Vanadium-Induced Protein Aggregation

Human health is impacted every day by metal contact, ranging from direct contact with metal surfaces to exposure to corrosion by-products, nanoparticles, or ions. The interaction of human proteins with these materials remains poorly understood, but metal-protein contact has been implicated as the cause of many adverse physiological reactions, such as allergies, contact dermatitis, and cancer. It has been suggested that metal exposure can result in structural changes and the aggregation of proteins, which in turn can influence corrosion reactions in protein-rich environments. Protein aggregation is harmful because it is toxic to cells, and thought to be the cause of many neurodegenerative diseases. Vanadium is an alloying element used in the most common titanium biomaterial, and exposure to this metal is suggested to be especially harmful. In this project I will travel to Colorado State University to work in Dr. Debbie Crans’ research group where they study vanadium chemistry and toxicity, and I will investigate the interactions between vanadium from corroding biomedical implants and human proteins. This will provide a new system for the Crans group to study, and will benefit my home group, Dr. Yolanda Hedberg’s group at Western University, where we study biomedical implant corrosion.

Faculty Supervisor:

Yolanda Hedberg

Student:

Partner:

Colorado State University

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Biotechnology; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: