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Education:

• B.S. 1971 Electrical Eng. University of California-Irvine
• M.S. 1973 Electrical Eng. Stanford University
• Pharm.D. 1979 Pharmacy University of California-San Francisco
• Ph.D. 1982 Pharmaceutical Chem. University of California-San Francisco

Overview

Ron received his B.S. degree (1971) in electrical engineering from the University of California-Irvine, M.S. degree (1973) in electrical engineering from Stanford University, and Pharm.D. (1979) and Ph.D. (1982) degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of California-San Francisco. He joined the Wisconsin faculty in 1982.

The basic premise underlying our research is that one can combine experimental data, such as that obtained from spectroscopic techniques and X-ray crystallography, in a synergistic manner with computational chemistry to determine molecular structure and to understand intermolecular and intramolecular interactions. This, in turn, provides the basis for beginning to understand drug delivery systems at a more fundamental level. More precisely these investigations provide a mechanism by which one can start to predict how specific molecular changes will alter a drug delivery system at both the structural and energetic level.

Our current research uses quantum mechanical and molecular mechanic calculations in conjunction with NMR and X-ray crystallography to characterize intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interplay on molecular conformation in systems having a diffuse electron distribution (such as what one would see in an aromatic ring). Using similar methodologies, we are also studying crown ether / lithium and cryptand-[2,2,2]/ cation ionophore interactions as model systems for investigating molecular host:guest interactions.

Work-Related Interests/Research:

Molecular level understanding of drug carrier interactions through the use of high resolution NMR, X-ray crystallography and computational chemistry.

Highlighted Publications:

• Su, Joe and Burnette, Ronald. Investigation of Noncovalent Complexation with Hartree-Fock, Density Functional Theory, and Natural Bond Orbital Methods: a 222 Cryptand-Ion Binding Selectivity Study. PhysChemPhys Vol. 9, pages 1989-1996, (2008).
• R.R. Burnette, F. Weinhold, "Determination of the Conformation of 2-Hydroxy- and 2-Aminobenzoic Acid Dimers Using ¹³C NMR and Density Functional Theory/Natural Bond Order Analysis: The Central Importance of the Carboxyilic Acid Carbon" Journal of Physical Chemistry A,110 (28); 8832-8839 (2006).
• R. R. Burnette and K. A. Connors, "Statistical Properties of Thermodynamic Quantities for Cyclodextrin Complex Formation" Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 89:11 pp. 1389 - 1394 (2000).
• R.R. Burnette, "Pharmacokinetics and Dynamics of Temporal Delivery," in Electronically Controlled Drug Delivery, B. Berner and S.M. Dinh (eds.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp. 93-109, 1998.
• R.R. Burnette and J.D. DeNuzzio, "Impedance Spectroscopy Applications to Human Skin," in Mechanisms of Transdermal Drug Delivery, R. Potts and R. Guy (eds.), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, pp. 215-230, 1997.
• R.R. Burnette, "Computer Simulation of Human Blood Flow and Vascular Resistance," Computers in Biology and Medicine, 265, 363-369 (1996).
• Burnette, R. R. 1992. Fundamental pharmacokinetic limits on the utility of using a sinusoidal drug delivery system to enhance therapy. Journal of Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics, 20 (5): 477-500.