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Significant NSF Grant Funds SUNY Plattsburgh Professors’ Nanotechnology Research


rajesh sunasee and karina cklessTwo SUNY Plattsburgh colleagues were recently awarded close to half a million dollars from the National Science Foundation to study plant materials that may be helpful to the human immune system.

Drs. Karina Ckless and Rajesh Sunasee, professors and co-chairs of chemistry and biochemistry, were awarded  $468,731 to study what they said were “tiny materials made from plants called cellulose nanocrystals.”

“These cellulose-based materials are already used in some medicines, but their potential to boost the immune system and be used in vaccine preparations hasn’t been fully explored,” Sunasee said. “Our collaborative research looks at how CNCs, especially when modified with certain safe materials, can help the immune system.

“We will tag these CNCs with fluorescent markers to track how they interact with cells. This research could lead to new, eco-friendly sustainable materials in healthcare.”

Research for the grant period runs from fall 2024 through 2027, bringing together the two who often work as a research pair on campus. Ckless, a biochemist, and Sunasee, an organic chemist with expertise in the design and synthesis of biomaterials, have teamed up throughout their tenure at SUNY Plattsburgh, this time launching what they described as “an innovative interdisciplinary project exploring the potential of cellulose nanocrystals to enhance immune responsive. As the project lead and co-project lead, respectively, they combine their strengths in biochemistry and nanotechnology to push the boundaries of biomedical research.”

Their research often involves their undergraduate students as well, making theirs a hands-on learning experience not often seen at this level.

“We will be mentoring a team of undergraduate students from chemistry, biochemistry and other STEM fields,” they said. “Students not only gain hands-on experience in a rapidly growing area of research but are also exposed to real-world applications of science, positioning them for future success in nanotechnology and biomedical sciences.

“It stands as a prime example of SUNY Plattsburgh’s commitment to fostering research opportunities and experiential learning, particularly for underrepresented students, while advancing scientific knowledge with the potential to revolutionize sustainable healthcare solutions,” they said.

The NSF grant, awarded as is custom for a three-year period, will be used mainly to cover typical research expenses such as chemicals, supplies, students’ paid salaries for summer research, faculty and student conference travel expenses and more, Ckless and Sunasee said.

The pair also plans to purchase a high-end cell imager fluorescence microscope, which will allow them to track the fluorescent CNCs in the cells. That piece of equipment costs about $56,000, they said.

While the NSF funding covers three years, Ckless and Sunasee said they feel the expected outcomes “could pave the way for additional research initiatives focused on nanomaterials.”

— Story, Photos by Associate Director of Communications Gerianne Downs

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