The 2010 Summer Research Symposium Sponsored by The Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences Duquesne University Undergraduate Research Program

5-fluoro-2’-deoxycytidine (FdCyd), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, has been shown to allow reexpression of tumor suppressor genes. However, in vivo, FdCyd experiences rapid metabolic conversion by cytidine deaminase (CD) to active cytotoxic metabolites 5-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine (FdUrd), 5-fluorouracil (FU), and inactive 5-fluorouridine (FUrd). Preclinical studies coadministering FdCyd with a cytidine deaminase inhibitor, tetrahydrouridine (THU), slowed the conversion of FdCyd to its metabolites. In these studies, different combinations of FdCyd and THU were administered orally to male CD2F1 mice, and the concentrations of FdCyd and its metabolites were recorded at various times up to 1440 minutes. We are constructing a compartmental based pharmacokinetic model of FdCyd and its metabolites in the presence, and absence, of THU to assist in the design of combination therapy dosing strategies for patients with advanced malignancies of the lung, head and neck, bladder or breast. 32 Temperature Effects on Nanocrystallization of FINEMET Alloy Herchko, Steve Department of Physics Duquesne University The effects of temperature on the FINEMET compound FeCuNbSiB are examined in this paper. Using Mössbauer spectrometry and X-ray diffraction as well as differential scanning calorimetry on the substance annealed throughout a wide temperature range, the point at which nanocrystallization begins can be seen as the amorphous components become more defined structures. Through these methods the properties of the amorphous and nanocrystalline phases can be determined as well as the specific stages of crystallization. The decomposition of the amorphous matrix can be seen as more sub-spectra become defined as the temperature is increased to a maximum of 750 degrees Celsius. The FINEMET compound was also tested again with the addition of a stainless steel foil to determine the recoilless fraction. 2010 Summer Research Symposium Abstract Index Page 15 33 Structural characterization and investigation of iron complexes as catalysts for atom transfer radical addition Biernesser, Ashley B.; Eckenhoff, William T.; Pintauer, Tomislav Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry