Swarna Basu

Professor of Chemistry

Department Head of Chemistry

Chemistry

A middle-aged man with short dark hair and a slight smile is wearing a light blue polo shirt. He is posed in front of a neutral, softly blurred background.

Contact Info:

570-372-4223

Office Location:

Natural Sciences Center – Rm 307C

Education

PHD, Wesleyan University

MA, Wesleyan University

BA, Clark University

About Me

When I was 10 years old I received a chemistry set for Christmas, and I can trace my interest in chemistry to that time. I ended up being a physical chemist almost by chance, when I decided to switch research projects in graduate school. Following a postdoctoral position in a biomedical/biophysical area, I settled on an area of chemistry that is interdisciplinary and has something to offer students with different backgrounds and career goals.

For me, teaching is something that occurs both in and out of the classroom, and doesn’t always require a textbook. SU is an institution that values and supports faculty-student collaborative research, and as a research mentor, I work with several students each year on short-term projects that often culminate in a publication and/or poster presentation at a conference.

Watching my students grow as researchers and become independent scientists brings me a lot of joy. The culture of student research, the support in terms of funding and available instrumentation, the curriculum, and the opportunities to develop as a teacher-scholar, are a few things that attracted me to 体育买球.

Outside of SU, I enjoy spending time with my family, playing tennis, listening to music, traveling and reading.

Professional Experience

体育买球 University,Selinsgrove, PA

Professor, Department of Chemistry Sept 2016 – present

Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry Sept 2011 – Aug 2016

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry Sept 2005 – Aug 2011

Bryn Mawr College,Bryn Mawr, PA

Lecturer, Department of Chemistry July 2004 – June 2005

Goodwin College,East Hartford, CT

Adjunct Instructor of Chemistry, Department of Science Jan 2004 – May 2004

University of Connecticut Health Center,Farmington, CT

Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Biomedical Imaging Technology March 2002 – June 2004 (Renamed Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling)

TEACHING

General Chemistry I and II, Physical Chemistry I and II, Nanoscience, Perspectives, Honors Thought, GO Short – Australia, Chemistry Seminar, Research Experience and Capstone.

Awards and Recognitions

John C. Horn Distinguished Service Award (2015), 体育买球 University.
- Public Lecture on Nanotechnology, “Size Matters: Tiny Dots and Their Potential” (2016).
Tishler Teaching Award (2002), Wesleyan University.

Research

体育买球 University

Physical and biophysical chemistry research program suitable for an undergraduate institution:

Synthesis and characterization of free and functionalized nanoparticles (Au, Ag, ZnO, ZnS, Fe, Cu) using conventional and green methods; applications include biological effects, antibacterial properties, dye deactivation, singlet oxygen generation, and Raman signal enhancement.
Cross-linking of proteins and other complex polymers leading to the development of strong and smart materials for drug delivery and other applications.
Protein and indole/indole-derivative quenching by transition metal (Zn, Cr, Ni, Mo, Co) complexes.
Instrument development: microscope for imaging and micron-scale photochemistry, frequency-domain lifetime, signal acquisition and processing using LabVIEW.

Published Works

体育买球 University(* SU undergraduate authors, ** Bryn Mawr College undergraduate authors)

