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Science Lecture Takes a Deeper Look Into Photosensitizers

Elmira, NY (11/04/2019) — Alumna Dr. Kellie Gast '12, visiting assistant professor of chemistry at St. Bonaventure University, will present a lecture, "Photophysical Properties of Chalcogenorhodamine and Rhodacein Dyes and Their Usage as Photosensitizers," on Thursday, November 7 as part of the 2019 Lecture Series in the Sciences. In this lecture, Gast will examine previous investigations into the various usages of chalcogenorhodamine and rhodacein dye.

"Chalcogen containing dyes have long been investigated as photosensitizers for various applications," said Gast. "Research performed in the lab, builds upon these previous investigations and findings."

According to Gast, one of the first pertinent discoveries was that chalcogenorhodamine functionalized with thiophene thioamide or thiopene amides were transported at different rates by p-glycoprotein. This difference in efflux can be exploited for the chalcogenorhodamines' usage as photosentizers in various therapies including photodynamic therapy and extracorporeal photopheresis. These dyes also have several ideal properties that lead to usage in dye-sensitized solar cells. More recently, the lab has moved towards synthesis of novel rhodacein dyes, for usage in solar cells, which incorporate structural characteristics of successful fluorescein and rhodamine dyes."

The lecture begins at 6:00 p.m. in Kolker Lecture Hall and is free and open to the public.

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