Photochemical-Photophysical Laboratory for the Study of Enhancer-Free Photo-Generated Singlet Oxygen
Abstract
The program develops a state-of-the-art Photochemical and Photophysical laboratory at Delaware State University. The primary purpose is to conduct research and train new generations of scientists and professionals in the detection and generation of singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen is an electronic excited level of the molecule of oxygen, which plays a crucial role in photochemical reactions that regulate the process of life and death in living systems. The molecule is highly electrophilic able to break covalent bonds of organic compounds. Singlet oxygen has been identified as the main factor in the combat of pathogens, viruses, bacteria, or any kind microparasites, invading a healthy organism. Singlet oxygenÕs role in photodynamic therapy for the destruction of cancer tumors or damaged cells is also well-established. Despite its significant importance, the ways of photogeneration of singlet oxygen are not fully understood. For example, we have reported that the illumination of water samples containing viruses using blue light leads to the inactivation of the virus. We experiment without the use of any photosensitizer or photo-enhancement compounds generally applied in the generation of singlet oxygen. We have established that the production of singlet oxygen in water is the cause of the effect. We propose different hypotheses of the generation of singlet oxygen from the oxygen dissolved in water, including the possibility of a Raman process. Understanding how light generates singlet oxygen in natural waters will lead to the creation of more efficient systems for the control and destruction of viruses, improving the disinfection of food, blood, and other pharmaceutical products. The program includes the acquisition of a tunable nanosecond high-intensity laser and a high-sensitivity fluorescence/phosphorescence spectrometer with accessories specially designed to detect singlet oxygen. The new facility will significantly improve our universityÕs research infrastructure, impacting different programs in the Department of Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, the Department of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Agriculture, and Human Ecology. Upon installation of the laboratory, we will train a significant number of undergraduate and graduate students, mostly from underrepresented minorities taking advantage of the fact that more than 75% of our students are minorities. Students from any STEM discipline will be able to join the program. The new facilities will promote the studies in Photophysics, Photochemistry, Photobiology, and Photomedicine as fundamentally cross-disciplinary programs. Understanding the basics of the singlet oxygen photogeneration is crucial for food and pharmaceutical disinfection technology, virus and bacteriological containment, and phototherapy applications for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jun 25, 2021
- Source ID
- W911NF2110137
Entities
People
- A. Marcano
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Delaware State University
- Office of the Secretary of Defense