Thilani.net

ACS Midwest Conference, 2008 – Nebreska

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2,nd

ACS Midwest Conference, 2007 – Kansas City

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Research Forum, 2007 – Kansas State University

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Researsh Presentation,2008 – University of Colombo

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Welcome to Thilani.net

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Hi, Welcome to my web page. I’m Thilani Samarakoon a graduate student at Kansas State University, USA pursuing a PhD in Chemistry.

Anti-Cancer Drugs

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I conduct research on anti cancer drugs. I work on DNA binding studies of derivatives of 2,3-Dihydro -1H-Benzo[D] Imidazole and their Zinc(II) complexes
Several derivatives of 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d] imidazole were synthesized. The binding nature of these derivatives to double helical calf thymus DNA was studied using NMR, UV-visible, fluorescence and time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The data obtained were analyzed to obtain information on binding nature of the compounds to DNA. Further calculations on binding constants and binding sites showed promising results.
After confirming that these derivatives indeed bind with DNA, preliminary research carried out has shown that a 1:1 mixture of 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole and zinc(II) dichloride can efficiently kill cancer cells when irradiated at 313nm. The mechanism proposed to explain this phenomenon is as follows: Zn2+ forms a supramolecular helical structure with 2,3-dihydro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole. This is able to wrap around the DNA double helix (surface-binding, docking). Then the Zn(II) cation coordinates to the phosphate bridge to form Zn(II)-oxygen- phosphorous bridge. According to molecular modeling, a hydrogen bond could be formed between the Zn(II)-hydroxy group and the 5′oxygen of deoxyribose, which induces torsional strain into the DNA-double helix. Light absorption leads to vibrations of the supramolecular adduct. These are then transferred to the sugar-phosphate backbone of DNA, eventually breaking the P-O bonds. This is my major research.
The second project forcuses on applications of iron nano particles and porphyrin based derivatives in treatment of cancer. The goal of the research is to synthesise nano particle based drugs which can be used in hyperthermia. This is still in progress and in vivo experiments are been carried out at this stage.

Biodegradable Polymers

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My undergraduate research was on snynthesising biodegradable polymers using Cowpea flour as the primary ingrediant.
This polymer synthesizing process involves formation of intermolecular disulfide and hydrophobic bonds between amino acids found in cowpea flour. During the process heating is essential, since it alters the 3-D structure of proteins by exposing sulfhydryl groups & hydrophobic side chains. Upon drying unfolded proteins approach each other & become linked through disulfide hydrophobic bonds leading to a biodegradable edible polymer films.