Research Portfolio
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Our main interest lies within the area of synthetic medicinal chemistry. We are interested in developing molecules for healthcare applications. From antimicrobial chemotherapy to developing dyes for imaging/staining purposes - we do some really colourful chemistry! One of our current research area's is around the chemistry of ascorbic acid and utilising it's amazing properties to generate new medicinally active compounds.
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Developing methodology towards novel Dyes & ProbesFrom agents which can image and stain to molecules which can provide a light punch to the diseased state!
A major driving force of this research area is to design synthetic methodology to create molecules for a specific purpose whether it be altering wavelength, solubility, target recognition and binding or just creating reactive probes ready for further functionalisation. We have two core projects within this area at the moment. The first is focused on developing probes which operate in the near-infrared region. We are particularly interested in designing methodologies to develop reactive heptamethine dyes towards sensor and imaging applications. The second project is aimed at designing photoactive molecules capable of producing radicals via Type I or Type II photosensitisation. We are particularly interested in using this technology for photodisinfection and wound management. Interested in working in this area...contact Rob |
Designing new Antimicrobials to fight resistanceWith antimicrobial resistance now rapidly on the rise globally and a lack of new antimicrobials coming to the market, we are in urgent need of new antimicrobial drugs.
We are interested in developing new antimicrobial drugs based around substituted indoles and benzothiazoles. The methodology to develop the majority of these small molecules involves carbonyl chemistry in particular reactions involving aldehydes, acyl chlorides and ketones. This chemistry lends itself neatly towards microwave enhanced synthesis and we find ourselves developing libraries quickly to investigate their antimicrobial activity. Recent projects within our group have seen the generation of some extremely potent antimicrobials. Although these are small molecules, they pack an antimicrobial punch especially towards some of the more opportunistic microbes. Interested in working in this area...contact Rob |
Ascorbic Acid: expanding the medicinal armouryAscorbic acid forms an exciting part of our research portfolio due to its versatility as a chemical building block.
We are particularly interested in designing synthetic methodology to investigate the use of ascorbic acid as a light activated molecular delivery vehicle. Such synthesis can be very complex and requires some elegant chemistry to be accomplished. We are interested in the synthesis of tetramic acid derivatives towards medicinal applications especially antimicrobial activity. An interesting property of ascorbic acid is its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species. Research within our group seeks to develop spectrophotometric sensors to measure reactive oxygen species using derivatives of ascorbic acid. Interested in working in this area...contact Rob |