91B0FBB4-04A9-D5D7-16F0F3976AA697ED
C9A22247-E776-B892-2D807E7555171534
Maxwell Akuamoah-Boateng '09
Maxwell Akuamoah-Boateng '09

Maxwell Akuamoah-Boateng '09 (Syracuse, N.Y.) is at Hamilton for his first summer of research, working in the lab of Professor of Chemistry Timothy Elgren. Akuamoah-Boateng is investigating a more efficient way of encapsulating an enzyme in silica sol gels. Sol gel is glass made from mixing a solution of silica (tetramethylorthosilicate) with water and acid. This solution mixture when allowed to dry forms the silica (glass) gels used in this experiment.

To encapsulate the enzymes into the sol-gels, Akuamoah-Boateng mixes the sol solution with the enzymes and allows the gels to dry for a period of time. His task is to find out what conditions are optimal for maintaining the enzyme activity. To do this, he has to observe the activity of the enzymes (glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase) in the presence of glucose and ABTS (dye). Previous research by Andrew Downey '06 showed that, in the presence of oxygen, glucose is oxidized by glucose oxidase to produce hydrogen peroxide and an oxidized form of glucose known as gluconolactone. Hydrogen peroxide produced from this reaction activates horseradish peroxidase in the oxidation of ABTS to ABTS+, which turns green. It is therefore possible to directly monitor this change by observing the color change.

The silica-based gels cause problems in application due to a partial negative charge that exists on the surfaces of the glass. Akuamoah-Boateng focuses on "alternative methods for generating the gels that would alleviate the charge…[He does this] by treating the gels with a capping agent (hexamethyldisilizane) and examining the effect that ionic strength has on charge interactions with the surface." In other words, the dye ordinarily sticks to the gel because of the negative charge. If the gels are treated, the dye results are far more reliable.

Akuamoah-Boateng is an undeclared biology or neuroscience major. He originally wanted to spend the summer volunteering, but decided instead to "take on a different experience" and work in the lab. He had been working with Elgren during the year and so it was a fairly easy step into the lab. "I couldn't see myself…[getting] an opportunity like this at any other school after my first year, so when it came I couldn't turn it down," he explains.

On the Hill, Akuamoah-Boateng plays varsity soccer and hopes to also play lacrosse. He is also a member of the Brothers Organization and The West Indian African Association will serve as the ambassador for both organizations this coming semester.
-- Lisbeth Redfield

Help us provide an accessible education, offer innovative resources and programs, and foster intellectual exploration.

Site Search