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Light Strokes
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Chemical Biology

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Image by Terry Vlisidis

Ultrasmall Fluorescent Metal Nanoclusters for Multifaceted Applications

Our research focuses on the design and synthesis of ultra-small fluorescent metal nanoclusters stabilized by thiolate ligands. These nanoclusters exhibit distinct optical, electronic, and catalytic properties owing to their quantum-sized dimensions and surface chemistry. Their fluorescence, high surface area, and stability make them attractive for a wide range of applications, including bioimaging, therapy, and catalysis. Through ligand engineering and structural control, we aim to explore and expand the multifunctional potential of these nanoscale materials across diverse fields.

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Image by Terry Vlisidis

Small Molecule Based Anticancer Agent

Discovery of small molecule based anticancer drugs revolutionized over the last decade. We are interested in designing small molecules that can specifically inhibit enzymes or proteins (EGFR kinase, Bcl-2, HDAC, etc) which has important role in cancer progression/ metastasis. The increasing number of reports related to drug resistance and systematic toxicities urge the need for the development of new effective chemotherapeutic drugs. Targeted therapy is now used to selectively trigger as well as disturb the function of those proteins which are responsible for cancer cell survival and progression. We are interested to design small molecule-based enzyme inhibitors, study their modes of binding to the enzyme of interest and incorporate them with a prodrug strategy to reduce systematic toxicity. This strategy may open up a new trail for developing promising chemotherapeutic agents. Furthermore, attachment of a pro-moiety to the active moiety provides a way to overcome the barriers that hamper the optimal use of the drug and reduces toxicity to normal cells.

Image by Terry Vlisidis

Multi-Targeted Metal Complexes for Theranostic Applications

Our work is focused on multi-targeted metal complexes as potential therapeutic agents in cancer therapy because of their unique characteristics, such as redox activity, variable coordination modes, and reactivity toward the organic substrate. Their noteworthy properties have attracted much attention in the design and synthesis of metal complexes that specifically bind to the biomolecular target without hampering normal metabolic conditions, ultimately leading to cancer cell death. We are using Pt, Ir, Au, and Ru metals for targeting cancer cells. One of the major challenges in cancer therapy is the selective targeting of cancer cells to avoid irreversible damage to normal cells. A prodrug strategy could be the most impressive solution to solve this problem. We are very much delighted to work on prodrug therapy including metal complexes that work on tumor-microenvironment sensitive and specific cancer biomarkers activation conditions. We are also working on Photodynamic therapy which is a non-invasive treatment for cancer therapy. To avoid damage through irradiation during PDT to normal cells we are also developing smart photosensitizers which could only get activated by certain tumor-specific reaction conditions and release an elevated amount of reactive oxygen species. This could provide a new arch in designing anticancer drugs to avoid obstacles caused by conventional chemotherapeutics.

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