With all I’ve learned and done it’s hard to believe it’s only been 12 days since we started our internship. This week I worked on 3 different syntheses; one for 20 nm magnetite, another for Chitosan coated magnetite, and for the 3rd I used the nanoparticles from last week to coat them with APTES. The APTES and Chitosan act like “hooks” for the conjugation with infectious phages and these samples will be sent to Houston.
Magnetite coated with APTES precipitating
I’ve also learned about characterization and went to a lab in UTEP with an XRD machine that helped us analyze the structure of the samples we had made. Unfortunately I also made my first (and hopefully last) mistake this week; I neglected to store a powerful magnet properly and got it stuck to another equally strong magnet which took a decent effort to able to pull apart. All in all, a good week.
I’m also incredibly grateful the lab group has also made me feel incredibly welcome and integrated into their group. We usually have lunch together and everyone is helpful in the lab. We also have weekly meetings as a group and individually with Dr. Villagran for everyone to discuss their current progress. For next week I’ll be finishing coating the nanoparticles I made this week (20 nm) and I’ll begin working on the removal of selenate with nano iron oxides. I’ll also work on not getting caught up in my work to take more pictures!