Institute for Functional Nanomaterials

Nanoscientist

University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus

Biography

Torres-Lugo was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and obtained a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 2001. Currently, she is a faculty member and a researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. Her research focuses on the medical application of nanostructures. These projects are sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health and include local and external collaborators as well as the participation of graduate and undergraduate students. Such applications include cancer treatment and drug delivery devices. Torres-Lugo's research laboratory examines the biomedical applications of magnetic nanostructures, such as ferrite nanoparticles, as a potential cancer treatment. These nanoparticles, under the influence of a magnetic field, generate heat, which can be locally employed to kill cancerous cells. They also possess the advantage of being an MRI contrast agent allowing their localization. On the other hand, the same magnetic field could be potentially employed to promote drug release.

Teams

Cluster I: Functional Dispersed Nanostructures

Phone

787-832-4040 ext. 2585

E-mail

madeline ece uprm edu

Education

• Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (2001)

Appointments

2004–present

Associate Professor, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

Publications

1. E. Melendez, F. Roman, and M. Torres, "Cytotoxicity and Cellular Uptake of Titanium(IV) Complexes on Caco-2 Cell Line", Toxicology in Vitro, 24 (1), 178-183 (2010)
2. M. Latorre-Esteves, J. Mendez, C. Rinaldi, A. Rodriguez, H. Rodriguez-Luccioni, O. Soto, and M. Torres, "Enhanced Reduction in Cell Viability by Hyperthermia Using Magnetic Nanoparticles", Internaltional Journal of Hyperthermia, (2010)
3. J. Lee, G. Lopez-Berestein, J. Mendez, C. Rinaldi, H. Rodriguez-Luccioni, A. Sood, and M. Torres, "Hyperthermia Induced by Magnetic Nanoparticles Improves the Effectiveness of the Anticancer Drug cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum", Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, (2010)
4. M. Latorre-Esteves, C. Rinaldi, and M. Torres, "Synthesis and characterization of carboxymethyl dextran-coated Mn/Zn ferrite for biomedical applications", Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, 321(19), 3061 (2009)
5. V. Ayala, M. Creixell-Turon, A. P. Herrera, M. Latorre-Estevez, M. Perez-Torres, C. Rinaldi, and M. Torres, "Preparation of EGF conjugated magnetic nanoparticles and their internalization into EGFR overexpressing cancer cells", Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials,

Grants

1. A. Acevedo, F. M. Aliev, D. K. Banerjee, C. R. Cabrera, N. Cardona, Z. Chen, U. M. Cordova, M. C. Curet-Arana, Y. Deng, R. E. Díaz, P. X. Feng, L. F. Fonseca, K. H. Griebenow, M. J. Guinel, M. Gómez, A. J. Hernández, Y. Ishikawa, H. J. Jiménez, R. S. Katiyar, A. Kumar, J. Lu, M. M. Martínez, C. Marín, A. R. Mayol, G. Morell, P. Ortiz, H. Ortiz-Zuazaga, W. Otaño, A. M. Padovani, R. Palai, O. J. Perales, R. G. Raptis, K. Riley, C. Rinaldi, J. M. Rivera, L. G. Rosa, N. Sepúlveda, S. P. Singh, R. Thomas, M. S. Tomar, M. Torres, J. Velev, B. R. Weiner, and N. A. Zimbovskaya. Nanotechnology from basic science to emerging applications: Institute for functional nanomaterials, National Science Foundation, NSF‐EPSCoR RII Track 1, 5 years, July 2010, Multiple PIs, Pending, $24,000,000.
2. N. L. Abbott, A. Acevedo, F. M. Aliev, N. Cardona, U. M. Cordova, M. C. Curet-Arana, J. A. Dumesic, S. H. Gellman, A. Greenberg, A. J. Hernández, M. M. Martínez, M. Mavrikakis, P. F. Nealy, P. Ortiz, J. A. Pedersen, K. Riley, C. Rinaldi, M. Torres, P. Voyles, G. M. Zenner, and J. J. de Pablo. WISCONSIN - PUERTO RICO PARTNERSHIP FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN MATERIALS Wi(PR)2EM, National Science Foundation, PREM, 5 years, September 2009, Multiple PIs, Approved, $3,250,000.
3. G. Lopez, J. Lopez-Garriga, and M. Torres. Examination of Protein Crystal Confinement in Polymer Systems, National Institutes of Health, INBRE, 5 years, August 2009, Single PI, Approved, $877,134.
4. G. Lopez, J. Lopez-Garriga, and M. Torres.  Structural and Computational Characterization of Tau and b-Amyloid Filament Formation, National Institutes of Health, INBRE, 5 years, August 2009, Single PI, Approved, $877,000.
5. A. Acevedo, N. Cardona, C. Rinaldi, M. Torres, and C. Velazquez. Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Structured Organic Composites for Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, and Agrochemical Applications (C-SOC), National Science Foundation, NSF-ERC, 5 years, July 2006, Multiple PIs, Approved, $13,876,826.

Presentations

1. C. Rinaldi and M. Torres (November 2009) "Effect of Nanoparticle Properties on Cellular Uptake and Mangnetic Fluid Hyperthermia" in AICHE.