Advanced Nanoengineering for Glucose Sensing and Drug Delivery Systems

Sakina Saeed, Verrazzano Class of 2024, completed major in Biology

Collaborating in the laboratory with my mentor Dr. Shuiqin Zhou, her doctoral graduate Koushik Bhattacharya, and Dr. Prashun Roy, has been an immensely transformative experience that goes beyond academic pursuits. I had the privilege of being instructed in an Organic Chemistry I lab by Professor Prashun Roy prior to my research experience, and gained a comprehensive understanding of his methodologies and approaches to addressing particular challenges, which set a strong foundation for my subsequent research endeavors.

During our research, our collective efforts were focused on exploring innovative solutions for managing diabetes, specifically investigating the integration of fluorescent systems for glucose sensing and insulin delivery. The primary aspects encountered in this experience on a personal level were growth as an individual, challenges faced, and meaningful insights gained from this research journey.

Embarking on a collaborative research journey with experts in diverse fields such as synthetic chemistry, polymerization techniques, and biomedical applications was truly enlightening. Dr. Zhou’s mentorship not only expanded my technical knowledge but also nurtured critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Working as a team taught me the value of effective communication, collaboration, and leveraging collective expertise to drive meaningful research outcomes. Moreover, this collaborative environment allowed me to build strong professional relationships and learn from the unique perspectives of each team member.

Our research project centered around addressing the challenges faced by individuals with Type 1 diabetes, with a keen focus on the seamless integration of continuous glucose monitoring and precise insulin delivery. Delving into the potential of fluorescent systems for dual functionality not only broadened our horizons but also paved the way for innovative approaches in healthcare. This hands-on experience not only deepened my understanding but also reignited my fervor for contributing to advancements that have a direct and tangible impact on the well-being and quality of life of patients. It was fulfilling to see how our research could potentially transform healthcare practices and improve patient outcomes.

One of the most exhilarating aspects of this research journey was the exposure to advanced machines and tools that revolutionized our approach to scientific inquiry. The Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) were not just instruments in a lab but gateways to a deeper understanding of molecular structures and material properties. The hands-on experience with these technologies not only expanded my technical proficiency but also fostered a deeper appreciation for material characterization techniques and their significance in biomedical applications.

Reflecting on my time in the lab with Dr. Zhou, Koushik, and Dr. Roy, I am grateful for the invaluable experiences, mentorship, and personal growth that this journey has provided. Collaborative research, coupled with exposure to advanced machines and tools, not only expanded my scientific knowledge but also nurtured essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. This experience has deepened my passion for contributing to meaningful research endeavors and has prepared me for future challenges and opportunities in the field of biomedical engineering. While I am passionate about becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) and directly contributing to patient care, this research experience has ignited another found passion for research in a laboratory setting. I envision combining my clinical skills as a PA with continued research in biomedical engineering, aiming to bridge the gap between innovative research and practical healthcare applications. This dual approach will not only enhance my capabilities as a healthcare professional but also contribute significantly to advancing healthcare practices and patient outcomes.

 

 

Skills Learned from Researching and Developing a Capstone on Diabetic Patient and Blood Sugar Monitoring

Vincent DePinto, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in Nursing 

I conducted my capstone project with the department’s chairperson, Dr. DiCicco-Bloom. We brainstormed on what form my capstone would take and decided a literature review would be the most appropriate as it would allow me to explore the current state of my topic according to nursing research, and was well suited to my major.

The first steps in beginning my capstone was to gather preliminary research about my topic, research how to conduct a literature review, and how the paper would be formatted. As a nurse researcher herself, my mentor was instrumental in helping me understand what a literature review consists of, and what was expected. Something I always struggled with was if I had to write a paper and I wasn't given a template or structure as a guide. I had to construct the layout of this review while keeping in mind the format and the research topic.

