Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The program is to investigate the use of zeolites in the development of novel and exciting host/guest systems. Zeolites are interesting and versatile crystalline aluminosilicate materials made up of an open framework structure (void spaces). For a number of zeolites the void spaces are in the molecular dimensions and can be filled with a wide variety of organic guest molecules. Zeolites provide a rigid, well defined and thermally stable host environment with readily tunable characteristics. The chemistry is carried out by incorporating a photochemically labile guest molecule within the zeolite framework. The host/guest system is then subjected to pulsed laser light where a reactive intermediate is generated from the photochemically labile guest molecule. This current proposal focuses on three main areas, each with a specific and applicable goal. 1. To investigate whether zeolites will provide a suitable host material to carry out non-resonant two-photon absorption for simple organic molecules. This work may lead to enhanced molecular properties for drugs involved with photodynamic therapy. 2. To investigate whether zeolites will provide a suitable host material for the generation of singlet oxygen to act as an antimicrobial agent. This research may lead to a novel way to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria on some polymer surfaces. 3. To investigate the kinetic properties of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical and other reactive oxygen radicals generated within the zeolite framework. This work will have a direct impact on the development of zeolite/organic composite materials for the degradation of unwanted environmental pollutants. A fourth area is to develop a novel model to predict the outcome of a class of biologically relevant reactions. This solution project will involve studying the ionization reaction (bond cleavage) of radicals with a leaving group adjacent to the radical center. A postdoctoral researcher will be the lead on the two-photon project due to the advanced skills necessary for the utilization of the high intensity femtosecond laser system and three graduate students will be assigned to each of the other three projects. Five undergraduate research students will assist these projects.