About Me
Hello! I am an organic chemist with a BSc and PhD in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. My research interests are in the synthesis and evaluation of novel DNA and protein targeting small organic molecules.
PhD Dissertation
Boron-based theranostics and prodrugs: design, synthesis, mechanism and biological investigation (2024, UWM Digital Commons)
Employment Experience
1. Quality Control Lab Technician (January 2018 – April 2019)
Company: MetalTek International; Location: Waukesha, WI
- Operated analytical instruments, including LECO carbon/sulfur and nitrogen/oxygen instruments, x-ray, and arc optical emission spectrometers
- Maintained and standardized instruments following Nadcap (National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program) approved protocols
- Performed routine analysis of heterogeneous metals for determination of elemental composition
2. Research and Teaching Assistant (September 2019 – May 2024)
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; Advisor: Prof. Peng; Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Designed novel theranostic and prodrug nitrogen mustards as anticancer small molecules
- Isolated and purified compounds by column chromatography, distillation, precipitation, recrystallization, and trituration resulting in 4 novel theranostics
- Characterized compounds by utilizing TLC, NMR, LCMS, HRMS Q-TOF, UV/VIS, fluorescence, and fluorescence confocal microscope instruments
- Evaluated theranostics and prodrugs using cytotoxicity and fluorescence colocalization assays in vitro with TNBC MDA-MB-468 cell line
- Synthesized oligonucleotides by automated solid-phase synthesis with ABI 394, purification and 32P radiolabeling of oligo for DNA interstrand cross-linking assays
- Determined safety and anticancer efficacy of compounds in in vivo CD1 and xenograft athymic mice study following IACUC approved guidelines
- Determined physiochemical properties of small molecules (solubility and permeability)
- Determined photophysical properties of fluorescent dyes
- Determined prodrug activation mechanism in vitro and in vivo through deuterium isotope-labeled mustard prodrugs
3. Research Volunteer (June 2024 – July 2024)
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee; Advisor: Prof. Peng; Location: Milwaukee, WI
- Investigation of novel small molecule prodrugs and theranostics as selective anticancer and/or fluorogenic agents
4. Postdoctoral Fellow (July 2024 – October 2024)
Concordia University Wisconsin; Advisor: Prof. Cunningham; Location: Mequon, WI
- Designed, synthesized and characterized novel sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) inhibitors as endocannabinoid/cannabinoid system modulators for treatment of anxiety and stress
- Hit-to-lead discovery, SAR synthesis and optimization of small organic molecules for targeting proteins
- Maintained lab notebook records of experimental procedures, data, and observations
- Utilized synthetic organic chemistry techniques, including multi-step synthesis, purification, and characterization (NMR, purity score, MS and melting point)
- Routine upkeep of research equipment, including Varian 500 MHz NMR, Thermo Dionex 3000 HPLC-DAD, Sciex 4000 triple quad LC/MS and Biotage flash chromatography
- Collaborated with an interdisciplinary team to interpret the results of structure-activity
5. Thermo Fisher Scientist Level III (October 2024 – Current)
Thermo Fisher Pierce Biotechnology, IL
- Research and Development (R&D) Chemist
- Organic synthetic chemist for applications in protein biology
Skills
- Synthetic organic chemistry, laboratory techniques and instrumentation
- Multi-step synthetic routes (>13 steps) of oxygen-,water-, light-sensitive reaction conditions
- Click CuAAC, heterocycle and boron chemistry
- Biochemistry and biological assays: in vitro cell cultures and in vivo mice models
- Knowledge of anticancer drug development process
- Microsoft Office, ChemDraw, ChemSketch, SciFinder, Reaxys, Shimadzu LabSolutions, Bruker TopSpin, ImageJ, Zeiss Zen, QuPath and GraphPad Prism
Auxiliary Skills
- Ability to maintain lab safety, lab cleanliness, lab notebook and meet deadlines
- Ability to rationally design and synthesize organic molecules
- Self-motivated and detail-oriented
Publications
- Fan, H.; Zaman, M. A. U.; Chen, W.; Ali, T.; Campbell, A.; Zhang, Q.; Setu, N. I.; Saxon, E.; Zahn, N. M.; Benko, A. M.; Arnold, L. A.; Peng, X., Assessment of Phenylboronic Acid Nitrogen Mustards as Potent and Selective Drug Candidates for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. ACS Pharmacol. Transl. Sci. 2021, 4 (2), 687-702, doi.org/10.1021/acsptsci.0c00092
- Saxon, E.; Peng, X. (2021), Recent Advances in Hydrogen Peroxide Responsive Organoborons for Biological and Biomedical Applications. ChemBioChem. 2021, doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202100366
- Saxon, E.; Ali, T.; Peng, X. (2024), Hydrogen Peroxide Responsive Theranostics for Cancer-Selective Activation of DNA Alkylators and Real-Time Fluorescence Monitoring in Living Cells. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2024, doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116695
Presentations
- Saxon E., Peng X., DNA Sequencing: Modern Techniques and Application (2020). UWM Graduate Seminar, Milwaukee WI.
- Saxon E., Peng X., Synthesis of a Novel Phenyl Boronic Ester Nitrogen Mustard Analog (2021). Poster at the UWM Spring Symposium, Milwaukee WI.
- Saxon, E., Peng, X. Biological Application of a Novel DNA-Alkylating Theranostic Agent (2022). Poster at the ACS Fall 2022 Conference, Chicago IL.
- Saxon E., Peng X., Synthesis and Application of a Novel DNA Alkylating Theranostic Agent. (2022). Seminar at the UW-Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery Symposium, Milwaukee WI.
Awards
- UWM Chancellor’s Award (2019 – 2022)
- UWM Graduate School Distinguished Dissertation Fellowship (DDF) Award (2023 – 2024)
Patent
- Peng, X.; Saxon, E., Hydrogen Peroxide Responsive Theranostics. Patent Application 2024, US provisional patent No. 020871-0017-US01