Across the globe, nanoparticles have been a swiftly rising to the forefront of applied chemistry. Over the summer, I was given the opportunity to work with Dr. Duncan Graham and Dr. Kirsten Gracie within this relatively new field. In particular, gold nanoparticles have been shown in the past to be useful in many different areas and show great promise in being particularly useful when developing new methods for disease diagnosis and treatment. In an effort to see this promise fulfilled, gold nanoparticles were coated in cholesterol modified DNA and a Raman active reporter in hopes of being able to use the nanoparticles to reach and destroy macrophage build-ups responsible for blocking and rupturing arteries. The project resulted in stable, cholesterol coated gold nanoparticles that were Raman active due to the presence of the small reporter molecule. The particles were shown to be successfully taken-up by macrophage cells by monitoring the unique Raman signals from the functionalized nanoparticles. I hope that further studies will be conducted, including observing uptake more closely and determining the full effect the particles have on macrophage cells. Outside of the lab, I was able to experience much of the beauty and history Scotland has to offer. I quickly fell in love with the Highlands and with the bonny Loch Lomond, as well as with the overwhelmingly kind and friendly people I met. I found the summer to be one of the most rewarding and enlightening experience of my life.

Bagpipes, highlands, and cholesterol functionalized gold nanoparticles

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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