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Group Members
Fall 2009


Tony Haskamp
Allen Morris
Nana Ama Quansah
Jonathan Pahren
Mary Claire Brady
Stephen Wall
Aaron Swomley
Alyssa Smith
 

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ATR-FTIR Instrumentation


Dimension 3100 AFM


AFM image of Fe2O3 sol-gel film

Bullen Research Group

Bioanalytical Chemistry
Materials Science
Environmental

 


In addition to fun group outings such as Circus Training
the Bullen Group is also busy conducting exciting research.

Check out the latest News in the Bullen Group

RESEARCH INTERESTS    
Biofilm Adhesion  
The Bullen Research Group conducts multidisciplinary research that involves the use of attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) in conjunction with other analytical methods to study biofilms, which have a profound impact on industrial, food processing, and medical settings.

Project 1: To date, a detailed understanding of biofilm formation is lacking.  Current models of the early stages of biofilm adhesion do not account for chemical reactions that may occur at the surface of a substrate.  Our research is focused on understanding the role of siderophores (organic ligands produced by most bacteria that have a high binding affinity for iron) in bacterial adhesion to metal oxide surfaces. 
Project 2: We are also evaluating protective (nonbiofouling) coatings for stainless steel medical implants.
Collaborators: Dr. Hazel Barton


Customizable Polymers (Dendrimers) for Drug Delivery to the Brain

The Bullen Research Group also has a collaborative project with Dr. Haik in investigating the use of custom dendrimers and other nanoparticles for drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB).  This project utilizes atomic force microscopy, ATR-FTIR, and UPLC.

 



Schematic of atomic force microscope (AFM).

Selected  Publications (*indicates undergraduates)

H. J. Gulley-Stahl,* W.  L. Schmidt,* H. A. Bullen.  “Characterization and Reactivity of Chromia Nanoparticles prepared by Urea Forced Hydrolysis” Journal of Materials Science 2008, 43, 7066-7072.

C. Morris,* B. J. Sieve and H. A. Bullen “E-Learning Module: Introduction to X-ray Diffraction” Journal of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library, 2008, Article ID 100047.  (http://www.asdlib.org/onlineArticles/ecourseware/Bullen_XRD/XRDModule_index.htm)

C. A. Cason,* S. A. Oehrle, T. Fabre,* C. D. Girten,* K. A. Walters, D. A. Tomalia, K. H. Martines, H. A. Bullen.  “Improved Methodology for Monitoring Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) Dendrimers Surface Transformations and Product Quality” Journal of Nanomaterials 2008, 2008, Article ID 456082, 1-7.

K. A. Walters, H. A. Bullen. “Development of a Nanomaterials one Week Intersession Course.” J. Chem. Educ. 2008, 10, 1406.

H. A. Bullen, S. A. Oehrle, A. F. Bennett*, N. M. Taylor* and H. A. Barton “The Use of Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transformed Infrared (ATR-FTIR) Spectroscopy to Identify Microbial Metabolic Products on Carbonate Mineral Surfaces” Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 2008, 74, 4553.

Robert A. Wilson* and H. A. Bullen.  “E-Learning Module: Introduction to Scanning Probe Microscopy” Journal of the Analytical Sciences Digital Library, 2007, Article ID 100043.  (http://asdlib.org/onlineArticles/ecourseware/Bullen/SPMModule.htm)

H. A. Bullen. “Teaching Surface Characterization to Undergraduates.” Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2007, 387, 1579-1581.

Selected Presentations (* indicates undergraduates)

H. A. Bullen.  ‘Utilization of problem-based e-learning modules for undergraduate instruction in analytical chemistry.”  20th Biennial Conference on Chemical Education, Bloomington, IN, July 27-31, 2008.

W. Schmidt,* Stephanie Proctor, * H. A. Barton, H. A. Bullen. “Surface analysis of the role of siderophores in biofilm formation.” Pittcon Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2008. (Poster)                               

B. Hemmerle,* R. A. Wilson,* H.A. Barton, H. A. Bullen. “Characterization of Potential Biofouling Resistant Surfaces on Medical Grade Stainless Steel.” Pittcon Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2008. (Poster)

C. Cason,* T. Fabre* D. A. Tomalia, K. H. Martines, H. A. Bullen. “Characterization of functionalized poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers as potential drug delivery vectors across the blood brain barrier.” Pittcon Conference, New Orleans, LA, March 2008. (Poster)

W. L. Schmidt,* H. A. Bullen. “Catecholate siderophore complexation on metal oxide surfaces.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Poster)

R. A Wilson*, H. A. Bullen. “Surface modification of stainless steel medical implants for biofouling prevention.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Poster)

T. Fabre,* J. Hogan,* K. A. Walters, K. H. Martines, D. A. Tomalia, H. A. Bullen. “Design and characterization of drug delivery systems across the blood brain barrier.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Poster)

J. Hogan,* T. Fabre,* K. A. Walters, K. H. Martines, D. A. Tomalia, H. A. Bullen. “ATR-FTIR analysis of the interaction of biotinylated dendrimers with blood brain barrier models.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Poster)

H. A. Bullen, K. A. Walters. “Development of a nanomaterials one week intersession course at NKU.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Talk)

H. A. Bullen. “Open access peer review port for communicating chemistry: Analytical Sciences Digital Library.” ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 2007. (Talk)

H. A. Bullen, R. A. Wilson, S. Proctor, W. Schmidt, P. J. Hogan, H. J. Stahl, M. Shields. “Probing biofilm formation: spectroscopic and scanning probe microscopy characterization of bacterial adhesion onto metal oxide surfaces.” Pittcon Conference, Chicago, IL, February 2007. (Poster)

A. Bennett* H. A. Bullen, and H. A. Barton. “Improved Methods to Relate Metabolic Activities to Biogeochemical Signatures in Carbonate Rock.” CUR Posters at Hill, Washington D. C., April 2006. (Poster)