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Research Interests

Our research focuses on characterizing interactions between engineered nanomaterials and biological systems and identifying potential mechanisms of nanoparticle bioactivity or toxicity.  The small size and tailored structure of engineered nanoparticles gives them unique properties, making it challenging to predict their bioactivity based on existing data for equivalent bulk materials.  The goal of our research is to define a set of specific physicochemical characteristics that may render a nanoparticle bioactive.  This information can then be used by industry to facilitate the responsible development of this revolutionary technology.
Our lab approaches this problem at a number of biochemical and biological scales, ranging from isolated proteins to whole animals.  Nanoparticles are similar in size to many biological macromolecules and their surface chemistry can facilitate interactions between nanoparticles and these macromolecules.  Such associations can alter the structure and function of proteins, leading to detrimental changes in the physiology of an organism.  We are specifically interested in how such interactions impact energy metabolism and cardiorespiratory physiology in fish.

Selected Recent Publications

TJ MacCormack, R Clark, M Dang, J Kelly, J Veinot and GG Goss. 2011. Inhibition of enzyme activity by nanomaterials: potential mechanisms and implications for nanotoxicity testing. Nanotoxicology, In press.
AG De Souza*, TJ MacCormack*, L Li and GG Goss. 2009. Large-scale proteome profile of the zebrafish (Danio rerio) gill for physiological and biomarker discovery studies. Zebrafish 6: 229-238.
TJ MacCormack and GG Goss. 2008. Identifying and predicting biological risks associated with manufactured nanoparticles in aquatic ecosystems. J. Industrial Ecol. 12: 286-296.
TJ MacCormack and WR Driedzic. 2007. The impact of hypoxia on in vivo glucose uptake in a hypoglycemic fish, Myoxocephalus scorpius. Am. J. Physiol. 292: R1033-R1042.