41st Senior Technical Meeting - 2018 - American Chemical Society Puerto Rico

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41st
SENIOR TECHNICAL MEETING
AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
PUERTO RICO SECTION
NSF-CREST-CIRE2N and NSF-PREM-CIE2M

Biomaterials in Applied Chemistry

PROGRAM AND ABSTRACTS

NOVEMBER 10 and 11, 2018
COSTA BAHIA HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER
GUAYANILLA, PUERTO RICO

CONTENT
PAGE
IN MEMORIAM 5
MESSAGE FROM ACS-PR CHAIR 10
MESSAGE FROM ACS-PR PAST CHAIR 12
2018 CHEMICAL EDUCATION AWARD 16
ACS PUERTO RICO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 17
SENIOR TECHNICAL MEETING ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 18
GENERAL PROGRAM 19
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM 22
SPEAKERS BIOSKECTCHES 28
PLENARY LECTURES 37
ABSTRACTS
ORAL PRESENTATIONS 42
POSTER PRESENTATIONS 78

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41ST
SENIOR TECHNICAL
MEETING

In Memoriam

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Carlos Ruiz Martínez, Ph.D.

Dr. Carlos R. Ruiz Martínez was born on July 25, 1974 in the city of San Juan, Puerto
Rico. His father was Mr. Carlos Manuel Ruiz Santos and his mother is Mrs. María Celia
Martínez Negrón. He attended school at the Reverend Isidro Díaz López Disciples of
Christ Academy in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He culminated his studies with academic
excellence, with high honors.

He began his university studies in 1992 at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez
Campus (UPR-RUM), where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry in 1996. His
leadership highlighted him as a leader in several organizations (presided over the Student
Chapter of the American Chemical Society, member of the Organizing Committee of the
International Congress on global warming "CO2 Congress", active member of the
Educational Center Science on Wheels, and President of the Organizing Committee of
Expo Chem 1996).

He began his master's studies at the same university institution. His thesis entitled:
Femtosecond spectroscopy studies of carbonmonoxy Hemoglobin I complex from Lucina
pectinata, under the supervision and mentoring of Dr. Juan López Garriga, is one of the
first in Puerto Rico on Femtosecond Time Resolved Spectroscopy. Part of the work was
carried out at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland in
collaboration with Dr. Majed Chergui. He continues to emphasize his leadership as
President of the Graduate Student Association and member of the Curriculum Committee
of the Department of Chemistry. He obtained his degree in the year 2000.

In 2004, he began his doctoral studies in Applied Chemistry in the area of Biophysics at
the UPR-RUM. He presented his thesis entitled: New Crystallographic Structures of Oxy-
HbII-III and CN-HbII-III forms from Lucina pectinata, under the tutelage of his mentor and
friend Dr. Juan López Garriga. He traveled to different parts of the world. He was in

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Granada, Spain in the Laboratory of Crystallographic Studies assigned to the Andalusian
Institute of Earth Sciences of the Higher Council for Scientific Research and the University
of Granada, where he worked in collaboration with Dr. Juan García García Ruiz.

While in Spain, he participated in an international collaboration experience of the
European Space Agency, Foton-M3 Mission 2007, sending proteins from different
laboratories in Europe to the space from the Republic of Kazakhstan to carry out
crystallization processes in micro gravity. The X-ray radiation experiments were carried
out on the protein crystals in the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) BM-16
Line, located in Grenoble, France, obtaining crystallography data that made it possible to
elucidate the crystallographic structure of the proteins sent to space, including
hemoglobin HbII-III of the clam Lucina pectinata, these works allowed him to obtain his
doctoral degree in the year 2011.

He received several distinctions and scholarships, such as the National Science
Foundation GK-12 Fellowship, the International GK-12 Fellowship of the National Science
Foundation 2008” that allowed him to establish an international project, an initiative of the
RUM Sciences on Wheels program in collaboration with the Science Park of Granada,
and the National Institutes of Health Fellowship and the NIH RISE-2-BEST: RISE
Enhancing Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering in Science and Technology
Scholarship

He was the architect of the first didactic kits for students to learn fundamental concepts
on crystallization with the Triana Science & Technology company, together with Dr. Juan
Manuel García Ruiz. He was also the coordinator of the Crystallization Competitions for
schools in Spain and Puerto Rico.

As researcher, he was able to collaborate and obtain several research grants and
published in several peer-reviewed journals. He was part of the collaborative group that
certified six new crystallographic structures published and uploaded to the Research
Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatic Protein Data Bank (RCSB-PDB). He has also
collaborated in doctoral thesis on education in the area of chemical research. He made
scientific presentations in different congresses and local, national, and international
conferences.

He was Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor in the Department
of Natural Sciences of UPR-Aguadilla (UPRAg). Among his duties, he oversaw the work
of the teaching staff, administrative staff and students. He was Chairman of the Personnel
Committee and Assistant Director of the Department of Natural Sciences. He was
member of the Systemic Committee for the improvement of the Chemistry programs of
the Office of Academic Affairs of the Vice Presidency of the UPR (2004-2007, 2010-2012,
and 2014-2016) and Director of the Proposal "Centers for Education and Training in
Agriculture and Related Science".

His commitment to the development of young professional leaders was his inspiration,
which led him to establish in 2003 the Student Chapter of the ACS in the Aguadilla

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Campus, consisting mainly of young students studying in the area of Biology. His work as
Founding Counselor of the Student Chapter of the ACS in the UPRAg has been
highlighted. Under his leadership this Chapter was recognized with the highest awards
that the ACS grants for the management of excellence as a Chapter for thirteen (13) years
and with the awards in the Division of "Green Chemistry" for eight (8) years. For twenty
(20) years he was a distinguished member of the ACS as Chemistry Ambassador for his
voluntary dedication in spreading the transforming power of Chemistry.

In the ACS Puerto Rico Section, he continuously showed his commitment as an active
member in the Board of Directors occupying various positions: Secretary for several
consecutive years, President 2012, Coordinator of the ACS-Puerto Rico Section Senior
Technical Meeting (2006, 2010, 2016) and Alternate Councilor of the National ACS until
2017. All these activities were always guided by his philanthropic and humanistic work,
palpable in each of his experiences as a human being.

His work had a national and international impact by being: Floor Coordinator for
SERMACS, South-East region (2009), part of the "Team Achievement Award from the
European Space Agency for the Photon Mission-3 (2007)", Co-ordinator of the 1st
Crystallization Competition between Spain and Puerto Rico for high school students -
2008, President of the Volunteers Committee at the IUPAC Congress held in Puerto Rico
- 2011, International Judge at the Crystallization at School Competition, Madrid - Spain -
2013, organizer and lecturer in the First Congress of Crystallography, organizer of the
Food Symposium, organizer of the Symposium of Education in PRChem 2016 and
participated in the recently created Latin American Crystallography Association of
Crystallography (LACA) - 2014.

The contribution of Dr. Ruiz Martinez to the Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico is
incalculable and endless. He felt an immense love and commitment for the Colegio. He
participated in activities of the Colegio de Químicos even before graduating. He joined
the CQPR in the hands of the very dear Lcdo. Graham Castillo. He was always willing to
collaborate on what was needed even when he was not part of the committee where the
need aroused. He contributed to the Colegio as: Delegate of the Academy to the
Governing Board 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2011-2012, and 2015-2016, Member of the
Informatics Committee (2012-2016), Member of the Ad-Hoc Review Committee of the
Reválida (2012-2016), President of the Organizing Committee of the Conference,
Exhibition and Annual Convention PR-CHEM 2013, Manager of the 1st School of Leaders
(2014), President Elect 2012-2013, President 2013-2014, Past President 2014-2015,
Organizing Committee of the Conference, Exhibition and Convention PR-CHEM 2015-
2016, Member of the Student Awards Committee 2015-2016, Member of the Ad-Hoc
Committee of the 75 years Celebration, and Member of the Finance Committee 2015-
2016. His commitment with our country was evident when he became part of the Advisory
Committee in the fight against NALED that the Colegio presented in the public hearings
of the Puerto Rico’s Senate.

