Maria Bohorquez

I have been always fascinated with the complexity of cell membranes. A unique feature of cell membranes as well as micelles, microemulsions, liposomes, etc is a molecular organization that controls processes, reactions, and/or change the spectroscopy properties of probes.

My current research projects include:

(1) Study of isotherms of monolayers of phospholipids such as 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (DOPC)

in the presence of small aqueous soluble molecules that have a pharmaceutical or biochemical relevance. Experiments are carried out by using the Langmuir Film Balance technique. Animations of lipids could be observed at http://persweb.wabash.edu/facstaff/fellers/

(2) Behavior of fluorescent dyes in hexane/Sulfosuccinic acid bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester Sodium salt (AOT) microemulsions versus pH is analized using steady-state fluorescence technique. Microemulsions are thermodynamically stable systems that have been identified as potential carriers of drugs. With support from a National Science Foundation grant a spectrofluorometer, Fluoromax-3 from Horiba Jobin-Yvon was acquired.