Swarna Basu, Nanoscience in the Undergraduate Curriculum, American Journal of Educational Research, 13 (3), 121-125 (2025).
Bryce Urian*, Rachael Harsch*, Lukas Yurasits*, Carolyn Proger*, and Swarna Basu, Aggregated Gold Nanoparticles as Photoactivators for the Photopolymerization of Proteins, in press, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology B, 263, 113099 (2025).
Callie Rohrer*, Alexis Palumbo*, Marissa Paul*, Erin Reese*, and Swarna Basu, Binding of neurotransmitters and neural hormones to quadruplex DNA sequences associated with neurodegenerative diseases: a spectroscopic and computational study, Nucleosides, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids, 1-24 (2024).
Nicole Andregic*, Caitlin Weaver*, and Swarna Basu, The binding of a c-MYC promoter G-quadruplex to neurotransmitters: an analysis of G-quadruplex stabilization using DNA melting, fluorescence spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman scattering and molecular docking, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: General Subjects 1867, 130473 (2023).
John Benjamin W. Duncan*, Swarna Basu, and Pavithra Vivekanand, Honey gold nanoparticles attenuate the secretion of IL-6 by LPS-activated macrophages, PLOS One (2023).
Jared Dickson*, Brooke Weaver*, Pavithra Vivekanand and Swarna Basu, Anti-neoplastic effects of gold nanoparticles synthesized using green sources on colon, cervical and melanoma cancer cell lines, BioNanoScience (2023).
Alvaro A. Montoya*, Gregory M. Trout*, Brian W. Williams and Swarna Basu,Solvatochromism and Excited-State Characteristics in a Substituted Fluorenone, J. Lumin. 228, 117619 (2020).
Kristina Fenner*, Gustin Reynolds* and Swarna Basu,Fluorescence Quenching of Various Indoles by Nickel Complexes, Spec. Acta 239, 118473 (2020).
Joann M. Butkus*, Kara G. Pytko*, Caroline Stead* and Swarna Basu,Binding of Quadruplex DNA to Nickel and Zinc Complexes Monitored by Surface-Enhanced Raman and Fluorescence Spectroscopy, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 397, 112513 (2020).
Joann M. Butkus*, Shelby L. O’Riley*, Balwant S. Chohan and Swarna Basu,Interaction of Small Zinc Complexes with Globular Proteins and Free Tryptophan, Intl. J. Spec. 1378680 (2016).
Peter M. Kerns*, Joseph W. Lafferty*, Nathan A. Fox* and Swarna Basu,A cost-effective fluorescence detection system for pulsed laser analysis, Measurement 61, 107 (2015).
Alexander A. Rhodes*, Brandi L. Swartz*, Erik R. Hosler*, Deanna L. Snyder*, Kristen M. Benitez*, Balwant S. Chohan and Swarna Basu,Static quenching of tryptophan fluorescence in proteins by a dioxo-molybdenum (VI) thiolate complex, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 293, 81 (2014).
Joseph W. Lafferty*, James R. Strande*, Peter M. Kerns*, Nathan A. Fox* and Swarna Basu,The Interaction of Photoactivators with Proteins during Microfabrication, J. Photochem. Photobiol. A 275, 81 (2014).
Heather F. Crouse*, Alex Doudt*, Cassie Zerbe* and Swarna Basu,Detection and Stabilization of Quadruplex DNA by Gold Nanoparticles, J. Analytical Meth. Chem. 327603 (2012).
Heather F. Crouse*, Julianne Potoma*, Farhat Nejrabi, Deanna L. Snyder*, Balwant S. Chohan and Swarna Basu,Quenching of Tryptophan Fluorescence in Various Proteins by a Series of Small Nickel Complexes, Dalton Trans. 41, 2720 (2012).
Heather F. Crouse*, Elyse M. Petrunak*, Ashley M. Donovan**, Anna C. Merkle**, Brandi L. Swartz* and Swarna Basu,Static and Dynamic Quenching of Bovine and Human Serum Albumin by a Chromium (III) Complex, Spec. Lett. 44, 369 (2011).
Crystal M. Schneck*, Adam J. Poncheri*, John T. Jennings*, Deanna L. Snyder*, Jill L. Worlinsky* and Swarna Basu,Competition between solvent-quenching and indole-quenching of fluorenones investigated using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, Spectrochim. Acta 75, 624 (2010).
Gregory M. Trout* and Swarna Basu,Design and Implementation of a Cost-Effective Microscope for Fabrication and Imaging, Meas. Sci. Tech. 20, 127001 (2009).
Jill L. Worlinsky* and Swarna Basu,Detection of Quadruplex DNA using Lanthanide Ions and Chelates, J. Phys. Chem. B. 113, 865 (2009).

