Environmental Research Technology Transfer Center

Investigators

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Students

• Everton Brown
• Gary Murphy
• Sharmila Bhandari
• Jean S. Enowacho
• Daryl Wilkerson
• George Glasgow
• Rosalin Cain-Flood
• William Hamilton
• Shawn Williams

Research and Services

ICP-MS has broad applications within the fields of environmental monitoring and assessment, medical and toxicological sample analysis. The primary use for this instrument in the CAF operations is the assessment of environmental conditions that may be associated with cancer and cardiovascular diseases such as water testing, soil, and material analysis for biomedical investigative purposes. Depending on the specific parameters, biomedical samples such as whole blood, urine, plasma, serum, bone, soil, and water samples are analyzed.

The HPLC is used in bioanalysis of xenobiotics (drugs and their metabolites, and biological molecules in unnatural locations or concentrations) and biotics (macromolecules, proteins, DNA, large molecule drugs, metabolites) in biological systems. CAF support the user community with quantitative measurement of drugs and endogenous substances in biological samples. Bioanalysis in the Pharmacology Core user community provides quantitative measurements of the active drug and/or its metabolite(s) for the purpose of pharmacokinetics, toxicokinetics, bioequivalence and exposure–response (pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics studies).

MALDI-TOF is used for the confirmation of analysis and quantification of environmental toxicants in the samples from different environmental matrices as well as from biological samples. MALD-TOF can be used for the identification and profiling of modified proteins following exposure to xenobiotics to help identify processes of toxicant-induced pathologies. MALDI-TOF genotyping can be employed to identify Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (i.e., SNP) for comparison to the entire genome of toxicant exposed cells. Results from such analyses help to identify the role of genomic modifications in the processes of disease initiation and progression.

Microscopes are essential to work with and examine microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, and other small microscopic organisms such as nematodes, algae, worms, insects, and many others. Fluorescence microscopy is extremely valuable to follow distribution of chemicals and or different biochemical reactions and their products which is very important in toxicological studies, in addition of staining DNA and important organelles, particles and structures.

The scanning and transmission electron microscope (STEM) provides broad applications in the fields of nanotoxicity studies in environmental science, imaging of biological samples (cells, tissues, etc.), and new nano-drug design and development. The Hitachi S-4800-II field emission STEM features a maximum resolution of 1.0 nm and a variable acceleration voltage of 0.5 – 30 kV. Both secondary electron and backscattered electron detectors are available for imaging. The stage can rotate 360° and tilt -5 to 70°. It provides STEM imaging capability at 30kV, which may be useful especially for biological samples that cannot withstand higher accelerating voltage in a standard TEM

Labs and Equipment

• Room 302: Biological Fume Hood, CO2 Incubator, minus -80 freezer
• Room 300: ICPMS, HPLC, GCMS, Raman Microscope, Microwave Digestion, IC, UV-Vis
• Room 346: STEM

