EDUCATION:

• B.Sc. in Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras campus
• M.Sc. in Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus
• Ph.D. in Chemical Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Rí­o Piedras Campus

RESEARCH INTEREST:

• Silver nanoparticles decorated with graphene quantum dots (Ag-GQDs) are developed as nanocarriers to deliver chemotherapy drugs against human cervical (HeLa) and prostate (DU145) cancer cells. The nanocarriers efficiently transport doxorubicin (DOX), a model chemotherapy drug, to both types of cancer cells in vitro. The cargo is delivered into the nucleus of cancer cells where it induces apoptosis without affecting the viability of non-cancer cells. The Ag GQDs:DOX nanocarriers offer a general platform for targeted chemotherapy drug delivery. It is envisioned that chemotherapy drug nanocarriers can circumvent the adverse effects associated to standard chemotherapy drugs and eventually enable the implementation of cancer prevention protocols.

PUBLICATIONS: