topics such as optical, medicine or environmental treatment applications, where offered.
In this context, our lab member Ada Vernet-Crua was able to assist and present two of our researches lines: “Green Synthesis of a Synergetic Structure of Tellurium Nanowires and Metallic Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications” and “Biogenic Metallic Nanoparticles. A nanometric trojan horse against cancer and antibiotic resistance”.
Green Chemistry Lab Recent Publication
March 11, 2019
The Green Chemistry Lab is celebrating the recent publication of “Citric juice-mediated synthesis of tellurium nanoparticles with antimicrobial and anticancer properties” in the Green Chemistry Journal, part of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Abstract:
Bacterial infections and cancer are two of the most significant concerns that the current healthcare system should tackle nowadays. Green nanotechnology is presented as a feasible solution that is able to produce materials with significant anticancer and antibacterial activity while overcoming the main limitations of traditional synthesis. In the present work, orange, lemon, and lime extracts were used as both reducing and capping agents for the green synthesis of tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs) using a microwave-assisted reaction. TeNPs showed a uniform size distribution, and rod- and cubic-shapes, and were extensively characterized in terms of morphology, structure and composition using TEM, SEM, XPS, XRD, FTIR and EDX analysis. TeNPs showed an important antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and -positive bacteria in a range concentrations from 5 to 50 μg mL−1 over a 24-hour time period. Besides, nanoparticles showed an anticancer effect towards human melanoma cells over 48 hours at concentrations up to 50 μg mL−1. Moreover, the Te nanostructures showed no significant cytotoxic effect towards human dermal fibroblast at concentrations up to 50 μg mL−1. Therefore, we present an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective synthesis of TeNPs using only fruit juices and showing enhanced and desirable biomedical properties towards both infectious diseases and cancer.
Green Chemistry lab 2019 AAAS Student E-poster winner!
February 14-17, 2019
Last February 14-17th the multi-disciplinary 2019 AAAS annual meeting took place in Washington DC. The conference count on special collaborations of the European Commission which organized seven scientific symposia and career development workshop. Additionally, special sessions were held in order to celebrate the 150thanniversary of the periodic table and the moon landing.
The theme for this year's meeting is Science Transcending Boundaries which the aim to bring together people, ideas, and solutions from across real and artificial borders, disciplines, sectors, ideologies, and traditions.
All scientists, specifically graduate and undergraduate students, were encouraged to present their research towards a competition where the winners were selected based on originality and critical knowledge of their work.
David Medina and Ada Vernet-Crua were able to present their research in E-Poster Student competition where Ada won an honorable mention on Medicine and Public Health category letting her poster be published in Science Journal
Green Chemistry Lab Best Oral Presentation in 2018 ICNano
October 9 - 12, 2018
The International Conference on Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology (ICNano-2018) is a four-day international conference in the field of nanomaterials and nanotechnology organized by the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), held in Stockholm, Sweden during 09 - 12 October 2018. This year theme is "Translational Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology" which reflects the scientist-industry model that is valued for the advancement of society. Also, we are celebrating the 8th anniversary of IC-Nano conferences by focusing on advanced nanomaterials and nanotechnology, significant challenges in research & developments, manufacturing, and their markets.
From a selection of abstracts, David Medina and Ada Vernet-Crua could present their researches in front of the scientific community. During the meeting, Ada was awarded the Best Oral Presentation and selected as a Featured member of IAAM.
The 3rd Annual Chemistry and Pharmacology of Drug Abuse Conference and The Green Chemistry Lab
August 2-3, 2018
The Chemistry and Pharmacology of Drug Abuse (CPDA) Conference is an annual conference that takes place on the Northeastern University campus. The Conference brings together top medicinal chemists and pharmacologists to discuss the latest in drug abuse research, and how this research applies to the design and testing of future pharmacotherapies that treat drug addiction.
The topics emphasize laboratory findings in medicinal chemistry that inform the pharmacology and pathological mechanisms underlying addiction and the search for SUD pharmacotherapies. Attracting researchers, healthcare providers and public-health officials to the Boston area, the premiere biotechnology hub and home to leading biomedical research-intensive clinical centers (e.g., McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School) in SUD research and treatment, the CPDA Conference strives to cultivate a place of learning and discussion in order to continue to combat the issue of SUD in this country and internationally.
David Medina, Ada Vernet and Zhang Bohan presented their topics of research.
Green Chemistry Lab at the Boston Academic Research Symposium.
July 19, 2018
The Boston Academic Researchers Symposium is a Chemical Engineering conference organized by Northeastern University Department of Chemical Engineering’s graduate student council, which took place today at Northeastern University.
Researches from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Boston University, Tufts University, and the University of Massachusetts at Boston were present.
David Medina, Lorena Baranda, Claudia Isern, Miguel Angel Alvarez and Ada Vernet presented their research in the event.
Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) in France with representation of The Green Chemistry Lab
July 9-14, 2018
ESOF (EuroScience Open Forum) is the largest interdisciplinary science meeting in Europe. It is dedicated to scientific research and innovation and offers a unique framework for interaction and debate for scientists, innovators, policy makers, business people and the general public.
Created in 2004 by EuroScience, this biennial European forum brings together over 4 000 researchers, educators, business actors, policy makers and journalists from all over the world to discuss breakthroughs in science. More than 40% of the participants are students and young researchers.
David Medina and Miguel Angel Alvarez got representation on the conference with their respective research.
