Wednesday, February 5, 2025 2/5/2025

Development and testing of Carbon Quantum Dot architectures to arrest neurotoxicant-insult- related outcomes

Award Number: R16GM145575
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Exposure to pesticides, fungicides and herbicides is linked to neuronal injury, neuronal loss and the onset and progress of neurodegeneration. The parent grant explores whether a novel class of carbon nano materials, viz. carbon quantum dots (CQDs), can restore cellular homeostasis and prevent behavioral deficits in organisms under pesticide exposure. Preliminary data from our lab has revealed that organo-acid-derived CQDs can interfere in amyloid aggregation and mitigate ROS-stress in cells. These CQDs were also uptaken by both model cell lines and nematodes and protected them from aberrant cellular and behavioral outcomes upon paraquat exposure. We hypothesize that CQDs ameliorate environmental toxicant- associated neuronal corruption. The present study aims to advance our knowledge of the potential mechanism(s) by which CQDs may intervene against xenobiotic insult-associated neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo (i.e., in dopaminergic cell lines and organismal models (Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans)). The study entails the use of confocal microscopy to achieve the objectives outlined below. We propose to image the fluorescent CQDs in vitro and in vivo to determine their bioavailability, subcellular distribution and localization within SHSY-5Y cells and in the C. elegans nervous system. In combination with GFP-tagged α-synuclein expressing cells and transgenic worms (that express neurons and amyloid- forming proteins tagged with different colors), we can easily observe and identify where CQDs localize and their mechanism of action when the cell (and worm) is exposed to xenobiotic-insult. Examples include the prevention of amyloid-protein aggregation, reduction in the levels of free radicals and prevention of neuronal ablation. Furthermore, the use of confocal microscopy will allow us to examine neurotoxicity, including neuronal development, neuronal absence or shrinkage, absence of cell bodies, and reduction in the fluorescence intensity and the effect of CQDs to overcome this toxicity. In conclusion, this study will use confocal imaging to examine the nanoscale behavior of cell lines, neurons and molecules within live tissue when using CQDs against a toxicant. We will obtain profound insights into the physiological role of CQDs in cell lines and organisms (C. elegans) which, in turn, will pave the way for their testing in vertebrate models of environmental toxicant-associated neurodegenerative outcomes.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $29,796 )
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	1/15/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	-$4,964
2025	2025	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	12/10/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$34,760
														Subtotal = $29,796

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $249,050 )
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	8/12/2024	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$95,550
2024	2024	THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	8/5/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$153,500
														Subtotal = $249,050

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $153,500 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	7/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$153,500
														Subtotal = $153,500

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $153,375 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT EL PASO	500 W UNIVERSITY AVE	EL PASO	TX	79968	EL PASO	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	7/21/2022	NEW	$153,375
														Subtotal = $153,375

Grand Total All Awards = $585,721

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Development and testing of Carbon Quantum Dot architectures to arrest neurotoxicant-insult- related outcomes

Award Number: R16GM145575

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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