Dr. Ruiz Martinez was recognized for his contributions to Chemistry and Society by
receiving a variety of awards such as: Outstanding Award for the Development in ACS-

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1996:, National Science Foundation, Puerto Rico Alliance for Minority Participation (NSF-
PR-AMP) Research Fellowship - 1996, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Scholarship (2004-
2008), National Action of Minorities in Engineering Fellowship (NACME) - 2004, Fogarty
Minority International Research Training (MIRT), Salute to Excellence for this Leadership
Commitment, Interest and the Constant Dedication shown in Guiding the Student
Affiliated Chapter and their outstanding students during their professional development -
2006, NIH RISE-2BEST: RISE Enhancing Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical
Engineering in Science and Technology Scholarship, UPR Rio Piedras - 2010, Dedication
of the 2nd (2003) and the 10th (2011) Initiation of the ACS-UPRAg Student Affiliate and
the Dedication of the Initiation of the University Environmental (SAU) of the UPRAg
(2016). The Colegio de Químicos recognized him as: Most Outstanding Member of the
Governing Board of the Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico in 2003-2004 and 2014-
2015, Member of the Committee of the Year 2003- 2004 - Committee on Continuing
Education, Chairman of the 2011-2012 Committee of the Year - Student Awards
Committee of the President of the Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico 2013-2014, and
gave him the highest honor given by the Colegio, the Osvaldo Ramírez Torres Award in
2016.

Upon receiving this award, Dr. Ruiz Martínez expressed: “"This award represents for me
a gratitude for the lives that I have touched and transformed throughout my professional
career. It is a trajectory in which I have maintained three basic rules: respect for the
profession, respect for the student and humility. Serving is my vocation, and the award
gives a distinction to that service that I have been doing for more than 24 years. My
educational philosophy is based on serving." Dr. Nelson Arnaldo Vera Hernández,
Chancellor of the UPR-Aguadilla campus, expressed: “For the campus it is an honor and
an immense pride to have professors like Dr. Carlos Ruiz, as they distinguish the UPR-
Aguadilla. I describe Carlos Ruiz as a brilliant young man, prepared and with an
extraordinary human quality. He is a true professor, he makes the University. All the
contributions he has made to our campus demonstrate his human and professional
quality." One of his students, Reynath Jiménez, a student of the Department of Natural
Sciences of the UPRAg and President of the ACS Student Affiliate in that campus,
expressed: “If I describe Professor Ruiz in a single word it would be challenging;; with his
teaching method he took us to prepare each day and arrive alert to the classroom. He is
a professor who, beyond just going to the classroom, cares about his students and exerts
pressure so that they can do well in the courses and achieve their professional goals.” In
July 2004 he was named Assistant Professor, in 2012-13 Associate Professor and in
2017 he was named Full Professor (posthumously). He was Assistant Dean of Academic
Affairs in the Department of Natural Sciences of UPR-Aguadilla (UPRAg) in 2014-2016
and in 2016 became Interim Dean of Academic Affairs.

Dr. Carlos R. Ruiz Martinez was a leader with a vision of the future and the highest sense
of service that manifested in his actions and opinions to collaborate with the ACS. He was
an impeccable professional who strived to achieve excellence in everything he did. He
will be deeply missed.

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41st
PUERTO RICO SECTION

MESSAGE FROM ACS –PUERTO RICO LOCAL SECTION CHAIR
Carlos Cabrera-Martínez, Ph.D.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
It is with a great pleasure and enthusiasm that we welcome you to the 41st ACS-
Puerto Rico Senior Technical Meeting. As you may know, last year, 2017, was a non-
typical year for the ACS-PR. None of our main ACS-Puerto Rico activities, Junior and
Senior Technical Meetings, were done. This year, 2018, in all aspects, has been a
rejuvenating and enthusiastic year among the Chemistry community in Puerto Rico. Our
2018 ACS-PR Junior Technical Meeting was very exciting and productive. Now we have
the Senior, as we commonly call. This year we had a joined ACS-PR Board of Directors,
2017 and 2018, working together to bring the best opportunities and activities that our
ACS-PR colleagues deserve. For the Senior, we have invited a diverse group of Scientists
from Academia, the ACS, and NASA as distinguished Plenary Speakers, to present the
latest and cross cutting scientific research and facilities. This year we have as Plenary
Speakers: Dr. Jessica E. Koehne, from NASA Ames Research Center- Center for
Nanotechnology, Dr. Joel D. Brock, Director, Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source
(CHESS), Dr. Francisco Fernández-Lima from Florida International University, and Dr.
Manuel Guzmán, President of the ACS Chemical Abstract Services.
The ACS-PR Chemical Education Award has been awarded to our dear friend and
colleague, Dr. José A Prieto. After more than 30 years of continued contributions in
Research and Education at UPR, he has decided to retire. Nevertheless, we all know that
he will continue to contribute to the ACS-Puerto Rico for years to come.
The Senior will finish with a very important Sunday morning session in
entrepreneurship and innovation. An area very much needed in Puerto Rico. This session
will present ways to create a start-up and how to pursue SBIR and STTR funding
opportunities. A successful female entrepreneur, Dr. Ramonita Díaz-Ayala, will present
her experiences and hurdles. Nerma Albertorio and Elias D. Montañez-Carcana will talk
about their experiences working with entrepreneurs and Dr. Juan Figueroa will give us
the insides on successful SBIR funding applications. Thank you all for participating and
sharing your wonderful stories. Sunday will be an excellent opportunity to learn more
about an area of Chemistry needed for Puerto Rico.

Thanks to all the sponsors! The Senior has been partially sponsored by the ACS-
Chemical Abstract Services, Eli Lilly del Caribe, Mitel Distributing Corp., Florida
International University, JEOL USA, NASA-Ames Research Center, NuVant Systems

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Inc., and UPR’s NSF-CREST-CIRE2N and NSF-PREM-CIE2M Centers. The ACS-PR is
grateful to all for their kind and important contributions. For the first time we will have a
Poster Competition sponsored by NuVant Systems Inc.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the 2017 and 2018 ACS-PR Board of Directors
for their hard work, motivation, and commitment to make the 41st ACS-Puerto Rico Senior
Technical Meeting an outstanding scientific and educational activity.
Enjoy the Senior!

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41st
PUERTO RICO SECTION

Message from ACS-Puerto Rico Past Chair
José Ramírez-Domenech, Ph.D.

Nature is perhaps the best manifestation of science integrations and questions.
Characteristically, it is the nature of nature to manifest itself as what it is, regardless of
what we are or what we wanted it to be. It is within these drives that the American
Chemical Society Puerto Rico section faced its goals during 2017. Hurricane Maria
challenged carrying out many activities as planned. However, we are standing stronger
and celebrating life within the strength, challenges, and manifestations of nature. Today
we celebrate.
During 2017 The American Chemical Society Puerto Rico Section engaged to
contribute to the development of a new generation of scientists integrating education,
research, and entrepreneurship. It was suggested to prepare a Puerto Rico Senior
Technical meeting to share significant innovative strategies incorporating a leadership
workshop in entrepreneurship as part of the program for the meeting. Finally, today we
can continue the integration of chemistry with other disciplines to better the future of
science in Puerto Rico. This meeting is conducive to the participation of college
professors and graduate students, members of the ACS, to share the most recent
advancements in research and development. The ACS Puerto Rico Section is honored
to enhance its vision and mission within the scientific community of PR by integrating
entrepreneurship as one of the most innovative strategies to integrate research and
development in the professional future of Puerto Rico.
I want to acknowledge the outstanding efforts and dedication of so many members.
Advisors, students, volunteers are the heart and passion that values our goals. Thank
you so much for what you do.
Finally, I must extend my eternal gratitude to Dr. Carlos Ruiz for his advises and
commitment to ACS. I thank him for believing in me, that even when being a biologist he
took the hidden chemist from within. To our colleague, thank you very much and rest in
peace.
I want to thank ACS Puerto Rico for the opportunity I had within its leadership to
be part of their vision and mission. I am grateful for their appreciation, consideration, and
respect. If I were asked to send a message in a bottle it will read: THANK YOU!

