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Biography: I am an Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, United States International University- Africa. I hold a PhD in Organic Synthesis from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA. In addition to teaching, I carry out research work, where my research focus area is in the synthesis of fluorescent dyes which absorb light in the UV-Vis to Near IR region for applications in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for application in cancer therapy, and Photodymanic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (PACT) for environmental applications. The research involves the design, synthesis and characterization of molecules, as well as the study of their photophysical properties. Furthermore, the synthesized structural properties and stability and evaluated. Molecules that are prepared for applications in PACT are further evaluated for antimicrobial properties against different strains of drug resistant bacteria, while those prepared for PDT are subjected to cellular uptake studies to establish their suitability for the applications. While I mainly supervise both Masters and PhD student research, I enjoy working with undergraduate students as a way of helping them develop an early interest in research and an appreciation for the process of developing new targets for therapeutic applications. I have published articles in international peer-reviewed journals, and I also serve as a reviewer and editor for some of the journals, including the Journal of porphyrins and phthalocyanines, Dalton Transactions, Frontiers in Chemistry, Dyes and Pigments among others. Academic Degrees: 1. PostDoc: Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa. 3. PhD in Organic Chemistry – Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. 3. Bachelor of Science in Chemistry (First Class Honors) – University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. Publications:
- Khisa J., Derese S., Mack J., Amuhaya E., Nyokong T (2021) Synthesis, photophysical properties and photodynamic antimicrobial activity of meso 5,10,15,20-tetra(pyren-1-yl)porphyrin and its indium(III) complex. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines. doi.org/10.1142/S1088424621500462.
- Oyim J., Omolo C. A, Amuhaya E. K (2021) Photodynamic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Advancements in Porphyrin-Based Photosensitizer Development. Frontiers in Chemistry: Organic Chemistry. doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2021.635344
- Makola L.C, Nyokong, T, Amuhaya, E., (2021) Impact of axial ligation on photophysical and photodynamic antimicrobial properties of indium (III) methylsulfanylphenyl porphyrin complexes linked to silver-capped copper ferrite magnetic nanoparticles. Polyhedron. 193, 114882.
- Shabangu S. M, Balaji B., Soy R. C., Oyim J., Amuhaya E., Nyokong T., (2020) Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to porphyrin-silver nanoparticle mediated photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy. J. of Luminescence. 222, 117158.
- Soy R.C., Babu B., Oluwole D.O., Nwajia N., Oyim J., Amuhaya E., Prinsloo E., Mack J., and Nyokong T. (2018), Photophysicochemical properties and photodynamic therapy activity of chloroindium(III) tetraarylporphyrins and their gold nanoparticle conjugates. J. Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines 22, 1-12.
Book Chapters - Fasiku V., Amuhaya E.K., Rajab K.M., Omolo C.A., 2020. Nano/Microparticles Encapsulation via covalent bond conjugation, IntechOpen Publishers.
Areas of Interest/Specialization: - Synthetic Organic Chemistry
- Our area of focus is on the synthesis of fluorescent dyes which absorb light in the UV-Vis to Near IR region for applications in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for application in cancer therapy, and Photodymanic Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (PACT) for environmental applications. Our research involves the design, synthesis and characterization of molecules, as well as the study of their photophysical properties. Furthermore, the synthesized structural properties and stability and evaluated. Molecules that are prepared for applications in PACT are further evaluated for antimicrobial properties against different strains of drug resistant bacteria, while those prepared for PDT are subjected to different tests to establish their suitability for the applications.
Mechanism of action of bacterial cells Teaching: - CHE 2305 Introduction to Organic Chemistry
- CHE 2306 Synthetic Methods in Organic Chemistry
- CHE 2304 Chromatographic Methods
- PHM 3402 Instrumental Methods of Analysis (Spectroscopy)
- CHE 2308 Nuclear Chemistry
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