ORCID
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0386-8848
Date of Award
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
MS in Chemistry
Department
Chemistry
First Advisor
Philip S Lukeman
Second Advisor
Erica Jacobs
Third Advisor
Francisco Vazquez
Abstract
This thesis describes two projects: i) experiments aimed at electrochemically differentiating polyvalent binding and monovalent binding of “DNA stars” on gold electrodes ii) experiments to synthesize DNA oligonucleotides that are capable of crosslinking under electrochemical control. We describe the design, synthesis and purification of “DNA stars”, and their binding to gold electrodes displaying complementary strands functionalized with a “redox reporter”, methylene blue. Square wave voltammetry was utilized to compare the effect of binding of complementary strand and various DNA stars. Though we were able to distinguish the binding of complementary strand and DNA stars, we could not conclusively state this was because of polyvalent binding. Our second project showed that we can detect crosslinking using denaturing gel electrophoresis, and that we can use MALDI mass spectrometry to determine if carbazole hydrazides act as nucleophiles to functionalize DNA strands. These strands have the potential to be electrochemically crosslinked.
Recommended Citation
Mendez, Jeremy David, "ELECTROCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF POLYVALENT VS MONOVALENT BINDING ON DNA SENSORS AND SYNTHESIS OF DNA OLIGONUCLEOTIDES CAPABLE OF OXIDATIVE CROSSLINKING" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 836.
https://scholar.stjohns.edu/theses_dissertations/836