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2018

Chemical Education Award

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José A. Prieto, Ph.D.
José Antonio Prieto de Jesús was born in the Bronx, New York on October 15,
1951. At age seven he moved to Coamo, Puerto Rico. At that early age, and with the help
of a small table in the back of his room with small science tools like prisms and magnets,
he discovered that science would become an integral part of his life. At the age of fifteen,
he moved to Río Piedras and in 1969 he graduated from the Gabriela Mistral High School.
In June 1973, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the
University of Puerto Rico (UPR), Río Piedras Campus. He worked as a chemist at Dupont
Company for two years. In 1975 he returned to the Río Piedras campus to complete the
master's degree and was sponsored as NIH Fellow of the MBRS-SUBE program during
his studies of organometallic chemistry. He obtained a Master's Degree in Organic
Chemistry from the same campus in December 1977. After a year and a half as an
instructor in general chemistry and organic chemistry in the Metro Campus of the Inter-
American University of Puerto Rico, he decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Chemistry in the Río
Piedras campus of the UPR and was awarded a MARC Fellowship of NIH-NIGMS. Dr.
"Tony" Prieto, as his friends and colleagues know him, completed his Ph.D. in Chemistry
in December 1981 under the supervision of Professor Gerald L. Larson. After a semester
as an instructor at Inter-Metro, he moved to the University of California at Berkeley to
pursue postdoctoral studies with Professor Paul A. Bartlett until December 1983. Upon
returning to Puerto Rico, he taught chemistry and biochemistry at the Universidad del
Sagrado Corazón, after which he started as professor of Organic Chemistry in August
1984 in the Department of Chemistry at UPR-Río Piedras where he is currently a
researcher and Professor of organic chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry, both at
the undergraduate levels and the graduate program. When he joined the UPR system,
he was appointed Director of the departmental facilities of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
(NMR) and was instrumental in the transition from a facility operated by a specialist
technician and instruments of 60 to 90 MHz, to an open user installation with modern and
impressive NMR instruments of 300 to 500 MHz. Recently he also collaborated with the
technical and scientific procedures to install and train the NMR laboratory in the Molecular
Sciences Research Center with new instruments of 500 and 700 MHz.

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His research interests are in the area of organic and organometallic synthesis, mainly
medicinal chemistry and the synthesis of biologically active compounds. He is the author
of numerous papers on scientific research and has actively participated as an evaluator
of proposals for both the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of
Health, as well as an evaluator of articles submitted to prestigious scientific journals in
the area of synthetic organic chemistry.

In 1995 Dr. Prieto was the main leader in the efforts to establish a new organization aimed
at developing Science, Technology and Innovation in Puerto Rico, product of a strategic
alliance between managers of the industrial sector, of pharmaceutical and biotechnology
manufacturing, of the government sector of economic development of Puerto Rico, and
scientific representatives of the academic sector of the University of Puerto Rico. This
organization is known as the Materials Characterization Center (MCC), which is currently
a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Prieto was one of
the four founders of this Research and Services Center, which received a $4 million grant
from the Science and Technology Board of Puerto Rico to strengthen and improve the
scientific infrastructure of Puerto Rico, retaining private industry and improving the
scientific and technological climate in Puerto Rico and attract high-tech industries to
continue contributing to the socioeconomic development of Puerto Rico. Dr. Prieto was
the first director of the MCC, for five years and continues his leadership as Associate
Director of Scientific Affairs. He has also participated in several advisory committees,
including the Evaluation Committee of the FOMENTO Scholarship Program, the Advisory
Committee of the NIH MBRS Programs SUBE (of which he was director), SCORE, MARC
and RISE of the UPR-RP and the Scientific Affairs Committee of INDUNIV. In 1993, Dr.
Prieto received the INDUNIV Award from the University Industry Research Consortium.

Dr. Prieto has participated very actively in departmental and university affairs but has also
extended his participation outside the limits of the university. Dr. Prieto has been an active
member of the American Chemical Society, Puerto Rico Section (ACS-Puerto Rico) and
was treasurer in 2003. He has actively cooperated in the Junior Technical Meetings and
Senior Technical Meetings of the ACS-Puerto Rico. On November 8, 1996, he was
awarded the Leonardo Igaravídez Award of the ACS-Puerto Rico Section. He was a
member of the Scientific Committee of the "Southeastern Regional Meeting of the
American Chemical Society" (SERMACS) in 2009, a conference that was awarded as the
best regional conference of its kind by the ACS in that year. Starting in 2010 when the
Project SEED of the ACS began in the Río Piedras Campus, a summer research
internship for high school students with economic disadvantages, Professor Prieto has
been an active collaborator, so much so that he is called the "Dad of Project SEED" in
the Rio Piedras Campus.

Prof. Prieto has been active in the Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico in the area of
continuing education, participating in the preparation of the revalidation course of the
Puerto Rico Chemists Examining Board and the scientific meetings of the Colegio, as well
as designing and offering courses of continuing education on NMR spectroscopy, IR, and
materials characterization. He was awarded the Osvaldo Ramírez Torres Award of the
Colegio de Químicos in 2003. He was part of the Scientific Committee of the 2008 Latin

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American Chemical Congress of FLAQ and of the Scientific Committee of the World
Chemical Congress of IUPAC in 2011, held in San Juan and organized by the Colegio
during the International Year of Chemistry. He is a member of the Technical Committee,
the IUPAC Committee, and the Commission of Training Activities and Scientific Events
(CAFEC) of the Colegio de Químicos de Puerto Rico and alternate delegate for the Puerto
Rico IUPAC National Adhering Organization (NAO) that the Colegio de Químicos de
Puerto Rico holds. He was a member of the Organizing Committee and the Scientific
Program Committee of the 2nd International Conference on Global Challenges in
Neglected Tropical Diseases, carried out successfully at the end of June of this year in
San Juan. He was also organizer of the conference "Trends in Bio/Nanosciences: Energy,
Environment and Medicine (BINAEEM 2017) which had to be canceled due to the
passage of Hurricane Maria on the island.

Dr. Prieto has mentored ten (10) students who have graduated with Ph.D. and three (3)
who have graduated with M.S., as well as numerous undergraduate students and high
school students of the ACS Project SEED who have conducted research in their
laboratory. He has offered numerous workshops for students of the Chemistry Graduate
Program at the Río Piedras Campus to prepare them for their professional future. Among
the letters of support received for his nomination, one said about him "Dr. Prieto, besides
being a great colleague, is a great mentor for the professors who have been in the
chemistry department for a short time, educating us in effective science communication,
in our role as mentors and academics, and in obtaining external funds." and added "what
makes me to submit this nomination, outside of the extraordinary task performed by Dr.
Prieto in all his academic and research work with past generations, is the passion,
dedication and art in pedagogy that Dr. Prieto is able to inspire in the current generation
of students of the Chemical Graduate Program of the UPR-RP. Dr. Prieto currently offers
the course of Special Topics in Spectroscopic Techniques and Organic Synthesis to 15
students of our program. Dr. Prieto has managed to energize the students of the course
in such a way that I have seen how they come out in total fascination when they finish the
class. Several of these students have described Dr. Prieto as an energetic, electric,
passionate person. Others describe him as an excellent communicator;; the teacher who
inspired them to love organic synthesis again." The letters of support to Dr. Prieto for this
award clearly show that he is one of the most recognized and respected chemists in and
outside the Río Piedras Campus

Dr. José A. Prieto is an academic and professional of the chemical sciences that always
demonstrates a great passion and excellence in scientific research, in the dissemination
of knowledge to his students, as well as to his colleagues and in the development of state-
of-the-art high technology spectroscopic analysis. The ACS-Puerto Rico is proud to
recognize him as winner of the 2018 Chemistry Education Award. Congratulations!

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ACS – PUERTO RICO - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chair: Carlos Cabrera Martínez

Chair Elect: Angela González-Mederos

Past Chair: José Ramírez-Domenech

Secretary: Angel G. Colón Santiago

Treasurer: Jorge Colón Rivera

NE Subsection Chairperson: Laura Santiago Pérez

SW Subsection Chairperson: Ubaldo Córdova

Councilors: Nestor Carballeira
Edmy Ferrer Torres
Jorge Colón Rivera
Myrna Otaño Vega

Alternate Councilors: Orlando Morales Martínez
Barbara Casañas Montes
Angel G. Colón Santiago
Brenda Ramos Santana

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ORGANIZING COMMITTEE:
Carlos Cabrera Martínez
Edmy Ferrer Torres
Jorge Colón Rivera

REGISTRATION COMMITTEE
Jorge Colón Rivera
Myrna Otaño Vega
Angela González-Mederos

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Angela González Mederos
Carlos Cabrera Martínez
Edmy Ferrer Torres
Jorge L. Colón Rivera
Wilfredo Ayala

BOOK OF ABSTRACTS COMMITTEE
Ángela González Mederos

FLOOR COORDINATORS
Edmy Ferrer Torres

ART
Pedro Caceres

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GENERAL PROGRAM
Saturday, November 10, 2018
7:00 AM Registration and breakfast
Room: Antesala
8:45 AM
WELCOME REMARKS:
Carlos Cabrera, Ph.D., 2018 Chair ACS Puerto Rico Section
Room: Arrecife B
9:00 AM
PLENARY LECTURE I
Carbon nanomaterials for bio-sensing applications
Jessica E. Koehne, Ph.D.
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA
Room: Arrecife B
Moderator: Carlos Cabrera, Ph.D.
10:00 AM COFFEE BREAK
10:15 AM

CONCURRENT ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Rooms: Perla, Guajana, Bahía, Arrecife B

11:15 AM
PLENARY LECTURE II
From solution to the gas-phase. What can we learn on the
structure, dynamics and distribution of biomolecules?
Dr. Francisco Fernández Lima,
Florida International University
Room: Arrecife B
Moderator: Jorge Colón, Ph.D.