I feel this experience has helped me in both academic and personal areas. Most notably, it has given me a significant amount of confidence in my skills as a writer, researcher, and as a nurse when appraising literature. I was able to understand the main themes of the literature I reviewed, and construct a well thought out paper.

I also learned how to work with a mentor in my profession. This was initially difficult for me as I was not sure how often to reach out and update my mentor on my progress. This lack of communication led to my mentor reaching out to me, and telling me that it was my responsibility to keep in touch and share my progress. I felt a bit embarrassed to be told this by my mentor and the head of my department, but it allowed me to learn that my communication and time management skills needed to be improved.

Another important thing I learned from my capstone was public speaking and presenting my research. I had to virtually present my capstone at the Undergraduate Research conference. Even though there were only eight people watching my presentation, I was incredibly nervous to be presenting my research to a highly knowledgeable and academic group of people. For the first 3 minutes, I was internally freaking out. After the initial shock of beginning my presentation, I was able to calm down and become more comfortable. I think I will still be a bit nervous presenting in the future, but I do recognize the confidence this experience has given me for future public speaking endeavors.

I was very interested to read about my topic in the literature, especially the sections that detailed study limitations, and recommendations for future research. In this regard, I had several ideas about where future research could lead my topic. There were some gaps in the literature in regard to testing certain alternate sites (such as the earlobe) during unsteady glycemic states. I think future research could compare venous and fingerstick blood sugar measurements to alternate site measurements, and create a specific blood sugar range for alternate sites.

Another area of interest was the effect of alternate site testing (AST) on glycemic control. In my review, I found one study that concluded the use of AST did not improve glycemic control. I would like to see this study repeated so that the results are replicable, and the conclusion can be further supported. The studies I looked at were either experimental, or quasi-experimental. I would be fascinated to see what findings qualitative studies produce. I wonder if patient interviews could produce interesting research questions regarding AST, and guide future research.

One thing I am particularly interested in is the possibility of AST being implemented into practice. When I am administering insulin, I often ask or am told by my patients the site they prefer. I would be interested to see patients having a preferred testing site, just as they might have a preferred insulin administration site.

I feel continuing this research, and potentially implementing AST into clinical practice could provide healthcare workers with additional methods to measure blood sugar, and give patients a greater sense of control over their disease process.

 

Researching Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Treatments

 Egor Volcotrub, Verrazzano Class of 2022, completed major in General Biology 

I worked under the mentorship and supervision of Grozdena Yilmaz to complete my capstone project. The focus of my project was to collect data and show the effectiveness of technologies in treating Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Being a Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patient myself and having work experience in endocrinology, I found that a wide population of patients suffering from those conditions are unaware or mistrust new technologies that help to improve their health.

Although sticking to traditional treatment methods (such as multiple daily insulin injections and  fingerstick testing) helps to treat diabetes, they are not as effective and comfortable as insulin pumps  and continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGMs). The initial goal of the capstone project was to  raise awareness among people who might be struggling with those conditions and could potentially  benefit from the available technologies.

For data collection, I used PubMed to find appropriate peer-reviewed articles and clinical data. Considering that the project was focused on the FDA-approved devices, all of them had clinical trial information available. Due to the fact that those devices are manufactured by unrelated pharmaceutical companies, the clinical trials were different in recruited patient’s population.

Although it initially created obstacles in combining data, all of them had a common comparison value used to indicate diabetic control. Another obstacle came from collecting data, specifically on the population suffering from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Those patients may or may not require insulin injection, depending on the severity of their condition. Therefore, it is harder to recruit patients for those study groups, and not all companies have research data available for T2DM.

Overall, I felt like preparing the project and presenting it was a difficult task but having support from my advisor and peers I was able to overcome this obstacle. Not only I have collected valuable data to spread awareness on technologies that help treat diabetes, but I also found additional information that in the future will help me to manage the condition I am struggling with. As I have focused only on the most popular pharmaceutical devices, in the future, collecting information on other brands available can help to enhance the outcomes of this research project.