Dr. Subashani Maniam will give two talks entitled "Research Synopsis: Sustainable Materials" and "Bis-spirooxindoles for Alzheimer’s Disease". All are welcomed to join. Please register here (contact form) if you wish to attend the lecture.

Speaker : Dr. Subashani Maniam (Senior Lecturer, STEM| School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia)

As for further information on her research: Click Here

Lecture (1) on Mar. 13, 2024

“Research Synopsis: Sustainable Materials”

Abstract: This talk will give you an overview of the research conducted in my group, focusing on bitumen as a sustainable material. Bitumen is a heavy residue produced from the distillation of crude petroleum and it contains residual amounts of many organic compounds that are considered pollutants. Fumes and odours from bitumen have attracted complaints from workers and members of the public. Thus, we have presented a predictor tool to assess bitumen with fuming risks by taking advantage of the volatile masses. As for odour, we employed headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) to investigate odorous samples containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the influence of additives on emissions in bitumen. The effects of powdered activated carbon, synthetic zeolite 13X, and re-refined engine oil bottoms (REOB) additives on emissions are explored, revealing their impacts. These are novel methods in analysing the chemical properties of bitumen which will be valuable for academic and industry purposes.

Lecture (2) on Mar. 14, 2024

 “Bis-spirooxindoles for Alzheimer’s Disease”

Abstract: A library of sox-pyrrolizidines was rapidly prepared by microwave-assisted, one-pot, three-component, 1,3- dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides from L-proline and isatin, with various β-nitrostyrenes. Bis-spiroxindole compounds, 3a, 3b and 3cinhibit hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) amyloid fibril formation by Thioflavin T (ThT) studies with difference in percentages of fluorescence intensity. Further studies with Raman spectroscopy, TEM and molecular docking supported these promising candidates for activity against amyloid misfolding, a phenomenon leading to Alzheimer’s disease pathology. Ease of synthesis, promising anti-amyloidogenic activity, low toxicity, and in vitro blood brain barrier permeability makes these compounds attractive therapeutic leads to treat Alzheimer’s disease.