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12:15 PM

Networking Lunch
Room: Arrecife B
1:15 PM
PLENARY LECTURE III
X-Ray Synchrotrons Facilities, Chess, Chess-U, And Energy
Research
Joel Brock, Ph.D.
Director of the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source
Room: Arrecife B
Moderator: José Ramírez-Domenech, Ph.D.
2:15 PM

CONCURRENT ORAL PRESENTATIONS
Rooms: Perla, Guajana, Bahía, Arrecife B

4:15 PM COFFEE BREAK
4:30 PM
PLENARY LECTURE IV
Parallels for success in the laboratory and the boardroom
Manuel Guzmán
President of the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS)
Room: Arrecife B
Moderator: Ingrid Montes, Ph.D.
5:30 PM
NETWORKING & EXHIBITORS HALL
Room: Antesala
6:00 PM
POSTER SESSION AND COCKTAIL
Room: Arrecife C
Moderator: Edmy Ferrer, Ph.D.

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Sunday, November 11, 2018
7:00 AM Registration and breakfast
Room: Antesala
8:45 AM
WELCOME REMARKS:
Angela González, Ph.D., 2019 Chair ACS Puerto Rico Section
Room: Coral B
9:00 AM
PLENARY LECTURE V
From Technology to Product Concept
Juan Figueroa, Ph.D.
Entrepreneurship Advisor and Associated Researcher at the Puerto
Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust
Room: Coral B
Moderator: Angela González, Ph.D.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM
Moderator: Angel Colón
10:00 AM
Nerma Albertorio
President of the Centro para Emprendedores de Puerto Rico
10:30 AM
Elías Montañez Carcana
CEO of Help!
11:00 AM
Ramonita Díaz-Ayala, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator at BIDEA LLC
11:30 AM
Closing Remarks
2020 Chair Elect of the Puerto Rico Section
Room: Coral B

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ORAL SESSIONS
Saturday, November 10, 2018 - AM
Session A: Bahía
Moderator: Susie Ling-Meletich
10:15 AM A1 DETERMINATION OF PROTEUS VULGARIS GROWTH
PARAMETERS IN HUMAN SYNTHETIC URINE FOR AN UREA
AND AMMONIA FREE URINE RECYCLE SYSTEM
Barreto-Vázquez, D., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
10:35 AM A2 ANTI-FOULING ELECTROCONDUCTIVE FORWARD OSMOSIS
MEMBRANES: ELECTROCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
Cruz-Tato, P, University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
10:55 AM A3 DOES SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY MATTERS ON
SALINITY, CONDUCTIVITY, TDS AND PH IN A COASTAL URBAN
WETLAND?
Pinto-Pacheco, S., University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
Session B: Arrecife
Moderator: Wilfredo Ayala, Ph.D.
10:15 AM B1 SMART RELEASE CROSS-LINKED CYTOCHROME C
NANOPARTICLES FOR ACTIVE TARGETING OF FOLATE
RECEPTOR- POSITIVE LUNG CANCER CELLS
Domínguez-Martínez, I., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
10:35 AM B2 VIABILITY OF CHINESE HAMSTER OVARY CELLS AFTER THE
EXPOSURE TO CdSSe AND CdSTe QDS
Alamo-Nole, L., Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
10:55 AM B3 DRUG-LOADED BIODEGRADABLE MICROFIBERS FOR
CONTROLLED RELEASE IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Santillán, J., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus

23

Session B: Guajana
Moderator: Dorcas I. Torres Padilla, Ph.D.
10:15 AM C1 NPY DETECTION USING APTAMER MODIFIED PLATINUM
MICROELECTRODES BY ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE
SPECTROSCOPY
López, L., University of Turabo
10:35 AM C2 USING MALDI-SPIRAL TOF MS AND DART-TOF MS TO ANALYZE
AND IMAGE BIOMATERIALS
Dane, J., JEOL USA, Inc.
10:55 AM C3 HIGH PERFORMANCE OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION
THROUGH TAILORED ELECTRODEPOSITION OF SILVER-
PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES ON UNSUPPORTED VULCAN XC-
72R
Vega-Cartagena, M., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus

Session D: Perla
Moderator: Angela González, Ph.D.
10:15 AM D1 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A HIGHLY
BIOCOMPATIBLE AND FLUORESCENT CARBON MATERIAL:
GRAPHENE OXIDE QUANTUM DOTS
Ortíz-Santiago, J., University of Turabo
10:35 AM D2 FABRICATION OF A BIO-FUNCTIONAL POROUS NANO ACTIVE
LAYER USING THE SELF-ASSEMBLING CHARACTERISTIC OF
DI-BLOCK COPOLYMER AND LIPASE B
Pazol, J. University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
10:55 AM D3 SYNERGY BETWEEN SULFONIC, ETHER AND ESTER GROUPS
ON THE TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS OF RANDOM AND
BLOCK COPOLYMER MEMBRANES
Ruiz-Colón, E., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus

24
Saturday, November 10, 2018 - PM

Session E: Salón Bahía
Moderator: José Ramírez-Doménech, Ph.D.

2:15 PM E1 EVALUATION OF BICONTINUOUS CUBIC PHASE/ENZYME
INTERACTION AS ACTIVE LAYER MATERIAL FOR WATER
PURIFICATION APPLICATIONS
Santiago-Martoral, L., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
2:35 PM E2 SORPTION CAPACITY AND ELECTRICAL CAPACITANCE OF
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CARBON NETWORKS
Rojas, C., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
2:55 PM E3 ARE THERE TIDAL EFFECTS OF TIDES IN WATER TABLE
LEVELS AND SALINITY IN A COASTAL URBAN WETLAND? THE
CASE OF CIÉNAGA LAS CUCHARILLAS, CATAÑO PUERTO
RICO.
Hernández-Figueroa, E., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
3:15 PM E4 AN EDUCATIONAL APPROACH OF ZERO VALENT IRON
NANOPARTICLES SYNTHESIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL
REMEDIATION
Morales-Navas, C., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
3:35 PM E5 COMPARISON OF CALCITE AND NUTRICAL IN RAISING THE PH
OF SOILS FROM LAS MARÍAS, PUERTO RICO
Más-Arroyo, O., Inter American University of Puerto Rico - San
Germán Campus
3:55 PM E6 HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY WATER SPLITTING USING
AG@ZNO COMPOSITES UNDER UV-VIS LIGHT.
Molina-Burgos, B., University of Turabo

25
Session F: Arrecife
Moderator: Susie Ling-Meletich

2:15 PM F1 SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF FERROCENYL
STILBENE DERIVATIVES IN AQUEOUS MEDIA
Delgado-Rivera, S., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
2:35 PM F2 ENHANCED DUAL (T1-AND T2-WEIGHTED) MRI CONTRAST BY
SINGLE CORE IRON OXIDE NANOPARTICLES
Lavin, A., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
2:55 PM F3 TUNING ONE-DIMENSIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL METAL
COMPLEXES INTO THREE-DIMENSIONAL METAL-ORGANIC
FRAMEWORKS
Rodríguez-Rodríguez, I., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
3:15 PM F4 CHARACTERIZATION OF NOVEL BIOMIMETIC PEPTIDE-
POLYMER CONJUGATE USING THE PROPERTIES OF
ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE MAXIMIN H5
Ortiz-Gómez, V., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
3:35 PM F5 SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE, DOCKING AND CYTOTOXIC
STUDIES OF FERROCENE-HORMONE CONJUGATES FOR
HORMONE DEPENDENT BREAST CANCER APPLICATION
Carmona-Negrón, J., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
Campus
3:55 PM F6 DEVELOPING RABIES VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN LABELED GOLD-
LIPOSOMAL NANOPARTICLES FOR GLIOBLASTOMA THERAPY
Grafals-Ruiz, N., University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences
Campus

