Researching Singlet Oxygen for the Field of Dentistry

 Samuel Krichavets, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in Biology Neuroscience 

 

In my research project, I was able to work on a very interesting field that is being widely explored and has a promising future. I studied photodynamic application in singlet oxygen. Singlet oxygen has the capability to inactivate bacteria, delivering highly localized singlet oxygen which can be revolutionary to the field of dentistry. As a future dentist, this was invaluable to me because I got a first-hand glimpse into what may be possible in my future profession.

I learned about data science and proper laboratory procedures in research, and I obtained a great mentorship from Dr. Alan Lyons and Dr. Xu, as well as get hands-on experience in the lab. I was able to physically partake in crafting the plastic optical fiber which we made to model a future dental tool. I shaved down the edge of it to create a nice tip for the placement of the PDMS post and photosensitizer particles.  I learned how to operate a laser and placed the plastic optical fibers in the laser with the PDMS posts in a trapping solution, as well as make the trapping solution and dissect the formula for making it. I studied the chemistry and how it worked in actually trapping our singlet oxygen.  I learned how to maneuver a spectrophotometer and used it to quantify how much singlet oxygen was trapped in my experiments.

I became versed in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint because all the data from our experiments had to be extrapolated and organized into charts and more sensible data. I then used this data to create presentations which I shared with my group weekly.  Aside from all of this, I was also able to partake in the undergraduate research conference for two years in a row and present the research that my peers and I worked so hard on. 

Overall my experience was something I will never forget, and it has impacted me in more ways than one. I am forever grateful for having the opportunity and will apply the skills I developed in my dental school research. 

Lessons Learned in the Research Lab

 Anastasia Maximenko, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in Biology Neuroscience 

I first studied general chemistry with Dr. Lyons during my freshman year, where I was intrigued by his research and his talent to teach and engage the students. As much as I was interested in Dr. Lyons’s research, I was very shy and did not find it in myself to ask if I could be a part of his team. Fortunately, I was introduced into the lab by my friend, and I began working in Dr. Lyons lab in March 2019.

Our team’s goals were to study singlet oxygen and test a variety of solutions, as well as the conditions of the photosensitizers being used in our experiments. I was fortunate to be a part of the team while in person. Even with the onset of the pandemic, I continued my research with Dr. Lyons, mainly focusing on doing literature review on singlet oxygen and photodynamic therapy. I loved this experience so much, and it was the best experience I had in college!

When I worked in the laboratory with Dr. Alan Lyons, I constantly found myself working to be innovative in my research approach. One example was planning the most efficient way to concentrate light into our samples to obtain the highest singlet oxygen yield. Another example was working through differentiating the variables that may have contributed to our results. I found myself to be a leader in these experiences because my research team depended on my diligence to find an efficient method that could further help us develop a strategy to maximize total singlet oxygen yield.

During COVID-19, I realized I could adapt and continue to enrich my knowledge in my research area. I conducted a literature review on the Applications of Singlet Oxygen in Photodynamic Therapy on burn and wound healing. I persevered to present my findings to my college research community and I am very happy that I was able to share my knowledge.

Through these experiences, I found it amazing that you could find dozens of papers on almost any topic of interest in medicine. I aspire to become a physician who enhances the field of medicine by utilizing my clinical acumen and leadership skills. The skills I have acquired and continue to develop will allow me to fulfill my ultimate goal. I believe what I learned is groundbreaking but I am not done yet. I strongly believe that as a physician I can incorporate evidence-based medicine in my everyday practice. I hope to one-day lead a team of well-versed physicians who will utilize their skill set to give back to society.