Dr Paula Brooksby

Current research and professional activities

An electrochemical and AFM study of the attachment of peptides, peptidomimetics and enzyme inhibitors to surfaces using a suitable tether molecules to couple the peptide or inhibitor molecule, and characterize the resulting surface in terms of both structure and functionality. Alkyl thiols with various head groups are used as the tethers to gold surfaces. The terminating group will enable use of cross metathesis chemistry for attachment of the synthetic bioactive, and carboxylate-terminated tethers will lead to peptide coupling chemistry.

Representative Papers

Studies of anion solvation in polar aprotic solvents, R. Fawcett, D. Verbovy, I. Bako, G. Palinkas, P. Brooksby, Journal of Molecuar Liquids, 118 (1-3), 171-178 (2005)

Nanoscale Patterning of Flat Carbon Surfaces by Scanning Probe Lithography and Electrochemistry, Paula A. Brooksby and Alison J. Downard, Langmuir, Vol 21, Iss 5, 1672 - 1675 (2005)

Mollner, A.K.; Brooksby, P.A.; Loring, J.S.; Bako, I.; Palinkas, G.; Fawcett, W.R. Ion-Solvent Interactions in Acetonitrile Solutions of Lithium Iodide and Tetrabutylammonium Iodide. J. Phys. Chem. A, 108 (2004) 3344-3349.

Brooksby, P.A.; Downard, A. J. Electrochemical and Atomic Force Microscopy Study of Carbon Surface Modification via Diazonium Reduction in Aqueous and Acetonitrile Solutions. Langmuir, 20 (2004) 5038-5045.

Position

Post Doctoral Associate.

Field of Study

Electrode-Solution Interface, Interfacial Chemistry, Nanotechnology & AFM.

Qualifications

B.Sc, PGDipSci(Merit), PhD (Otago).

Room

652

Contact Details

Telephone: +64 3 364 2987 Extn 7437

Fax: +64 3 364 2110

Email: paula.brooksby@canterbury.ac.nz

Background

Otago University, Chemistry Department.

·         Infrared spectroelectrochemistry of the methanol-platinum interface.

·         Infrared & UVVis spectroelectrochemistry of para-bezonquinone - cyclic amine “host-guest” systems.

·         Cu-phenanthroline/TiO₂ solar cells, Grätzel Cells.

University of California, Davis. Chemistry Department.

·         Infrared spectroscopy & electrochemistry at single crystal gold electrode surfaces.

·         Ion-Solvent solution structure.

·         Theoretical evaluation of thin layer electrochemical-ATR optical system.

University of California, Davis. Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department.

·         Development of a real-time nitrate optical sensor for soils.

University of Canterbury. Chemistry Department.

·         Electrochemical modification of carbon surfaces, thin films.

·         AFM tip modification of surfaces.

·         AFM imaging at the nanoscale & nanotechnology.

Undergraduate Courses

Biokinetics; CHEM325/BCHM302/ENCH445.