Leah Boone
Fall 2023 SAFE Fund Recipient
Project: "Comparing the Synthesis of L-DOPA in Osorb Versus in Solution"
Leah Boone, a senior chemistry major from Pfafftown and member of the CAS Corps, received a Fall 2023 Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) grant to purchase three reactants necessary to develop a nano-facilitated synthesis of L-DOPA, an amino acid often used to treat Parkinson's disease.
"While L-DOPA is produced naturally in the body, the chemical production of L-DOPA for therapeutic use is non-trivial and often results in low yields and long reaction times," explained Boone. "My research focuses on the use of nano-reactors in the chemical production of L-DOPA wherein I am attempting to develop a nano-reactor facilitated synthesis of L-DOPA that increases the reaction yield and decreases the reaction time." Advised by Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences associate professor Dr. Nicholas Shaw, Boone's research on L-DOPA is the subject of her honors thesis.
The reactants that Boone needed for her research were not readily available, so they had to be purchased. The SAFE grant enabled her to purchase the reactants earlier than anticipated and make significant progress on her project. "I was given opportunities through the grant that would have otherwise been impossible or a lot more difficult," said Boone. "I spent at least 15 hours per week in the lab during both summer sessions, making a lot of headway and spending uninterrupted time focused only on my thesis."
After some trial and error, Boone was able to complete her reaction successfully with a fairly high yield. "Throughout the summer, I was having some trouble with the reaction, as the product was evaporating before I could analyze it. After trying the reaction on a different instrument and with slightly different amounts of reactants, the reaction was successful. While this was not L-DOPA itself, it is multiple steps closer to synthesizing the neurotransmitter, showing me that the reaction is possible."
Boone, who currently serves as a teaching assistant in the Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences, plans to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry following her graduation from App State in May 2025.
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About the SAFE Fund
Initially endowed by Hughlene and Bill Frank, the College of Arts and Sciences Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to support undergraduate, graduate and faculty experiences. The SAFE Fund provides funding for college priorities and opportunities that arise throughout the year. These unrestricted funds support student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities. Learn more at cas.appstate.edu/students/student-and-faculty-excellence-safe-fund.
About the A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences
The A.R. Smith Department of Chemistry and Fermentation Sciences offers a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry, a Bachelor of Science in chemistry with eight different concentrations and an interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science degree in fermentation sciences. The department’s programs prepare students to attend graduate and professional schools, as well as for employment in the pharmaceutical and fermentation industries and other business sectors. Learn more at dcfs.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
October 24, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Leah Boone is a senior chemistry major from Pfafftown and member of the CAS Corps. Photo from honors.appstate.edu/leah-boone
Leah Boone is a senior chemistry major from Pfafftown and member of the CAS Corps. Photo from honors.appstate.edu/leah-boone