26
Session G: Guajana
Moderator: Ramonita Díaz-Ayala, Ph.D

2:15 PM G1 HUMANS HAVE GREEN BLOOD: MYSTERIES AND
MECHANISMS OF SULFHEME FORMATION IN THE PRESENCE
OF H2S AND OXIDATIVE ENVIRONMENTS
López-Garriga, J., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus
2:35 PM G2 FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY
OF 2-HEXADECYNOIC ACID ANALOGS AGAINST MULTI-DRUG
RESISTANT BACTERIA
Sanabria-Ríos, D., Inter American University of Puerto Rico -
Metropolitan Campus
2:55 PM G3 MODELLING AND MOLECULAR DOCKING STUDIES OF THE
CYTOPLASMIC DOMAIN OF WSC-FAMILY, FULL-LENGTH
RAS2P, AND THERAPEUTIC ANTIFUNGAL COMPOUNDS
Parés-Matos, E., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus
3:15 PM G4 LABEL-FREE MICROCHIP BIOSENSOR FOR TELOMERASE
ACTIVITY IN ACUTE T CELL LEUKEMIA
Díaz-Cartagena, D., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
3:35 PM G5 LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA EFFECTOR SdeA NEW
SUBSTRATE RECOGNITION
Flores, T., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez Campus
3:55 PM G6 OXY-MYOGLOBIN’S INTERACTION WITH HYDROGEN SULFIDE:
A PATHWAY FROM COMPOUND III TO COMPOUND 0
Rodríguez-Mackenzie, A., University of Puerto Rico - Mayagüez
Campus

27
Session H: Perla
Moderator: Edmy J. Ferrer, Ph.D.

2:15 PM H1 SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND ORR ACTIVITY OF Zn1-
xCoxO NANOMATERIALS FOR FUEL CELLS APPLICATIONS.
Martínez-Torres, D., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras
Campus
2:35 PM H2 METAL OXIDE INCLUSION IN CHEMICALLY REDUCED
PLATINUM PARTICLES FOR A COST-EFFECTIVE AMMONIA
OXIDATION ELECTROCATALYST
Huertas, N., University of Turabo
2:55 PM H3 XPS SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION OF (HIS)6-rHBI
IMMOBILIZED ONTO FUNCTIONALIZED GOLD NANOPARTICLES
Torres-Gonzalez, L., University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez Campus
3:15 PM H4 METAL-MODIFIED EXFOLIATED ZIRCONIUM PHOSPHATE FOR
IMPROVED OXYGEN EVOLUTION
Ramos-Garcés, M., University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus
3:35 PM H5 SYNTHETIZING A NOVEL JANUS CARBON NANO-ONIONS
MODIFIED AS A SUPPORT FOR CATALYTIC NANOPARTICLES
Del Valle-Pérez, A., University of Turabo

29

Dr. Jessica Koehne is a Research Scientist at the NASA Ames Center for
Nanotechnology at NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, CA. She received her
B.S. in Chemistry from Santa Clara University and her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from
the University of California at Davis. Dr. Koehne has spent the past 17 years developing
a carbon nanofiber nanoelectrode based sensor platform for detection of DNA, rRNA,
proteins and neurotransmitters, with applications ranging from point-of-care for astronaut
health monitoring to detection of life signatures for planetary exploration. Dr. Koehne is
currently the Group Leader of the Nano-Biosensor activities, a group consisting of
engineers, chemists, biologists and medical doctors. She has significant experience in
device fabrication including nanomaterial integration, carbon nanofiber growth and
electrochemical characterization, surface chemical modification and sensor validation.
Dr. Koehne has authored 51 articles in peer-reviewed journals and made 31 scientific
presentations, including 17 invited talks. Dr. Koehne received 13 honors and awards
including the 2011 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
(PECASE) and 2012 NASA Ames Honor Award for Scientist/Engineer.

30

Dr. Francisco Fernandez-Lima is Associate Professor (2012-present) in the Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Florida International University. He is a world-leader in
the use of high-resolution ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for the study of biological
problems. He was the recipient of the 2017 National Science Foundation CAREER
Award and the 2017 American Chemical Society Emerging Investigator Award. Prior
to these, he was named the 2015 American Society for Mass Spectrometry Emerging
Investigator and a recipient of a 2010-2016 National Institute of Health K99/R00
Pathway to Independence Award.

31
Joel Brock received his BS in Physics with Honors from Leland Stanford Junior
University in 1981. After receiving his PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT) in 1987, Brock spent two years as a postdoctoral research associate
at MIT and then joined the faculty of the School of Applied & Engineering Physics at
Cornell University in 1989. He served as Director of the School of Applied & Engineering
Physics from 2000-2007. At Cornell, he is affiliated with the Cornell Center for Materials
Research (CCMR), the Energy Materials Center at Cornell (emc2), and is currently
Director of the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS). He is a member
of the American Crystallography Association, the Materials Research Society, the
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of
Engineering Education, Sigma Xi, the Union of Concerned Scientists, and The Materials
Society. Brock is a fellow of the American Physical Society. Brock’s research centers on
synchrotron-based x-ray studies of materials. Most recently his group has been
performing operando studies of epitaxial thin-film growth, batteries, and fuel cells.

32
Manuel Guzman, CAS President, is a visionary leader driving innovative business and
product strategy to create growth and novel solutions to business challenges. Mr.
Guzman joined CAS in 2013, bringing diverse global experience and an intense passion
to help others succeed. Under his leadership, CAS has introduced an innovation function,
new technology initiatives, team development opportunities and a customer success
program, strengthening CAS’s foundation for continuous improvement. Building on his
diverse background spanning product development, strategy, content development and
platform technology, his experience has enabled CAS to deliver several new solutions,
including SciFindern
providing relevant, actionable results and time savings to research
scientists, and STNext®
, used by intellectual property professionals and patent examiners
to make confident strategy, patentability and risk management decisions. Prior to joining
CAS, Manny held various executive positions within the information industry including:
EVP of Learning, Research Solutions & International for Cengage Learning;; President
and CFO of Thomson Learning’s Career & Professional Group;; and co-founder and CEO
of Monument Information Resource/MIR Management Corporation. Mr. Guzman has a
B.S. in accounting and an MBA in Finance from Seton Hall.

33
Mrs. Nerma Albertorio has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the UPR - Mayaguez
and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration from Universidad del Sagrado
Corazón. She is a faculty member at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón. Nerma is also
an active member of different initiatives such as Echar Pa' lante from Banco Popular and
Colmena 66 from Puerto Rico Science Trust.
Mrs. Albertorio has been working with the development and execution of programs that
foster entrepreneurs for more than 15 years. She is an expert in identifying and
developing business opportunities, business plans and marketing campaigns for diverse
non-profit organizations.
She is currently a facilitator for Startup Weekend in Latin America, Cordes Fellow,
Babson Fellow and founder of Centro para Emprendedores with more than 100
Ventures.

34
Elias D. Montañez Carcana is an entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of the Help!
Company. He was born in the city of Bayamon, Puerto Rico in June 1987. He enlisted in
the armed forces in 2007 with the rank of PV2 as supply specialist. In 2008 he served as
security supervisor for the secret level operations center of Puerto Rico. In 2009-2010 he
was part of the logistics team to mobilize troops to Kosovo. In 2010-2011 he was
mobilized to Kosovo and served as a government specialist where he collected
intelligence for NATO and the government of the United States of America and became
an ARMY veteran. In 2013, he was recruited as an intelligence officer for Homeland
Security and, at the end of that year, he was transferred as an intelligence officer for Drug
Enforcement Administration, better known as DEA. In 2014 he entered to the Active Duty
Reserve program of the National Guard of Puerto Rico as Supply Sergeant or Logistics
Supervisor. In 2016, he changed his military profession to infantry and was assigned as
Training NCO or Operations Supervisor for a total of 131 troops. Today he is an ARMY
Sergeant working for the National Guard of Puerto Rico and also help people to launch
new entrepreneurial ventures by using Help!

