GHS students selected as Intel semifinalists
Updated 12:05 pm, Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Two Greenwich High School seniors are among 300 semifinalists in the prestigious Intel Science Talent Search, recognized for research that could eventually have real-world implications for cancer treatment and dentistry.
Zhang was recognized for her research into using graphene oxide as a vehicle for chemotherapy drugs.
The carbon-based substance provides a barrier around the drug so it can target only the cancer cells and avoid killing benign cells in the body. Zhang discovered that previous research into graphene oxide didn't look at whether the drug had been released in the right part of the body.
Zhang used a piece of equipment at the school called a fluorescent spectrometer, and found that the chemotherapy drugs combined with the graphene oxide lit up when together, but were dark when apart, hence the proof that the drug had been released.
Zhang said she came up with the idea for her project by reading about research into graphene oxide, which had been going on since 2011, in Science Daily.
For his project, Le Breton did something a little unusual -- he contacted local oral surgeons who, after getting permission from their patients, sent Le Breton teeth they had extracted.
He then soaked them in a solution to remove the outer layer, simulating tooth decay, and recreated the enamel using a retainer coated with innovative hydrophilic polymer.
"It would eventually come out as a fully reformed tooth," he said.
Le Breton also based his project on a previous study. He explained that the chemical he used was toxic in high doses, so he figured out a way to time-release it, so it wasn't released in such high concentrations.
Le Breton had been interested in bone regeneration since undergoing surgery on his leg in seventh grade.
"I can't use human bone in a high school experiment, so I moved on to teeth," Le Breton said.
There is a long way to go before the substance can be used by dentists, but Le Breton hopes to continue his research in college as a science or engineering major.
Andy Bramante, who teaches the honors science research class at GHS, said Zhang's and Le Breton's projects were recognized at last year's state science fair, but didn't receive top honors.
"In this case, it really got what it deserved," Bramante said of his students' work.
GHS has had several Intel semifinalists over the years, including a few, such as recent graduates William Hallisey and Ryota Ishizuka, who also earned accolades at such prestigious competitions as the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and the International Sustainable World Engineering, Energy & Environment Project Olympiad, or I-SWEEEP.
Last year, Bramante was chosen from among six Distinguished Teachers to represent the district in the 2013 Connecticut Teacher of the Year contest. He eventually decided not to go on to compete at the state level so he wouldn't lose any time with his students.
Bramante said that at first he second guessed his decision, but ultimately realized that helping his students receive recognition for their work was the right choice.
"I don't care about me," Bramante said. "This is why I'm here."
The selection of the 40 national Intel finalists will be announced on Wednesday.
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