The first annual NEU Bioengineering Research Symposium counts with the presence of The Green Chemistry Lab
June 20, 2018
On behalf of the Department of Bioengineering and the Bioengineering Graduate Student Council, the 1st Annual NEU Bioengineering Research Symposium was hold at campus. The goal of this event was to provide Bioengineering and affiliated graduate students and faculty an opportunity to showcase their research.
The symposium was featured both posters and a limited number of oral presentations.
David Medina, Ada Vernet, William Tien-Street, Lorena Baranda, Miguel Angel Alvarez and Claudia Iserns presented their research.
Green Chemistry Lab at the AAAS Pacific Division Annual Meeting in Los Angeles
June 12-15, 2018
The 2018 meeting of the Pacific Division of AAAS was held on the campus of the California State Polytechnic University (Cal Poly Pomona), Pomona, California, 12 – 15 June 2018.The Northwest and Southwest Regions of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, were once again able to join for this meeting. Additionally, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) was planning a special program for pharmacy students as part of this meeting.
The theme for this year's meeting is From Atoms to Applications. All scientists, including graduate and undergraduate students, were invited to present their research results at the meeting, either orally or as posters.
Ada Vernet, Lorena Baranda, Miguel Angel Alvarez, David Medina and Claudia Isern were able to present their research in oral presentations.
The Green Chemistry Lab at the First International Conference on Biomaterials and Chemical Biology
May 10-11, 2018
The first conference on Biomaterials and Chemistry was held in Northeastern University as part of the conferences' program of the University. The program included some local and international distinguished speakers who talked about the advances in term of Biomaterials throughout international collaborations.
Ada Vernet, William Tien-Street, Lorena Baranda, Claudia Isern, Miguel Angel Alvarez and David Medina presented their research during this conference.
The Green Chemistry Lab at the Fifth International Mammalian Synthetic Biology Workshop at Harvard Medical School
May 5-6, 2018
Members of the Green Chemistry Lab assisted to the Fifth International Mammalian Synthetic Biology Workshop. This workshop explored the latest trends and advances in the field, including recent foundational accomplishments and applications in addressing challenges to human health and beyond. This one-and-a-half day meeting brought together world’s leading researchers in synthetic biology, mammalian and cellular biology, and bioengineering from academic as well as industry partners.
The scientific program included topics in many applications of "Synthetic Immunology", "Synthetic Biology of Multicellular Systems", "Genes, Circuits, and Genomes", "Viral Vectors and Gene Therapy", "Host-Microbe Interactions", as well as a Panel Discussion on "The Future of Synthetic Biology Funding and Investments".
Ada Vernet, Lorena Baranda, Claudia Isern, Miguel Angel Alvarez and David Medina presented their research during this workshop.
Green Chemistry lab member's presentation at ISPE. Recognition and award
April 12, 2025
ISPE, the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering, is the world's most significant not-for-profit association serving its Members by leading scientific, technical and regulatory advancement throughout the entire pharmaceutical lifecycle. It was founded in 1980 by a handful of people who believed the pharmaceutical industry needed an organization that would deal with practical applications of science and technology for technical professionals.
The Student Poster Competition, an annual competition held by local ISPE Affiliates and Chapters. The poster presentation consists of a visual display of research findings combined with an interactive question and answer period with a panel of judges. After the poster session, one award per category (undergraduate and graduate) is announced. The winners receive cash awards and also opportunities to publish research in ISPE’s magazine, Pharmaceutical Engineering, as well as other Affiliate/Chapter publications.
Lorena Baranda, one of our graduate members, was awarded the second prize of the graduate category. ISPE wanted to reward her with a chance to attend one of the pharmaceutical training sessions offered by ISPE free of charge. She selected one course that provides a comprehensive understanding of biotechnological manufacturing processes.
''This contest has been a great opportunity to get experience, make new contacts and know more about ISPE, all of this held in a friendly and comfortable atmosphere''
Presentation at New England Science Symposium at Harvard Medical School
April 8, 2018
The New England Science Symposium (NESS), established in 2002, provides a forum for postdoctoral fellows; medical, dental and graduate students; post-baccalaureates; college and community college students (particularly for African-American, Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals) to share their biomedical and health-related research activities through oral or poster presentations, to engage in discussions related to career development in the sciences, to exchange ideas and to expand their professional networks.
In this year's edition, David Medina represented the Green Chemistry Lab showing his presentation about the last research he conducted: the bacteriogenic synthesis of metallic nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties.
RISE 2018 Expo at Northeastern University
April 5, 2018
At RISE, 2000+ industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, and technology enthusiasts from diverse sectors engage more than 400 of Northeastern’s solution-focused innovation. Several members of our Green Team assisted to the conference with the aim to show their research and establish new collaboration lines.
David Medina presented a review of his last paper focused on the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles using bacteria. A pretty similar approach was used by Miguel Angel Alvarez to show ho cancer cells can be used for generation of metallic nanoparticles.
Ada Vernet exhibited a promising plan for the use of green tellurium nanowires as biocompatible agents and templates for nanoparticles synthesis. The method of bacteria and bacterial biomass to clean contaminated environments was the bullet point of the poster made by Claudia Isern.
Lorena Baranda showed how bimetallic nanoparticles could be straightforwardly produced by bacteria. William Teen-Street presented an easy and cost-effective method to synthesize metallic nanoparticles with both antibacterial and anticancer properties using orange juices. And Christopher Brown explain how tellurium nanoparticles with a robust anticancer ability can be produced using a green approach in hydrothermal reactors.
The team was successful again, and we are looking forward a new chance to show the world the potential of our research.