Widener

Dr. Loyd Bastin

Assistant Professor of Chemistry

e-mail: bastin@pop1.science.widener.edu

web page: www.science.widener.edu/~bastin

office location: Kirkbride 466A
office phone: (610) 499-4022
fax: (610) 499-4496

B.A. University of Kentucky
Ph.D. University of Washington 

Courses Taught: Introductory Chemistry (GOB), Introductory Chemistry Laboratory (GOB), Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry II Laboratory, Chemical Literature,  ­Biochemistry. 

Research Interests: My research interests lie at the intersections of chemistry with biology, medicine, and materials science. One of my research interests is the elucidation of the mechanism by which proteins and organic molecules control the growth of biominerals such as calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. The growth of such biominerals play an important role in the growth and shape of endo- and exoskeletons in many organisms as well as in the deposition of scale on ocean liners and pipes. However, little is understood about the mechanism by which molecules control crystal growth. To this end my group is studying the effect of proteins (isolated from the appropriate organism) known to control the crystal growth of calcium carbonate and ice during biomineralization in a controlled laboratory environment. We are also designing and synthesizing potential inhibitors of calcium sulfate crystal growth in order to reduce scale formation on ocean liners and pipes. Another of my research interests is the role of the protein parvalbumin in muscle relaxation.  We have developed a purification method for the isolation of the individual parvalbumin isoforms in order to measure cation-binding constants of the isoforms and relating the calcium and magnesium binding properties of the isoforms to protein structure and muscle physiology.  I am also interested in the biocompatibility of hemodialysis membranes.  We are currently studying the biocompatibility of an alumina hemodialysis membrane.