Undergrads are co-first authors on publication

Marissa Guttenberg

When the Journal of Biophotonics published Biodistribution of inhaled metal oxide nanoparticles mimicking occupational exposure: a preliminary investigation using enhanced darkfield microscopy, the article had something a bit unusual amid its bylines – two authors who were not graduate or PhD students, but undergrads.

Co-first authors Marissa Guttenberg and Leonardo Bezerra are undergraduate students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.

The students, along with students at the University of Rochester, worked with Dr. Sara Brenner, Associate Professor of Nanobioscience and Assistant Vice President for NanoHealth Initiatives at CNSE, to investigate the application of enhanced dark field microscopy (EDFM) to identify nanomaterials in tissue samples obtained from animals following inhalation exposure to metal oxide nanoparticles used in industrial settings, specifically the semiconductor industry.

Leonardo Bezerra

Brenner says the goals were to identify and characterize the retention and location of nanoparticles in the lungs (alveolar space, blood vessels, macrophages), assess the potential for biodistribution to other organs (lymph nodes, liver, kidney, spleen), and identify specific locations of nanoparticles within anatomical regions of interest within each organ.

The study found that EDFM can be used to achieve these goals, and it also provides a rapid, cost-effective alternative to conventional methods for direct visualization of nanomaterials in biological samples; EDFM can be used in tandem with other methods by serial sectioning of the sample to provide complementary information; and metal oxide nanoparticles used in industry, when inhaled, have the potential to translocate from deposits in the lung to different organs via the circulatory and lymphatic systems.

“This publication is a testament to the incredible work ethic and talent of our CNSE undergraduate students,” Dr. Brenner said. “Marissa actually joined our team as a high school student, was then admitted to CNSE, and has continued working with my group for two years.  This summer, she was offered a 10 week industry-sponsored internship conducting microscopy research at CytoViva’s headquarters in Alabama (advancing the applications described in this paper). She is a rising Junior and re-joined our team at CNSE in the Fall.”

Marissa Guttenberg recently attended and presented a poster at the 8th International Nanotoxicology Congress Meeting in Boston in June 2016 – a meeting attended by 400 people from 30 different countries. She was one of only 28 students selected for $1,000 travel award.

“Leo Bezarra just graduated in May after spending several years doing research with my group, and while on our team, he developed many methods and procedures we use today,” Dr. Brenner said. “He was undoubtedly one of the most skilled microscopists we’ve had on our team (of any age, over the past seven years).”

Bezarra began graduate school as a PhD student at Virginia Tech in the Fall 2016 semester.