Recommended Citation
January 1, 2015.
Abstract
A concern for future long-term manned space expeditions is the ability to treat illnesses with appropriate pharmaceuticals. However, pharmaceuticals degrade faster in space than on Earth presumably due to an abundance of space radiation. The stability of Lidocaine was investigated because it is a common pain reliever currently used on the International Space Station. One of the most common proteins in blood is serum albumin, which acts as a carrier to distribute drugs throughout the body. It is important to know how well the drug binds to serum albumin so that the rate of distribution of Lidocaine-bound protein in blood can be predicted. Using ultraviolet spectroscopy, it was determined that additives in Lidocaine solutions increased absorbance peaks and were pH dependent. Under acidic conditions, peaks for additive infused Lidocaine solutions occurred at 255nm but when under basic conditions an additional peak was observed at 295nm. Lidocaine without additives was pH independent and had a peak absorbance at 263nm. No significant change was found in the absorbance spectra after Lidocaine solutions were exposed to gamma radiation and UVC light. A Differential Scanning Calorimeter will be used to monitor binding between Lidocaine and Serum Albumin after exposure to radiation.
Disciplines
Biomedical and Dental Materials | Chemicals and Drugs | Chemistry | Medicinal-Pharmaceutical Chemistry | Medicine and Health Sciences
Mentor
Yuri Griko
Lab site
NASA Ames Research Center (ARC)
Funding Acknowledgement
This material is based upon work supported by the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation and is made possible with contributions from the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1340110, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevron Corporation, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, and from the host research center. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are solely those of the authors. The STAR Program is administered by the Cal Poly Center for Excellence in STEM Education on behalf of the California State University system.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/star/341