CHED 1134 |
| Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are linked to the development of cancers breast, gonads, and prostate in humans as well as endocrine disorders in aquatic organisms and their predators. EDCs as environmental contaminants are currently monitored via sampling, with workup occuring off-site using techniques including GC, HPLC, and ELISA. Owing to the low natural concentration of EDCs ( < 1.0 nM), samples require pre-concentration. Here we present the design and characterization of a fluorescent polymer chemosensor for EDCs that is sensitive enough for direct sampling of aqueous environments without pre-concentration. Energy-transfer along the polymer backbone will increase sensitivity of the fluorescence queching response. We have synthesized a polymer of poly-(2-transvinyl-â-cyclodextrophenyl)-alt-(para-9,10-di(1,4-dienthynyl)phenyl)-anthracene. This polymer has been characterized my NMR (1H, 13C), MS, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectrosopy. The sensitivity of the polymer to steroidal and non-steroidal EDCs in solution will be assessed by Stern-Volmer analysis. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Environmental Chemistry
2:00 PM-4:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |