Our lab aims to design and build molecular structures with unique and interesting properties suited for medical and materials science applications. Specific areas of interest include:
Rational design and synthesis of organic compounds with biological significance
A. Chemical modifications of deguelin and rotenone to enhance anticancer activity and lower the toxicity. This project is part of the drug discovery program, Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP): Synthesis and Derivatization of Disease-Specific Bioactive Hits and Lead Compounds, which ultimately aims to obtain clinical candidate/s with optimum efficacy and physicochemical, biophysical, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity profile.
B. SARS-CoV-2 infects the target cells via an endosomal pathway and uses the cell entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Our study aims to identify potential SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 inhibitors via structural modifications of natural products commonly found in terrestrial plants. We are particularly interested to family of flavonoids such as flavones and flavonol because they are reported to exhibit anti-viral activities, widely available, inexpensive and can be easily structurally modified.
A. Chemical modifications of deguelin and rotenone to enhance anticancer activity and lower the toxicity. This project is part of the drug discovery program, Discovery and Development of Health Products (DDHP): Synthesis and Derivatization of Disease-Specific Bioactive Hits and Lead Compounds, which ultimately aims to obtain clinical candidate/s with optimum efficacy and physicochemical, biophysical, pharmacokinetic properties and toxicity profile.
B. SARS-CoV-2 infects the target cells via an endosomal pathway and uses the cell entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Our study aims to identify potential SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 inhibitors via structural modifications of natural products commonly found in terrestrial plants. We are particularly interested to family of flavonoids such as flavones and flavonol because they are reported to exhibit anti-viral activities, widely available, inexpensive and can be easily structurally modified.
Create supramolecular assemblies as rheology modifiers for industrial applications
Molecular gelators are used as smart materials in industrial fields such as cosmetics, health care, foods and textiles technology. Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are highly attractive because of their stimuli-responsive property, well-defined structures and their ability to form nanofibrous network. Among the LMWGs, urea-based molecules are interesting due to their straightforward, industrially scalable synthesis and flexibility towards structural modification. The focus of this research is to explore the potential industrial applications of these type of compounds i.e., as rheology modifiers for perfume and cosmetic formulations and surfactant solutions.
Molecular gelators are used as smart materials in industrial fields such as cosmetics, health care, foods and textiles technology. Low molecular weight gelators (LMWGs) are highly attractive because of their stimuli-responsive property, well-defined structures and their ability to form nanofibrous network. Among the LMWGs, urea-based molecules are interesting due to their straightforward, industrially scalable synthesis and flexibility towards structural modification. The focus of this research is to explore the potential industrial applications of these type of compounds i.e., as rheology modifiers for perfume and cosmetic formulations and surfactant solutions.
Development and fabrication of novel organic compounds for materials science applications
Anthracene is widely utilized in photo-activated materials. Photodimerization of anthracene upon exposure to UV light occurs via [4+4] cycloaddition reaction. This study focuses on the development and synthesis of anthracene-containing polymeric materials. This is a collaborative project with Dr. Giovanni Tapang of National Institute of Physics (NIP).
Anthracene is widely utilized in photo-activated materials. Photodimerization of anthracene upon exposure to UV light occurs via [4+4] cycloaddition reaction. This study focuses on the development and synthesis of anthracene-containing polymeric materials. This is a collaborative project with Dr. Giovanni Tapang of National Institute of Physics (NIP).
Funded Research
UP NSRI (2024)
Synthesis and Rheological Characterization of Amino Acid-Derived Bis-Urea Compounds with Polar End Groups in Surfactant-Based Formulations
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2023-2024)
Project: Effects of pH in the Gelation Properties of Bis-Urea Hydrogelators
UP NSRI (2023)
Investigation on the pH-Responsiveness of Urea-Based Supramolecular Hydrogelators
DOST PCHRD (2021-2024)
Project: Rational Design and Structural Modifications of ACE2 Inhibitors from Terrestrial Plants
UP ECWRG (2020-2022)
Project: Visible Light-Driven Photodimerization of Anthracene-Appended Polymer Tethered with Electron-rich Triazole Toward Single Chain Nanoparticles
DOST PCHRD (2019-2023)
Project: Synthesis of Deguelin, Rotenone and Small Molecules Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Balik PhD Program (2019-2021)
Project: Low Molecular Weight Urea-Based Molecules as Structurants for Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Systems
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2020-2021)
Project: Design and Synthesis of Supramolecular Hydrogelators as Viscosifier for Surfactants
UP NSRI (2020-2021)
Project: Amino Acid-Based Bis-Urea Compounds as Viscosifier for Surfactants
UP NSRI (2019)
Project: Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Compounds Bearing Thiourea and Urea Groups as Antimicrobial Agents
UP NSRI (2018)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Urea-Based Molecules as Hydro- and Organogelators
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2018)
Project: Investigation of Low Molecular Weight Urea-Based Compounds as Rheology Modifiers for Perfume and Cosmetic Oils
Synthesis and Rheological Characterization of Amino Acid-Derived Bis-Urea Compounds with Polar End Groups in Surfactant-Based Formulations
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2023-2024)
Project: Effects of pH in the Gelation Properties of Bis-Urea Hydrogelators
UP NSRI (2023)
Investigation on the pH-Responsiveness of Urea-Based Supramolecular Hydrogelators
DOST PCHRD (2021-2024)
Project: Rational Design and Structural Modifications of ACE2 Inhibitors from Terrestrial Plants
UP ECWRG (2020-2022)
Project: Visible Light-Driven Photodimerization of Anthracene-Appended Polymer Tethered with Electron-rich Triazole Toward Single Chain Nanoparticles
DOST PCHRD (2019-2023)
Project: Synthesis of Deguelin, Rotenone and Small Molecules Derivatives as Anticancer Agents
Balik PhD Program (2019-2021)
Project: Low Molecular Weight Urea-Based Molecules as Structurants for Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Systems
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2020-2021)
Project: Design and Synthesis of Supramolecular Hydrogelators as Viscosifier for Surfactants
UP NSRI (2020-2021)
Project: Amino Acid-Based Bis-Urea Compounds as Viscosifier for Surfactants
UP NSRI (2019)
Project: Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Compounds Bearing Thiourea and Urea Groups as Antimicrobial Agents
UP NSRI (2018)
Project: Synthesis and Characterization of Urea-Based Molecules as Hydro- and Organogelators
UP OVCRD Outright Grant (2018)
Project: Investigation of Low Molecular Weight Urea-Based Compounds as Rheology Modifiers for Perfume and Cosmetic Oils
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