35
Dr. Ramonita Díaz Ayala is the principal investigator of at BIDEA LLC where she works
in the development of biosensors to detect endometrial cancer. She has mentored
undergraduate students in the Short-Term Education Program for Undergraduate
Persons (STEP-UP) supported by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK). Also, Dr. Díaz-Ayala has mentored science teachers in the Research
Experience for Teachers (RET) summer program sponsored by Wisconsin-Puerto Rico
Partnership for Research and Education in Materials [Wi(PR)2EM)]. Dr. Díaz Ayala is a
RISE Fellow by the National Institute of Health, was a doctoral Fellow in the IGERT
Nanomedicine by the National Science Foundation and was part of the INBRE project.
Dr. Díaz Ayala received her Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico
at Mayaguez, and a Master of Science in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at
Rio Piedras.

36

Dr. Juan Figueroa is Entrepreneurship Advisor and Associated Researcher at the
Puerto Rico Science, Technology, and Research Trust responsible for transforming
research into economic success. Dr. Figueroa retired from the National Science
Foundation in January 2014 where he served since 2002 as a Program Director in the
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) after spending over twenty years
in R&D management positions in the electronics and communications industries. At NSF
he reviewed over three thousand innovative technology proposals and managed over 600
awards ranging from $100K to over $1M. His last position before joining NSF was Product
Development Consultant for Material Sensing and Instrumentation, Inc. (MSI), an NSF
SBIR grantee company. Dr. Figueroa served at the University of Puerto Rico as In-
House Mentor - Entrepreneurship for Researchers Program. He also supports the
Organization of American States as an instructor to their Commercialization HUB series.
He is also Senior Technology Adviser to the DC ArchAngels, a national investor group
based in Washington, DC and to SensorComm Technologies, an environmental
technology company in New Mexico USA, and most recently had partnered with the
Tambourine Innovation Ventures in international entrepreneurial and educational
activities. Prior to MSI Dr. Figueroa was Director of Strategic Development and Project
Management for the Home Communications Division of Ericsson, a multinational-
telecommunications, and consumer electronics company. His first appointment after
graduate school was with Bell Laboratories as a Member of the Technical Staff in Murray
Hill, New Jersey and Allentown, Pennsylvania working in the development of the
microprocessor, CMOS, and networking technologies. After 13 years with Bell
Laboratories, Dr. Figueroa led the operations of a high-speed networking equipment
design startup company.
Dr. Figueroa has been involved in, at the time, emerging technologies such as Wi-Fi,
cable modems, ADSL, Ethernet and Natural Language Processing. Dr. Figueroa received
his Ph.D. in Physics from the State University of New York at Binghamton. A native of
Puerto Rico, Dr. Figueroa received his B.S in Physics from the University of Puerto Rico.

37

PLENARY LECTURE
ABSTRACTS

38

PL-1

Carbon nanomaterials for biosensing applications
Jessica E. Koehne,
NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA

Biosensing devices comprised of carbon nanotubes and nanofibers have been developed
for astronaut crew point-of-care. Their inherent nanometer scale, high conductivity, wide
potential window, good biocompatibility and well-defined surface chemistry make them
ideal candidates as biosensor electrodes. Here, we report two studies using carbon
nanotube and carbon nanofiber electrodes for biomedical applications. First, a 3x3
electrode device, with each electrode containing 40,000 carbon nanofiber nanoelectrodes
was fabricated on silicon using traditional microfabrication processing. The device was
demonstrated as a multiplexed immunosensor for simultaneous, label-free detection of
cardiac troponin-I, C-reactive protein and myoglobin. Antibodies specific to cardiac
troponin-I, C-reactive protein and myoglobin were covalently bound to the CNF surface
and were characterized using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential
pulse voltammetry. Each step of the modification process resulted in changes in
resistance to charge transfer due to the changes at the electrode surface upon antibody
immobilization and binding to the specific cardiac protein. The real-time label free
detection of the three cardiac markers from pure components and mixtures was
demonstrated with high sensitivity, down to 0.2 ng/mL, and good selectivity. Detection in
human blood serum did not present false positives from non-specific protein adsorption.
More recently, this detection scheme has been applied to inkjet printed carbon nanotube
electrodes on Kapton and paper. Printed devices have several unique advantages
including simple and inexpensive fabrication. The results demonstrate that these sensors
can serve a miniaturized, low cost device for detection of proteins in complex mixtures
making this platform a good candidate for early stage diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Future inkjet printed devices can be fabricated have the added advantage in their
suitability to be manufactured in an in-space, microgravity environment.

39

PL-II

From solution to the gas-phase. What can we learn on the structure, dynamics
and distribution of biomolecules?

Francisco Fernández Lima,
Florida International University

Recent innovations in speed, accuracy and sensitivity have established mass
spectrometry (MS) based methods as a key technology for the mapping and analysis of
small molecules, lipids, peptides, protein, DNA and DNA-protein complexes in biological
systems. In particular, Ion Mobility Spectrometry – Mass Spectrometry provides a
powerful tool for the identification of structural motifs, and when complemented with
theoretical calculations, it permits a better understanding of the main motifs that drive the
dynamics across the free energy landscape. We have recently introduced a Trapped Ion
Mobility Spectrometry coupled to Mass Spectrometry (TIMS-MS) as a high-throughput
technique for the study of conformational states of biomolecules, as well as the kinetic
intermediates involved during their folding as a function of the molecular environment
(e.g., pH, organic and salt content). While this description holds true for most
contemporary IMS analyzers, the higher resolving power (e.g., R= 150-250, 3x larger than
traditional IMS systems) and the unique ability to hold and interrogate molecular ions for
kinetic studies (e.g., millisecond-second time scale) provides TIMS-MS with unique
capabilities for the study and interrogation as a function of the time after desolvation.
Recently combined with hydrogen-deuterium exchange, HDX-TIMS-MS, a more detailed
description of the accessible surface area and the folding can be achieved over time.
That is, HDX-TIMS-MS has a significant advantage in the flexibility to interrogate, at the
single molecule level, the molecular interactions that define the conformational space. In
the present talk, recent results that reveal the kinetic intermediates and the main folding
pathways for small molecules, peptides, proteins, DNA and DNA-protein complexes will
be discussed as well as some novel chemical mapping strategies at the single cell level.

40

PL-III

X-RAY SYNCHROTRONS FACILITIES, CHESS, CHESS-U, AND ENERGY
RESEARCH

Joel D. Brock
Given Foundation Professor of Engineering
School of Applied & Engineering Physics
Director, Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS)

In this talk, I will give a brief overview of modern X-ray synchrotron facilities and then a
more detailed overview of CHESS, the CHESS-U upgrade project, and the completely
new capabilities that will be available at the conclusion of CHESS-U in early 2019. I will
highlight the new PREM partnership between CHESS and UPR and conclude with
several recent examples of operando studies of the interface structure of a
photoelectrocatalytic surface and an operating LiS battery.

41
PL-V

From Technology to Product Concept

Juan Figueroa, Ph.D.
Entrepreneurship Advisor and Associated Researcher at the Puerto Rico Science,
Technology, and Research Trust

The current financial and jobs climate has placed attention on research institutions as a
potential source for jobs and wealth creation. Universities contribute to the local economy
as a consequence of conducting their normal activities. Even though this new
responsibility is different from those that led to their creation universities and research
institutions are accepting this challenge proactively. The private sector clearly contributes
to the economy but has been forced to introduce new technology-based products at a
faster pace than previously needed. Research universities and businesses develop a
significant amount of intellectual property. From this number, a very high percentage ends
up providing no financial return in relation to their investments in time, efforts and talents.
So how do we monetize the ones with commercial potential?

The goal of this presentation is to share a straight and simple path for technology to
become a product concept. It intends to highlight the simple tools needed to reach the
goal. There is no simple and unique methodology, we intend to share one of the many
possible methodologies. At the end of this presentation, attendees should arrive at a
series of short and long-term concepts that will help think and act from technology to
product concept.