Journal Papers

• Sarkar, P., Sarkar, R., Ramesh, V., Wilson, B.L., Thomas. R., Helen, K., Barnes, S., Kulkarni, A., Pellis, N.R., and Ramesh, G.T., Protemic Analysis of Mice Hippocampus in Simulated Microgravity Environment”, Journal of Proteome Research, (2006).
• Wise, K., Sarkar, S., Manna, S., Ramesh, V., Wilson, B. L., Thomas, R., Kulkarni, A. Pellis. N. R. and Ramesh G. T. (2006) “Activation of Activator Protein-1 in mouse brain regions exposed to simulated microgravity” in vitro Cell and Dev. Biol., 42(3); 96-99; 2006.
• Kun Tao, Shuying Yang, Jaime C. Grunlan, Yeon-Seok Kim, Bachlien Dang, Yuanjian Deng, Renard L. Thomas, Bobby L. Wilson, and Xin Wei ,“ Effects of Carbon Nanotube Fillers on the Curing Processes of Epoxy Resin-Based Composites”, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 102(6), 5248-5254 (2006).
• Tao, K. Yang, S., Grunlan, J. C., Kim, Y. S., Dang, B., Deng, Y., Thomas, R L., Wilson, B. L., and Xin Wei, X.,“ Effects of Carbon Nanotube Fillers on the Curing Processes of Epoxy Resin-Based Composites”, Received 18 March 2006; accepted 9 May 2006, DOI 10.1002/app.24773 Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com).
• Sarkar, S., Sharma, C., Yog, R., Periakaruppan, A., Jejelowo, O., Thomas, R., Barrera, E., Rice-Ficht, A., Wilson, B., and Ramesh, G. “Analyses of Stress Responsive Genes Induced by Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes in BJ Foreskin Cells”, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, vol. 7, 1-9, 2007.
• Clement, J.Q., Lacy, S.M., and Wilson, B.L. (2007) Genome-wide gene expression profiling of microgravity effect on human liver cells. Journal of Gravitational Physiology. 14(1):P121-122
• Sharma, S. C., Sarkar, S., Periakaruppan, A., Sadanandan, B., Ravichandran, P., Thomas, R. L., Wilson, B. L. and Ramesh, G. T. (2008) Simulated Microgravity Activates Apoptosis and NF [kappa]B in Mice Testis” Mol and Cell Bio, 2008.
• Clement, J.Q., Lacy, S.M., and Wilson, B.L., “Gene Expression Profiling of Human Epidermal Keratinocytes in Simulated Microgravity and Recovery Cultures” Geno. Prot. Bioinfo., Vol. 6, No.1, 2008.
• Periyakaruppan , A., Sarkar, S., Ravichandran, P., Sadanandan , B., Sharma, C.S, Ramesh, V., Hall, J.C., Thomas, R., Wilson, B.L., and Ramesh, G.T.,” Uranium induces apoptosis in lung epithelial cells” , Arch Toxicology , 2009 June; 83(6) : 595-600.
• Prabakaran Ravichandran, Sudhakar Baluchamy, Ramya Gopikrishnan, Santhoshkumar Biradar, Vani Ramesh, Virupaxi Goornavar, Renard Thomas, Bobby L. Wilson, Robert Jeffers, Joseph C. Hall, and Govindarajan T. Ramesh, “Pulmonary biocompatibility assessment of inhaled single-wall and multi- wall carbon nanotubes in BALB/C mice,” J. Biol. Chem. 2011 jbc.M111.251884. First Published on June 24, 2011, doi:10.1074/jbc.M111.251884.
• Clemens, P., Wei, X., Wilson, B., Thomas, R., “Anatase Titanium Dioxide Coated Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes Manufacture by Sonochemical-Hyrdrothermal Technique,” Open Journal of Composite Materials, Vol. 3, No. 2A, 2013, pp. 21-32. Dol:10.4236/ojcm.2013.32A004.
• Oyewole, A., Thomas, R., Conley, F., Wilson, B., “The Effects of Copper, Manganese, and Vanadate Mixtures on Caco-2 Cell Cultures: A Case for the Precautionary Principle,” International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, Vol. 4, No. 2, March 2013, pp. 10-14.
• Oyewole, A., Sapp, J., Wilson, B., Oyewole, O., “Potential Environmental Risks from Home Healthcare-Generated Municipal Solid Waste in Texas,” International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, Vol. 4, No 3, May 2014, pp. 6-12.

Conference Presentations

• Wilson, Bobby, “A New Agenda for Higher Education the United States: A Nation in Crisis,” LSAMP Governing Board Meeting, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, April 1, 2016.
• Wilson, Bobby, “A New Agenda for Higher Education the United States: A Nation in Crisis,” Workshop at Lone Star College-Victory Center, Houston, Texas, August 29, 2015.
• Reed, Raven, Tarver, Siobhan, and Wilson, Bobby, “Preliminary Assessment of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Indoor Parking Facilities in the Houston Area,” Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Washington, DC, February 19-21, 2015.
• Wilson, Bobby, “Raising Parental Awareness in S.T.E.M. Education and Equipping Sons and Daughters to Succeed,” NBITLO Houston 2013: Beyond S.T.E.M. Meeting of the National Black Information Technology Leadership Organization, Houston, Texas, October 26, 2013.
• Wilson, Bobby, “A New Agenda for Higher Education the United States: A Nation in Crisis,” 67th National Pan-Hellenic Council Biennial National Leadership Conference Houston, Texas, October 26, 2013.
• Wilson, Bobby, “A New Agenda for Higher Education the United States: A Nation in Crisis,” 81st Grand Chapter Meeting of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Houston, TX, August 6-11, 2013.
• Jing Fang, Mindy Nguyen, Jenny Phan, Yuanjian Deng, Renard L. Thomas, Bobby L. Wilson, and Xin Wei, “Electropolymerization of Polypyrrole on Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes”, An abstract submitted to 69th American Chemical Society Southwest Regional Meeting in Waco, Texas in 2013.
• Tiffany Gurley, Xin Wei, Renard L. Thomas, and Bobby L. Wilson, “Study of Structure-Property Relationships in Electrochemical Biosensing Films”, Minority Leaders Program review meeting in Dayton, Ohio in 2013.
• Lewis, G., Naidu, N., Yakubu, M., and Wilson, B., ‘Analysis of Lindane and it Metabolites in Rats Feces by HPLC-UV-Vis and MALDI-TOF,” 39th Meeting of NOBCChE, Washington, D.C., September 24-28, 2012.
• Madison, O., Watson, K., Gibson, T., Sundaresan, A., and Wilson, B., “Determination of Acute Lymphatic Function After Exposure to the Environmental Hormone Diethystilbestrol (DES) in Earth Bound Gravitional Conditions (1G),” 39th Meeting of NOBCChE, Washington, D.C., September 24-28, 2012.
• Phillips, Shantell, Gonzalez, Perla, Obot, Edidiong, Thomas, Renard, Wilson, Bobby, “Effects of Titanium Dioxide carbon Nanotubes on Human Fetal Osteoblast Cells,” 2012 Emerging Researchers National Conference in STEM, Atlanta, GA, February 23-25, 2012
• Adetoun, Aboaba, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Advancement of Water Treatment Using Carbon Nanotubes”, 38th Annual Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Houston Texas, April 19-22, 2011.
• Gibson, Terrell, Thomas, Renard, Ramesh, Govindarajan, and Wilson, Bobby, “Bio-Assessment of Human Health from Chronic Metal Exposure in the Urban Environment”, 38th Annual Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Houston Texas, April 19-22, 2011.
• Tarver, Siobhan, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Urine Analysis of Commuters’ Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in the Greater Houston Area Using Purge and Trap for Gas Chromatography”, 38th Annual Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Houston Texas, April 19-22, 2011.
• Dale, Zuri, Tatum, Katoria, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Assessment of Environmental Estrogens in the Galveston Bay Watershed”, 38th Annual Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Houston Texas, April 19-22, 2011.
• Stroud, Destinee, Dooley-Renfro, Jamie, Phan, Tuan, Wilson, Bobby -“Diruthenium Complexes as a Potential Anti-Cancer Agent”, 38th Annual Meeting of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers, Houston Texas, April 19-22, 2011
• Gibson, Terrell, Thomas, Renard, Ramesh, Govindarajan, and Wilson, Bobby, “Bio-Assessment of Human Health from Chronic Metal Exposure in the Urban Environment”, 114th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 3-5, 2011.
• Tarver, Siobhan, Ramesh, Govindarajan, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Studies of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Oxidative Stress”, 114th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 3-5, 2011.
• Dale, Zuri, Tatum, Katoria, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Assessing the Effects of Environmental Estrogens in the Galveston Bay Watershed”, 114th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 3-5, 2011.
• Carter, Nathaniel, Tatum, Katoria, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “Assessing the Effects of Environmental Estrogens in the Galveston Bay Watershed”, 114th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 3-5, 2011.
• Dale, Zuri, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “The Assessment of Environmental Estrogens in the Galveston Bay Watershed”, 113th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 4-6, 2010.
• Gibson, Terrell, Thomas, Renard, and Wilson, Bobby, “The Effects of Metal Exposure on Normal Osteoblast Cell Development Using Primary Teeth as a Bio-Indicator of Exposure”, 113th Texas Academy Science, Stephenville, Texas, March 4-6, 2010.
• Xin Wei, Mindy Nguyen, Renard L. Thomas, and Bobby L. Wilson, “Progresses in Electrochemical Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes”, Oral presentation in Minority Leaders Program review meeting in Dayton, Ohio in 2010.

