My last blog entry…

Hey!! Look for: Biominds Research Day in the pages column!!! Enjoy!!!

ABRMCS and Results from my semester!!!

I just finished writing about my experiences in the ABRCMS 2008 conference and the end of this research semester!!!! Please visit and comment if you want ^.^

Synthesis of cis-Pt(NH3)(3-hidroxypyridine)Cl2(AH3)-Thiazole

Cisplatin is a widely used anticancer drug, and has many side effects that have limited its use.  To attempt minor side effects and more selective activity, thousands of cisplatin derivatives or analogues have been prepared by varying the nature of the leaving group or ligands.  It will be the first time that cis-Pt(NH3)(3-hidroxypyridine)Cl2(AH3)thiazole is synthetized in the laboratory using a procedure where potassium tetrachloroplatinate (K2PtCl4) is the starting compound to this synthesis.  Finding and making this compound will lead to grand success and a pathway to more accute investigation. 

          My mentor is Dr. Mayra Cadiz and she specializes in the fields of Inorganic Chemistry.  I chose this investigation area because first of all I love chemistry, and I saw this as an opportunity to learn more about the field.  But I think that the fact that influenced my decision was the purpose of the investigation.  Cancer is a disease that has affected millions of lives in the world, many of those affected have lost their lives fighting this disease.  One of the main reasons this happens is that some of the treatments given to the patients are not strong enough to cure the whole disease.  Cancer has affected the ones I love, and it has even taken away their lives, because of the advanced stages that this disease has.  Reading a brief description of the project and picturing a better world without so many people affected with cancer, motivated me to join Dr. Cadiz and her team of students, to look for a way to attack cancer cells, by using cisplatin.   

     My first experience in the lab has been filled with wonderful experiences throughtout the beggining of the semester.  I have learned so much.  I never knew working with metals (expensive ones too), was going to be so thrilling.  I’ve learned to prepare solutions and dilute them to a certain quantity wanted and expected.  Also I learned in a more profound and deep way the concepts of: coordination compounds, ligands, platinum, oxidations states, nomenclature of inorganic compounds and many more.  I’ve read papers that have a precise procedure in the formation of the compound with thiazole.  I’ve learned certain terms that are used in the lab, certain reactions that can occur with K2PtCl4 and other solvents (like for example water).  We have gathered together in group reunions to learn more about the process, to know each other…..we even had a cleaning day and we had lots of fun together.  The professor reunited with each student to explain the project assigned (we all do different projects, but kind of similar, so we help each other).  It’s been very successful because we could start the process without any problems in particular, and we are halfway there to reach the formation of the desired compound.

      Our purpose and goal by the end of the semester is to synthetize cis-Pt(NH3)(3-hidroxypyridine)Cl2(AH3)-Thiazole by using K2PtCl4 as the starting reagent (its less expensive than other material used for the synthesis of the compound) and attempt minor side effects and more selective activity in the desired area. 

For more information you can visit: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6769/6/3