42

ORAL PRESENTATIONS
ABSTRACTS

43
Oral Presentation
A1
DETERMINATION OF PROTEUS VULGARIS GROWTH PARAMETERS IN HUMAN
SYNTHETIC URINE FOR AN UREA AND AMMONIA FREE URINE RECYCLE
SYSTEM

Barreto-Vázquez D.1
;; Cabrera, C.2

1
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus San Juan,
00931, Puerto Rico.
2
Molecular Science Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico,
00926.
delmaliz.barreto@upr.edu

An efficient urine recycling system is needed to obtain clean water, free of toxic metabolic
products excreted by terrestrial animals, and humans. Two potential applications for this
technology are: (1) To supply potable water to communities where this resource is
inaccessible. (2) Reduce the costs of delivering potable water to the US space station to
sustain short- and long-term space missions. Urine contains urea, a product of protein
metabolism in humans and animals. Currently, wastewater treatment technologies cannot
remove urea. Thus, the use of robust enteric bacteria for urea catalysis is a potential
alternative for wastewater treatment since these microorganisms can naturally produce
and regulate the urease enzyme when urea is available. The goal of this work is to
determine the ideal concentration of urea and D-glucose in human synthetic urine for P.
vulgaris continuous culture in a chemostat. Production of ammonia following urease-
mediated hydrolysis of urea will be monitored in a time-dependent manner. Activity of
urease will be assessed by ammonia oxidation to nitrogen at a Pt working electrode
(anode) integrated into the chemostat. Ammonia oxidation current peak densities will then
be measured by cyclic voltammetry. Finally, the remaining constituents of urine will be
removed by reverse osmosis to obtain clean water.

KEYWORDS: Environmental, Biochemistry, Green Chemistry

44

Oral Presentation
A2
ANTI-FOULING ELECTROCONDUCTIVE FORWARD OSMOSIS MEMBRANES:
ELECTROCHEMICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Cruz-Tato, P.;; Rivera-Fuentes, N.;; Nicolau, E.
University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
eduardo.nicolau@upr.edu

Forward osmosis (FO) has captured the attention of researchers because it allows for
high water flux with minimum energy consumption, making it a cost-effective approach
for wastewater treatment. However, membrane fouling remains an obstacle to this
application. To address this concern, we fabricated an electroconductive membrane
composed of polysulfone and polyaniline (PAni). These membranes have the potential to
oxidize targeted organic compounds and/or electrostatically remove the fouling layer.
After optimizing the PAni loading, we performed bench-scale tests using sodium alginate
as model foulant. The membranes were fouled resulting in a decrease in FO efficiency of
72%. Fouled membranes were treated with a cathodic potential for 30 minutes, the fouling
and antifouling processes were studied by means of SEM, contact angle and
electrochemical methods. The fouled membrane exhibited a clogged surface and high
electrical resistance while the treated membrane recovered the PAni nanofibers
morphology, its electrical and hydrophilic properties and 85% of its FO efficiency. Thus,
PAni can improve the overall membrane permeability while incorporating antifouling
properties. Moreover, the EIS results of this study shed light on the mechanisms that
govern the water separation process before and after fouling in FO mode.

KEYWORDS: Polyaniline, electroconductive, forward osmosis, membrane

45
Oral Presentation
A3
DOES SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY MATTERS ON SALINITY,
CONDUCTIVITY, TDS AND PH IN A COASTAL URBAN WETLAND

Pinto-Pacheco, S.1
;; Hernández Figueroa, E.1
;; Cuevas, E.2

University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus
1
Environmental Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras PO Box
23360 San Juan PR 00931
2
Biology Department, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras PO Box 23360 San Juan
PR 00931
solimar.pinto@upr.edu

Coastal wetlands, transitioning habitats between ocean and land, provide coastal
protection, flooding prevention, pollution filtration and CO2 sequestration. The spatial and
temporal variability of the freshwater and marine inputs influences substrate and water
salinity (S) and conductivity (C), as well as pH and total dissolved solids (TDS). Heavy
metal toxicity increases at lower pH. Total dissolved solids (TDS) encompass inorganic
salts and small amounts of organic matter that are dissolved in water. By measuring these
parameters, the extent to which freshwater versus saltwater inputs influence water quality
in a coastal wetland can be determined. Water samples were collected in ten piezometers
placed near a freshwater input, intermediate and nearest to the coast (saltwater input) in
the coastal urban wetland, Ciénaga Las Cucharillas, Cataño, Puerto Rico in order
determine the temporal and spatial effect in the overall salinity and water quality of the
wetland. Samples were collected from January until September 2018, at 0.2m and 2.5m
depth from the surface. The statistical package SAS JMP Pro 13 was used for differences
among sites and dates (Wilcoxon-signed test), and between depths (T- test). There was
significant variability both temporal and spatial wise. Rainfall events and nearness to
freshwater input reduced TDS, S and C in all piezometers: the ones nearest to the Malaria
Channel had statistically significant less S, C and TDS. Significant differences at
p<0.0001 in S, C and TDS between depths reflect the oceanic effect via subsurface flow
(S = 12.95±8.23, C = 20.94±12.69, TDS = 13.53±8.18), whereas the surface reflects the
freshwater input from direct rainfall and flooding (S = 7.09±5.24, C = 12.14±8.27, TDS =
8.36±5.64). Our data points towards a significant dynamic, both at the spatial and
temporal level, where the quality and residence time of the water inputs play an important
role in the wetland functioning.

KEYWORDS: Conductivity, pH, salinity, coastal urban wetlands

46
Oral Presentation
B1
SMART RELEASE CROSS-LINKED CYTOCHROME C NANOPARTICLES FOR
ACTIVE TARGETING OF FOLATE RECEPTOR- POSITIVE LUNG CANCER CELLS

Domínguez-Martínez, Irivette;; Griebenow, Kai
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR, 00931
irivette.dominguez@upr.edu

Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature deaths worldwide. In the United States,
cancer is the second leading cause of mortality, with an estimated 600,920 cancer-related
deaths reported in 2017. Proteins often possess highly specific biological activities that
make them potential therapeutics. However, the use of protein as therapeutic agents is
hampered by their physical and chemical instabilities during formulation, storage, and
delivery have limited their medical use. Therefore, engineering of nanosized vehicles to
stabilize protein therapeutics and to allow for targeted treatment of complex diseases,
such as cancer, is of considerable interest. In this study, we propose a cytochrome c (Cyt
c) cross-linked nanoparticle (NP) that will be designed for active targeting and stimulus-
triggered release of the apoptotic protein Cyt c. This system is composed of a Cyt c NP
stabilized by a homobifunctional redox-sensitive cross-linker for smart release and folic
acid-polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG) in the surface for receptor-mediated targeting. The
NPs were prepared using a nanoprecipitation method in the presence of the crosslinker,
dithiobis (succinimidyl propionate) (DSP), then the FA- PEG was added and it was left to
react overnight. The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) showed that NPs can be created
with this method whose size is in the approximate range of 250nm. Preliminary results
showed that Cyt c NP coated with the FA-PEG polymer induced a reduction in the cell
viability of the folate receptor positive Lewis Lung Carcinoma cell after 24 h of incubation.

KEYWORDS: Biochemistry, Biomedical, Nano/Materials

47
Oral Presentation
B2
VIABILITY OF CHINESE HAMSTER OVARY CELLS AFTER THE EXPOSURE TO
CDSSE AND CDSTE QDS

Alamo-Nole, Luis
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce
luis_alamo@pucpr.edu

Nanomaterials with optical properties such as Quantum Dots (QDs) have attracted
research interest in different fields of science and technology. QDs have a lot of benefits
but may pose risks to the environment and organisms. Living organisms can be in contact
and absorb this nanomaterial which can cause cytokine production, oxidative stress,
apoptosis, and changes in gene expression. Semiconductors can be synthesized at
different temperatures, causing changes in their crystal size, and optical and fluorescent
behavior. CdSTe and CdSSe QDs were synthesized under microwave irradiation at 180o
C producing different crystal that fluoresce red (636nm) and green (530 nm), respectively.
The cell viability of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells after the exposure to the QDs was
evaluated by a cellometer cell counter and a luminescence kit (ATP production). The cell
counter gave higher viability results due the integrity of the membrane cells. The cell
viability decreases with the increase of the QDs concentration with both methods
indicating that the effect is based on the QDs concentration. Also, fluorescence
microscopy confirmed the presence of the QDs on the CHO cells.