University of Connecticut Health Center

Swarna Basu, Lawrence P. Cunningham, George D. Pins, Katie A. Bush, Rosa Taboada, Amy R. Howell, Jun Wang and Paul J. Campagnola,Multi-photon Excited Microfabrication of Collagen Matrixes Cross-linked by a Modified Benzophenone Dimer: Bioactivity and Enzymatic Degradation, Biomacromolecules 6, 1465 (2005).
Swarna Basu, Mark Terasaki, Vladimir Rodionov and Paul J. Campagnola,Multi-photon Excited Micro-fabrication in Live Cells via Rose Bengal Cross-linking of Cytoplasmic Proteins, Optics Letters 30, 1 (2005).
Swarna Basu, Charles Wolgemuth and Paul J. Campagnola,Measurement of Normal and Anomalous Diffusion of Dyes within Protein Structures via Multi-photon Excitation using Fluorescence Recovery after Photobleaching, Biomacromolecules 5, 2347 (2004).
Swarna Basu and Paul J. Campagnola,Properties of Cross-linked Protein Matrices for Tissue Engineering Applications Synthesized by Multi-photon Excitation,Biomed. Mat. Res. 71A, 359 (2004).
Swarna Basu and Paul J. Campagnola,Enzymatic Activity of Alkaline Phosphatase inside Protein and Polymer Structures Fabricated via Multi-photon Excitation, Biomacromolecules 5, 572 (2004).
Mallika Sridhar, Swarna Basu, and Paul J. Campagnola,Construction of a Laser-Scanning Microscope for Multi-photon Excited Optical Fabrication, Rev. Sci. Instr. 74, 3474 (2003).

Wesleyan University

Quanli Gu, Swarna Basu and J.L. Knee,Tryptophol Cation Conformations Studied with ZEKE Spectroscopy,Phys. Chem. A 111, 1808 (2007).
Swarna Basu and J.L. Knee,Conformational Analysis and Dynamics of 9-Propylfluorene and 9-Ethylfluorene, J. Phys. Chem. 105, 5842 (2001).
Swarna Basu and J.L. Knee,Conformational Studies of the Neutral and Cation of Several Substituted Fluorenes, J. Elec. Spec. Rel. Phen. 112, 209 (2000).
Jonathan D. Pitts, Swarna Basu and J.L. Knee,3-Ethylindole Electronic Spectroscopy: S₁and Cation Torsional Potential Surfaces, J. Chem. Phys. 113, 1857 (2000).
Haribabu Arthanari, Swarna Basu, Thomas L. Kawano and P.H. Bolton,Fluorescent Dyes Specific for Quadruplex DNA,Nucleic Acids Research 26, 3724 (1998).
Richard D. Beger, Haribabu Arthanari, Swarna Basu and P.H. Bolton,Interresidue Quiet NOEs for DNA Structural Studies, J. Magnetic Resonance 132, 34 (1998).

PUBLICATIONS IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNALS(* SU undergraduate authors)

Nicole Andregic*, Caitlin Weaver*, and Swarna Basu, Promotion or Destabilization of G-quadruplex DNA Structures by Neurotransmitter Molecules: A Possible Approach to Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases? J. Undergrad. Chem. Res. 24, 21 (2025).
Swarna Basu, Shelby L. O’Riley*, Alycia K. Frampton*, Heather F. Crouse*, Joann M. Butkus* and Balwant S. Chohan,Zinc (II) and Nickel (II) Complexes that Demonstrate DNA Selectivity: Potential Quadruplex DNA BindersUndergrad. Chem. Res. 16, 1(2017).
Swarna Basu, Shelby O’Riley*, Cassie M. Zerbe*, Joseph Antonides*, Matthew G. Gabrielson*, and Alex R. Doudt*,Role of Metal Ions on Quadruplex DNA Detection Capabilities of Porphyrins, Undergrad. Chem. Res. 15, 16 (2016).

Presentations and Conferences

Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, AMN10 (Rotorua, NZ, 2023)
- Nanoscience Education as a Vehicle to Enhance Scientific Literacy (oral presentation, Science and Society)
- Biological Applications of Gold Nanoparticles: From Cytotoxicity and Immunomodulation to Protein Crosslinking (poster)
American Chemical Society
- Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (oral presentation, 2022)
- National Meetings (student posters)
- Regional Meetings (Mid-Atlantic and Northeast)
  - oral presentations (2007, 2015, 2016)
  - student posters (2006, 2017)
Landmark Summer Research Conference (student presentations)
MoleCVUE (Molecular Computation and Visualization in Undergraduate Education): workshop on computational chemistry in undergraduate teaching and research (oral presentations)