Research

NADH DETECTION IN NORMAL AND CANCEROUS CELLS

ABSRACT:
Several literature studies suggested that there is a difference in the NADH level in normal and cancerous cells. NADH is present in living cells being the electron donor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Therefore, this may be used as an indicator for studying physiological processes inside the cells. The chemical energy produced by a cell is directly proportional to the level of NADH present in the cell. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) and ultra violet visible (UV/Vis) spectroscopic analysis were used to determine the level of NADH.

These experiments were carried out with the hope of developing a sensitive method for the detection of NADH in normal and cancerous cells. The electrochemistry of the redox mediator, methylene blue, was investigated with gold and platinum working electrodes for the sensitive detection of NADH. Cyclic voltammetric analysis of these electrodes in 0.555mM methylene blue (MB) in a 0.1M phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.5 permitted us to conclude that gold electrode is more suitable for the electrochemical detection of NADH with MB.

Concentrations of NADH ranging from 5 to 30 µM were analyzed spectrophotometrically and the changes in absorbance allowed us to select the optimum conditions for its spectrophotometric detection. Further experiments will be performed on cultured cells to detect the NADH level.

Personal Reflection

Future Plans: Be honored with a PhD in chemistry, particularly
organic/analytical chemistry.

Why Phd: It is wonderful knowing there if one particular thing that
can never be taken away from me or anyone else, and that is the power of
knowledge. With this said, I choose to be the best that I can possibly
be by earning my PhD in the (near) future.

Personal Quotes: ". . . there is no cookbook approach to doing science,
no formula that can be applied or machine that can be built to generate
scientific knowledge. . . The skillful application of methods to a
challenging problem is one of the great pleasures of science (p. 6)."
- On Being a Scientist

You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact,
it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you
are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it."
- Maya Angelou

"It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday
is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow."
- Robert Goddard

Affiliations: Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society

Safe Horizone (Peer Mediation)

Student Ambassador Program

Chemistry Club

Binghamton Success Program