Benedette Cuffari

Researcher

B.Sc. Toxicology, M.Sc. Toxicology

After completing her Bachelor of Science in Toxicology with two minors in Spanish and Chemistry in 2016, Benedette continued her studies to complete her Master of Science in Toxicology in May of 2018.

During graduate school, Benedette investigated the dermatotoxicity of mechlorethamine and bendamustine; two nitrogen mustard alkylating agents that are used in anticancer therapy.

Despite the useful chemotherapeutic properties of these agents, both mechlorethamine and bendamustine, following intravenous administration, are associated with causing extravasation and tissue blistering reactions that can lead to a secondary infection.

Benedette’s graduate work investigated both the time and dose-dependent toxicity of these agents using an in vivo murine model. During this time, Benedette also assisted her colleague in the investigation of several antidotes that were found to be successful in mediating nitrogen mustard dermatotoxicity in this animal model.

Currently, Benedette is conducting research in the Department of Therapeutic Radiology at Yale University, where she is investigating the use of select autoantibodies in the treatment of cancer.

Some of Benedette’s research work that has recently been published in scientific journals include:

Cuffari, B., Tumu, H., Pino, M. A., Billack, B. (2018). Assessing the time-dependent dermatotoxicity of mechlorethamine using the mouse ear vesicant model. Interdisciplinary Toxicology. (Under review).
Tumu, H., Cuffari, B., Pino, M. A., Pietka-Ottlik, M., Billack, B. (2018). Ebselen oxide attenuates mechlorethamine dermatotoxicity in the mouse ear vesicant model. Drug and Chemical Toxicology. DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2018.1488858.

In addition to her research experience, Benedette is also very passionate about both community service and medicine. For three consecutive years, Benedette traveled to Panama and Honduras with an organization called Global Medical Brigades to provide primary health care services to various small, underserved, and rural communities in these countries. She also spent a considerable amount of time shadowing physicians at St. Agnes Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Benedette is currently volunteering as a Wish Granter with the Connecticut branch of the Make a Wish Foundation, where she meets with wish kids and their families to help children determine their wish.

Benedette has been a scientific writer for AZoNetwork since June 2015. Benedette has written on a wide range of scientific topics ranging from medicine, toxicology, nanotechnology, materials science, sensor technology, clean technology, and much more. In addition to writing, Benedette has also remained an active content editor for various pieces on AZoNetwork’s sites.

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Articles from Benedette

Measuring Ultrafine Particle Levels Within the Atmosphere from Ethanol and Gasoline

Researchers at the Northwestern University in collaboration with National University of Singapore and University of São Paulo recently published a paper in nature communications about the influence of gasoline and ethanol use in the amount of ultrafine particle levels in São Paulo’s atmosphere.

21 Aug 2017

Recent Success for In-Human Drug Delivering Micromotors

Artificial micro and nanomotors have been a trending research topic within the biomedical industry as a means of transporting therapeutic materials to target organs in a rapid and efficient manner.

21 Aug 2017

How Carbonation is Leading the Potential in Large Scale Graphene Production

A group of Researchers at the University of Illinois have recently published their study in the Journal of Materials Chemistry which describes a new and sustainable approach to transfer graphene and recycle the copper substrate used in the production of graphene.

21 Aug 2017

Magnetic Nanoparticle Clusters with Remarkable Antibacterial Activity

Biofilms consists of a collective group of microorganisms that attach to each other or to a surface such as bacteria and the extracellular matrix secreted by the organisms.

11 Aug 2017

Carbon Dioxide-Made Graphene as Supercapacitor

Produced as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels, CO2 emissions have been associated with raising the average global temperature, which thereby seriously affects normal weather patterns, the populations’ water supplies and induces changes to the growing season for important food products.

11 Aug 2017

"Nanoswimmers" to Carry Drugs Through Blood Brain Barrier

Chemotaxis, also known as chemotactic movement, is the movement of cells or organism in response to chemical movement. The chemotactic movement is facilitated and driven by the chemical environment present around it, and the concentration gradient determines the direction of this movement.

11 Aug 2017

3D Printing in Water Through Nanoparticle Photoinitators

The creation of a three-dimensional (3D) printed object through a process called additive manufacturing, or more commonly, 3D printing, is an evolving technology that seems to be limitless in its potential applications.

7 Aug 2017

Nitric-Oxide-Releasing Nanoparticles for Skin Infection Treatment

Systemic therapies are usually preferred to treat this ring worm due to an inadequate penetration of the drugs administered topically, however, systemic treatments to antifungals are associated with limited penetration of the drug into the target tissue, as well as side effects and resistance.

7 Aug 2017

Single Molecular Layer Nanosensor

While graphene is the thinnest and strongest material known to man, its lack of a natural bandgap prevents it from being used for important transistor and optoelectronic devices.

2 Aug 2017

Revolutionary Screening Method for the Impact of Biomedical Nanoparticles on the Immune System

Within the field of medicine, the use of nanoparticles as drug and gene delivery vehicles, particularly chemotherapeutic drugs, as well as fluorescent labels and contrast agents, has been particularly useful for its unique ability to specifically target organs and tissues of interest.

1 Aug 2017