The Research Team

Matt McTaggart

Ph.D. Candidate

Matt joined the group for his undergraduate honours project in 2013, a theoretical study of functionalized SMA that contributed to the ongoing development of the material as a targeted drug delivery system. His Master's work focused on SMA assemblies as nanoscale reaction vessels. Along the way we discovered the effect of molecular weight on nanoarchitecture and methods to produce 2D gold sheets. His thesis may be found here.

Currently, Matt is working to understand what happens within nanoscale reaction spaces that makes it possible for chemical reactions to occur spontaneously. The same kind of confinement effect is used to make biochemical reactions within enzymes feasible and efficient so the ability to reproduce the principles at work in nature within synthetic systems has the potential to make industrial-scale chemistry cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable.

Sebastián Ovalle

Ph.D. Candidate

My research focuses on integrating simulations, experimentation, and machine learning to develop novel applications for porphyrins. These molecules, which include the one responsible for our blood's red color, are capable of catalysis, gas capture, and light absorption. Tuning their properties is essential to unlocking their full potential. Using density functional theory (DFT), I have investigated how various building blocks influence their affinity for oxygen. Leveraging the data obtained from DFT calculations, we trained a graph convolutional neural network to enable fast and accurate predictions of a porphyrin's oxygen affinity. I work on incorporating these molecules into polymeric, self-assembled nanostructures, which have potential applications in oxygen transport for biomedical uses, degradation of contaminants, and photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment.

Nicole Mendonza

M.Sc. Candidate

Currently investigating the use of a folate-functionalized nanopolymer with the ability to carry various chemotherapeutic drugs to selectively target and release its therapeutic load in tumour tissues. This approach eliminates the destruction of healthy cells and subsequent side effects that are commonly encountered during treatment. More specifically, I am evaluating oncogenic cellular signaling pathways that are disrupted by the internalization of the nanopolymer, disabling cell division and inducing apoptosis. This project is a collaboration with le laboratory of Dr. Szewczuk.

ASLt In Gue Chang

M.Sc. Candidate

A novel targeted drug delivery system using our poly (styrene-maleic acid), PSMA can be applied in multiple areas of pharmaceuticals. The pH-sensitive self-assembling capability of the PSMA forms a hydrophobic inner core and a hydrophilic outer core which allows encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds. With this unique characteristic of the polymer, our group was able to attach folic acid onto the polymer by conjugating it with a linker resulting in a final product of FA-DABA-PSMA. We will investigate the binding energy of FA-DABA-PSMA with FRα using Gaussian, computational chemistry and verify by testing in vivo via isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and microscale thermophoresis (MST). We will also investigate its potential to be an early diagnostic tool for pancreatic cancer by encapsulating the polymer with radioactive 111Indium-Oxine by testing in vivo.

Koray Tocsoy

M.Sc. Candidate

I have always been fascinated about analyzing materials from a chemical perspective, whatever that material may be, and uncovering novel applications. My current research project focuses on investigating the poly(styrene-alt-maleic acid) amphiphilic copolymers ability to encapsulate and reduce various transition metals such as Pd/Ru and characterize these materials utilizing experimental and computational methods for potential use in novel applications such as in gels for degradation of hazardous chemicals and reaction activities. 

Outside of the lab I love playing my guitar/all things music, lifting weights, and reading.

Aeriana Narbonne

M.Sc. Candidate

Aeriana Narbonne is a Master’s student at RMC working in a joint project with the laboratory of Dr. Jugroot (RAPPEL). During her undergrad, she researched stabilizer circuits (which have applications in quantum error correction). Currently, she is developing a quantum model of a Hall thruster which she hopes to use Quantum Machine Learning to optimize the thruster. Before coming to RMC, she worked at IBM where she organized the Halifax 2023 Quantum Computing Hackathon and 2022 Quantum Computing Conference for girls and allies.