The University encourages undergraduates to seek experience in their fields before graduation, and for chemical engineering junior Kurt Ristroph, his big opportunity came in the tiniest of packages.
Ristroph joined a research team, led by biological and agricultural engineering associate professor Cristina Sabliov and assistant professor Carlos Astete, specializing in developing more efficient ways to improve people’s health using nanotechnology.
“Nanoscale is defined, in terms of size, as anything less than 100 nanometers,” Sabliov said. “We’re working to develop biodegradable delivery systems at the nanoscale to be applied in the areas of food, health and
agriculture.”Ristroph joined the research team in January 2014, while Sabliov was on sabbatical in Romania.
At first, he helped out by editing Astete’s research papers and grant applications.
“It wasn’t really science work at first, but it was good research exposure,” Ristroph said. “I learned there was a specific format a researcher has to follow if they want to get their research published.”
When Sabliov’s returned fall 2014, Ristroph was given more opportunities, putting aside paperwork to help create nanoparticles for the team’s research.
The research team’s work looks at creating nanoparticles to entrap vitamins and other drugs to increase the efficacy in which the chemical works.
With food, Sabliov is looking at entrapping vitamins, and other nutrients, in order to make it easier for these nutrients to withstand degradation in the stomach.
In health research, these nanodelivery systems can open doors for certain medicines to be ingested orally rather than through an IV or a shot.
“If we can trap medicine, like insulin, in these particles, you can protect it so it can reach the parts of the body it’s meant to reach, making the drug more effective,” Astete said. “Right now, you have to do insulin shots because insulin is degraded in the stomach if ingested. But with this type of nanotechnology, you could make oral ingestion
possible.”
Sabliov is also looking to entrap pesticides into a nanoparticle that withstands harsh weather conditions in order to reduce spraying in the farming industry.
“What I like about what we do is that you can take all of this research and apply it to many fields,” Sabliov said. “What makes this exciting work is that we see endless opportunities for our research to help society.”
Ristroph is grateful for the opportunity to receive hands-on experience, doing cutting-edge research done on campus by the professors who teach him.
“[Sabliov] consistently gives me opportunities to say yes to things,” Ristroph said. “She gives me chances to do projects, whether it’s working on soybeans, which is a big research area, or other things. She had me make a website for the lab group which was a lot of fun.”
Ristroph, who hopes to become a professor, encourages students to not be afraid to approach their professors and ask them about getting involved in their research.
This year, Ristroph was selected as a University choice to apply for The Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, Ristroph said the program is a $7,500 scholarship for juniors and seniors. Only four students per university are allowed to apply.
“If you’re the kind of person that can go out there and offer your help to professors, they will see your initiative,” Ristroph said. “Never be afraid to take that first step, because that’s the type of person professors want in their lab.”

Gallery • 8 Photos

Emily Brauner

LSU's Dr. Cristina Sabliov uses nanotechnology in order to improve people's health on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 in the Dorian Laboratories.