Reports

Keller, R., Bradbury, J., Cramer, R., Erickson, E., Forch, B., Meyer, S., Wilson, B., “Disposal Options for the Rocket Motors from Nerve Agent Rockets Stored at Blue Grass Army Depot,” National Research Council of the National Academies, Board on Army Science and Technology, International Book Number-13: 978-0-30-26045-9, 2012.

Patents

• Cai Dong, Renard L. Thomas and Ren Zhifeng: “Volatile Organic Gases as Bioindicators for Transplant Rejection, US 2015/0031582 A1, issued January 29, 2015.
• Xin Wei, Yuanjian Deng, Renard L. Thomas, and Bobby Wilson, Instantaneous Electro Deposition of Metal Nanostructures on Carbon Nanotubes, 8,709,226, 4/29/14
• Singhal, G.H., Colle, K.S., Edelson, E.H., Wilson, B.L., and Dao, L.H., Catalyst for the Hydroconversion of Carbonaceous Materials, US Patent Number 4,561,964, 12/31/85.
• Singhal, G.H., Wilson, B.L., Edelson, E.H., and Mikita, M.A., Catalytic Process for Hydroconversion of Carbonaceous Materials, US Patent Number 5,064,527, 11/12/91.

Technology Transfer

Technology developed by ERT2C researchers has been licensed to NanoRidge, Inc.  (i.e., US Patent No.  8,709,226). This technology which is designed to produce “Metallized Carbon Nanotubes” is perhaps the first significant commercialization of technology development at TSU.  More importantly, the technology is predicted to be a keystone in the growing the $1.4 billon nanotechnology market of materials designed to improve the thermal, electrical conductivity, and interlaminar properties of advanced functional composite materials for the next generation of aerospace systems.  This technology was developed through a cooperative agreement with US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Minority Leaderships Program.

Book Chapters

• “A Model for Improving Graduation and Retention Rates for STEM Students at an HBCU”, Models for Success, third edition, (Wilson, B.L., Obot, V.D, Taylor, W.E.), Thurgood Marshall College Fund/Department of Defense, page 176-190, 2008.
• “Identification of Putative Major Space Genes Using Genome-Wide Literature Data,” Haitham Abdelmoaty, Timothy Hammond, Bobby Wilson, Holly Birdsall and Jade Clement, Biotechnology, ISBN 978-953-51-2040-7, edited by Deniz, 2015.