Research

Our research falls into an array of interdisciplinary areas: chemical toxicology, organic chemistry, photochemistry, environmental chemistry, and biochemistry.  Our main interest is to study the photochemical fate, DNA interaction and damage, and photo-induced toxicity of environmental chemicals, cosmetics and skin care products, nanomaterials, and industrial waste chemicals.  Special focus is on the environmentally carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and polychlorobyphenyls (PCBs), cosmetic ingredient chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.

Research Projects

· Phototoxicity and photochemical reaction of hair-dye ingredient chemicals – chlorophenylene diamines, cosmetic chemical azulene, and pharmaceuticals Tamoxifen, etc.

· Toxicity study of nano-gold and nano-silver in skin cells and bacteria

· Photochemistry and photodegradation of nitroaromatics

· Phototoxicity of PAHs, PCBs, electronic waste chemicals

· Development of nano-partcle based Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PIF) detection techniques for DNA damages and viruses.