Department of Health Physics

Welcome to the Homepage of Dr. Marcos A. Cheney

Major Teaching Responsibilities:

Health Physics Science 102, Health Physics Science 301, Environmental Radioactivity 470,   Environmental Radioactivity 670.   

Other Courses Taught:

Academic Recognitions and Awards:

American Chemical Society Division of Environmental Chemistry Service Award, 2004.
Rutgers University for Undergraduate Research Mentoring (cooperative), 2001.
Rutgers University for Undergraduate Research Mentoring (cooperative), 1999.
Rutgers University for Leadership Excellence (undergraduate research), 1998.
American Chemical Society (ACS) for Undergraduate Research, ACS-SEED PROGRAM, 1997.
Rutgers University for Leadership Excellence (undergraduate mentoring), 1997.
Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 1994-1995.
Presidential Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 1993-1994.
Associated Western Universities (AWU) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 1991-1992.
California State University, Northridge Teaching-Scholar Award, 1990-1991.

Research interest:

Dr. Cheney has interest on the emergent interdisciplinary field of “Medical Mineralogy and Geochemistry.” This field encompassing aspects of geochemistry, mineralogy, biochemistry, the medical sciences, deals with interactions between geomaterials and disease processes in the human body.  In our research we emphasize the importance of mineralogy and crystal chemistry at the molecular and cellular levels which is often lacking in other studies. Our objective is to understand the role of minerals in the development and treatment of diseases particularly silicosis and cancer with emphasis also on translational research. We use spectroscopy, molecular modeling and high-resolution imaging to explore these interactions.    

Nanomaterials:

Morphology and aggregation control of nanoparticles. Objectives of this work are to explore:  the effect of physical parameters as a means of controlling the morphology and aggregation of nanoparticles, and the architectures of this class of materials that have high functional specificity to be able to replicate them for use as biomimetic materials. Recent work includes the synthesis and characterization at the molecular level of inorganic double helices of cryptomelane nanomaterials.  In this work, a new understanding of aggregation is provided by studying the morphology and aggregation of layered and tunneled-structure birnessite and cryptomelane nanoparticles in the reduction reaction of KMnO4 by a variety of reductants. Furthermore, the effects of mechanical agitation on morphology and surface area are studied from the viewpoint of nucleation. Nucleation will allow us to understand the phenomenon of mineralized tissue in vertebrates.

Nanoparticles as drug delivery systems. Objectives of this work are: 1) to synthesize, characterize and use nanoparticles as drug delivery systems and 2) to measure the uptake of nanoparticles by the cell and their effect on metabolism and mitochondria deactivation (toxicity) using microcalorimetry and high resolution imaging. In this work, a new understanding of the function of clays and oxides as drug carriers is provided by studying the interaction and uptake of nanoparticles by the cell as a function of morphology, surface area and surface charge.   

Selected Publications:

Marcos A. Cheney*, Nancy R. Birkner, Longzhou Ma, Thomas Hartmann, Pradip K. Bhowmik, Vernon F. Hodge, Spencer M. Steinberg. 2006. “ Synthesis and characterization of inorganic double helices of cryptomelane nanomaterials.” Colloids and Surfaces, 289,185-192.
 
Pradip K. Bhowmik*, Marcos A. Cheney, Haesook Han, Longzhou Ma. 2006. Isothermal titration calorimetry and transmission electron microscopy of main-chain viologen polymer containing bromide as counterions. Polym. Prepr. (Am. Chem Soc., Div. Ploym. Chem.) 47(2) 334-335.
 
Jin-Young Shin, Marcos A. Cheney.*  2005. “Abiotic Dealkylation and Hydrolysis of Atrazine by Birnessite.”  Environ. Toxicol. Chem.  24, 6, 1353-1360.

Jin-Young Shin, Marcos A. Cheney.*  2004. “Abiotic Transformation of Atrazine in Aqueous Suspension of four Synthetic Manganese Oxides.  Colloids and Surfaces.  242, 1-3, 85-92.

Cheney M.A., Robinson L., Kukor J.J. 2003.  “Abiotic Transformation of Perchloroethylene by Manganese Oxide.  Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.  67(18) A63.

Seok S. Park, Jae-Woo Park, Christopher Uchrin, and Marcos A. Cheney*.  2002. "A Micelle Inhibition Model for the Bioavailability of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aquatic Systems."  Environmental Toxicology Chemistry. Vol.21, No.12, pp. 2737-2741.

Marcos A. Cheney,* Karen Birdsall and Jerome J. Kukor. 2001. “Uptake and Diverse Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the Metabolic Activity of Elliptio complanata Measured by Calorespirometry.  ” Environmental Toxicology Chemistry.  Vol.20, No.5, 1031-1036.

Karen Birdsall, Jerome J. Kukor and Marcos A. Cheney.*  2001. “Uptake of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by the Gills of the Bivalve Mollusk Elliptio complanata.”  Environmental Toxicology Chemistry. Vol.20, No.2, pp. 309-316.

Jin-Young Shin, Christopher M. Buzgo, Marcos A. Cheney.* 2000. “Mechanochemical Degradation of Atrazine adsorbed on four Synthetic Manganese Oxides.” Colloids and Surfaces. 172, 113-123.
Ahmed Nasser, Garrison Sposito, Marcos A. Cheney.* 2000. “Mechanochemical Degradation of 2,4-D on Synthetic Birnessite.” Colloids and Surfaces. 163,117-123.

Catherine Levine and Marcos A. Cheney.* 2000. “Metabolic Responses to Accute Toxicity of Alkylphenols and Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates in Elliptio complanata Measured by Calorespirometry.”  Environmental Toxicology Chemistry. Vol.19, No.7, pp.1906-1910.

John R. Reinfelder, Rachel E. Jablonka, Marcos Cheney.* 2000. Metabolic Responses to Subacute Toxicity of Trace Metals in a Marine Microalga (Thalassiosira weisflogii) Measured by Calorespirometry. Environmental Toxicology Chemistry. Vol. 19, No.2, pp. 448-453.

DaoJing Wang, Jin-Y. Shin, Marcos A. Cheney*, Garrison Sposito Thomas G. Spiro*. 1999. “Manganese Dioxide as a Catalyst for Oxygen-Independent Atrazine Dealkylation.” Environmental Science & Technology 33, 3160-3165.

Marcos A. Cheney,* Jin-Y. Shin, David E. Crowley, Samuel Alvey, Nathalie Malengreau, Garrison Sposito. 1998. “Atrazine Dealkylation on Manganese Dioxide.” Colloids and Surfaces. 137:267-273.