KEYWORDS: Nano/Materials, Chemistry, Environmental, Toxicology

48
Oral Presentation
B3
DRUG-LOADED BIODEGRADABLE MICROFIBERS FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE
IN REGENERATIVE MEDICINE

Santillán, J.1
;; Padilla, J.2
;; Cheng, J.3
;; Messersmith,P.3
;; Nicolau, E.4

1
Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus
2
Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus
3
Departments of Bioengineering and Materials Science, University of California,
Berkeley
4
Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
jaime.santillan@upr.edu

Conventional drug delivery systems often lack the ability to specifically distribute
therapeutic agents to target sites without affecting surrounding healthy tissues. This lack
of specificity paired with other challenges, such as poor solubility and drug aggregation,
can significantly hinder treatment efficacy. Electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)
microfibers have shown promise as a therapeutic delivery system due to their drug-
loading capacity and subsequent-controlled release via regulated biodegradation of the
fibrous polymer matrix. In this study, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers
were prepared at varying concentrations at 12%, 15%, and 18% w/w with the
encapsulation of 1,4-dihydrophenonthrolin-4-one-3-carboxylic acid (1,4-DPCA). 1,4-
DPCA inhibits the degradation of hypoxia- inducible factor 1-alpha protein, a regulator of
oxygen homeostasis, and has shown to activate regenerative wound healing in in vivo
models. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was utilized to obtain the drug-
release profile of PCL microfibers loaded with 1,4-DPCA drug. Additionally, mechanical
testing, contact angle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs analyses,
of the PCL non-woven meshes, were utilized to determine elasticity, wettability and
morphological characteristics, respectively. The HPLC spectrograms revealed a
controlled release of 1,4-DPCA over the course of several hours following an initial drug
burst at the first hour of activation. The tensile strength of the PCL fibrous membrane
demonstrates desirable mechanical properties, with loaded membranes exhibiting a high
elasticity ranging between 60% and 90% of strain. Furthermore, hydrophobicity of PCL
microfibers was used to extend the retention of the drug in the delivery system. Finally,
SEM micrographs indicate random deposition of the electrospun fibers, and further
analyses suggest a potential relationship between nanofiber diameter and polymer
concentration. This extends to a relationship between the diameter of the polymer fibers
and the rate of drug released. Our findings establish electrospun PCL microfibers as a
promising candidate for future development towards a controlled and sustained drug
delivery system

KEYWORDS: polycaprolactone, biodegradable, drug-delivery

49
Oral Presentation
C1
NPY DETECTION USING APTAMER MODIFIED PLATINUM MICROELECTRODES
BY ELECTROCHEMICAL IMPEDANCE SPECTROSCOPY

López, L.;; Cenci, L.;; Hernández, N.
University of Turabo
llopez292@email.suagm.edu

Neuropeptides are involved in the regulation of many physiological activities, responsible
for communication among cells in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous
systems. NPY is a highly evolutionary conserved peptide involved in stress response and
mediation, appetite stimulation and plays a role in pathological conditions like obesity,
anxiety and neurodegenerative diseases. Climate change provokes significant
environmental fluctuations that produce physiological challenges, such as a stress, to a
variety of organisms. NPY are involved in those processes, but a precise mechanism has
not yet been defined. The purpose of this project is to use modified aptamer platinum
microelectrodes for the detection of NPY. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy is a
technique that study what happen at the surface of the electrode. Frequencies between
5MHz to 10Hz at different potentials will be study with this technique that allow us the
detection of NPY. Our results show detection changes in the impedance at all
concentrations and at different potentials. Modified aptamer platinum microelectrodes
allow us to understand NPY concentrations at the electrode surface. Electrochemical
Impedance Spectroscopy will be developing to understand the mechanism and the
detection of neuropeptides at real time in future studies.

KEYWORDS: NPY, EIS, Pt Microelectrodes

50
Oral Presentation
C2
USING MALDI-SPIRAL TOF MS AND DART-TOF MS TO ANALYZE AND IMAGE
BIOMATERIALS

Dane, J.
JEOL Inc. Inc., Peabody MA, United States
jdane@jeol.com

Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI)-SpiralTOF MS is a unique,
commercially available system that uses an innovative spiral ion optics system to fold a
17-meter flight path into a 1-meter box, thus producing a TOF MS with an ultra-high
resolving power of ≥75,000. Additionally, this system can be equipped with a TOF/TOF
option for MS/MS analysis. In this section of the presentation, a series of studies will be
presented that involve the analysis of biologically relevant analytes such as lipids,
peptides, proteins, etc. Additionally, tissue sample images for these types of compounds
will be presented in this work as well. Direct Analysis in Real-Time (DART)-TOF MS is a
unique technology that allows for the instantaneous analysis of smaller molecules from
surfaces (typically ≤ 1000Da). Moreover, the samples can often be analyzed in their native
state, with little to no sample preparation. In this section of the presentation, a series of
samples that include natural products, counterfeit drugs, reaction monitoring, bacterial
identification, as well as other relevant materials will be presented. Additionally, images
acquired by using Laser Ablation DART Imaging (LADI) will be presented in this work as
well.

51
Oral Presentation
C3
HIGH PERFORMANCE OXYGEN REDUCTION REACTION THROUGH TAILORED
ELECTRODEPOSITION OF SILVER-PALLADIUM NANOPARTICLES ON
UNSUPPORTED VULCAN XC-72R

Vega-Cartagena, M.;; Cabrera, C.
University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, 00931
melissa.vega@upr.edu

Carbon-supported Ag-Pd bimetallic NPs electrocatalyst were successfully synthesized
via the RoDSE technique in a nominal precursor solution mass-to-mass ratio of 4:1(Ag:
Pd), as a cost-effective means to improve catalytic activity while minimizing costs. The
work presented here compares three different methods of electrodeposition using the
RoDSE technique. RoDSE is a robust electrodeposition method consisting of the rotating
disk slurry electrode (RoDSE) which allows for the synthesis of highly dispersed Ag/Pd
nanoparticles on Vulcan XC-72R in acidic media to minimizing the time spent in catalyst
preparation. The tested method consisted on an (1) alternated, (2) sequential and (3)
simultaneous electrodeposition of Ag and Pd on unsupported Vulcan XC-72R. Different
characterization techniques were used, such as TEM, XRD, ICP and Raman
spectroscopy confirming the presence of Ag and Pd on the carbon support. The Ag/Pd
face centered cubic crystal facets were determined by XRD with an approximate particle
size of 23.3 nm for the different methods. Performance of the electrochemical methods
were assessed for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using: cyclic voltammetry and
rotating disk electrode techniques. Herein, we demonstrate that among the three methods
to electrodeposited bimetallic, the simultaneous approach performed better catalytic
activity for ORR in terms of Eonset, limiting current density and performed a four-electron
pathway for ORR in alkaline media, in O2-saturated 0.1 M KOH solution.

KEYWORDS: Oxygen reduction reaction, silver, palladium, unsupported
electrodeposition, bimetallic catalyst, Vulcan, RoDSE

52
Oral Presentation
D1
SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A HIGHLY BIOCOMPATIBLE AND
FLUORESCENT CARBON MATERIAL: GRAPHENE OXIDE QUANTUM DOTS

Ortíz-Santiago, J.;; Carrasquillo De Jesus, R;; Rivera-Rodríguez, V.;; Cunci, L.
University of Turabo
jortiz811@email.suagm.edu

Graphene Oxide Quantum Dots (GOQD) is a nanomaterial produced by a strong acid
reaction in which carbon-based nanoparticles are exfoliated. GOQD have a size of ca. 10
nm, which have the potential to serve as a fluorescent agent for tumor detection and drug
delivery into the brain. Their color depends on their size with bigger nanoparticles emitting
lower energy photons. Also, GOQD exhibit high biocompatibility in mammal cells. Our
objectives are focused on optimizing the methodology of the synthesis of this material to
obtain a higher yield while characterizing their physical and chemical properties. We
hypothesized that by making modifications in the synthesis, changing the time as well as
the acids used, we can obtain the same results. The material obtained was exposed to a
UV Lamp to confirm their fluorescence. A microplate reader was used to characterize
their fluorescence using emission wavelengths ranged between 350 and 790 nm,
showing a constant fluorescence peak at 550 nm. Raman spectroscopy was used to
verify the completion of our synthesis, X-ray Diffraction was used to confirm the structure
and purity of the sample, and the Atomic Force Microscopy was used to confirm the
particle size. Our results showed that a pure quantum dots and small sizes were achieved
and the synthesis lasted an average of 4 hours approximately, reducing the production
period from 4 days. These results will help and provide to the scientific community a novel
tool for future biomedical applications.

KEYWORDS: synthesis, characterization, nanomaterial

41st Senior Technical Meeting - 2018 - American Chemical Society Puerto Rico

41st Senior Technical Meeting - 2018 - American Chemical Society Puerto Rico

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