Bioactive compounds and their technological applications in biological systems

Chemical transformation processes are linked to functional and structural changes of substances and materials. This research area is defined by the recognition, characterization, interpretation, and analysis of these processes. Mainly, the current project focuses on the structure and function of bioactive compounds and their application in transformation processes occurring in biological systems.
Bioactive compounds will be studied within three major work lines: (a) nanoparticles, (b) natural products derivatives and (c) synthetic organic substances – (b) and (c) are highly overlapping. Experimental parameters that lead to the control of the morphology and crystalline structure of inorganic nanoparticulate systems will be investigated, using solvothermal synthesis assisted by microwaves. Metallic nanoparticles will also be prepared using biogenic routes, with interest on their biomedical and environmental applications, highlighting the specific relevance of systems that act as nitric oxide donors. These, when used as a way of enhancing subcutaneous storage of nitric oxide, show a remarked potential for dermatological application.
The isolation and structural characterization of biomolecules with antiparasitic action is connected to the obtainment of natural bioactive compounds using counter-current chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Also, bioactive substances based on natural products will be prepared and studied, exploring the use of compounds’ libraries defined by structure/activity relationships.
As a way of keeping up with the need on finding treatments for neglected diseases, focusing on malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, Zika, and bacteria resistant to antibiotics, this research proposal also aims to implement methodologies for the synthesis of bioactive organic substances and their biological evaluation in models of these pathologies. The use of cyclic organic peroxides (dioxetanes and trioxolanes) and antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic alternatives against pathogenic organisms will be evaluated. Bioactive molecules will also be synthesized through multicomponent reactions, with or without metalloid-based functional groups (selenium and tellurium), or by traditional sequential transformations, using batch or continuous flow methodologies.

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Vani Xavier de Oliveira Junior
E-mail: vani.junior@ufabc.edu.br

Coordinator’s Curriculum Lattes (research projects, publications and academic info)

Coordinator’s research grants, scholarships and main publications (FAPESP)

Bioactive compounds and their technological applications in biological systems

Chemical transformation processes are linked to functional and structural changes of substances and materials. This research area is defined by the recognition, characterization, interpretation, and analysis of these processes. Mainly, the current project focuses on the structure and function of bioactive compounds and their application in transformation processes occurring in biological systems.
Bioactive compounds will be studied within three major work lines: (a) nanoparticles, (b) natural products derivatives and (c) synthetic organic substances – (b) and (c) are highly overlapping. Experimental parameters that lead to the control of the morphology and crystalline structure of inorganic nanoparticulate systems will be investigated, using solvothermal synthesis assisted by microwaves. Metallic nanoparticles will also be prepared using biogenic routes, with interest on their biomedical and environmental applications, highlighting the specific relevance of systems that act as nitric oxide donors. These, when used as a way of enhancing subcutaneous storage of nitric oxide, show a remarked potential for dermatological application.
The isolation and structural characterization of biomolecules with antiparasitic action is connected to the obtainment of natural bioactive compounds using counter-current chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Also, bioactive substances based on natural products will be prepared and studied, exploring the use of compounds’ libraries defined by structure/activity relationships.
As a way of keeping up with the need on finding treatments for neglected diseases, focusing on malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue, Zika, and bacteria resistant to antibiotics, this research proposal also aims to implement methodologies for the synthesis of bioactive organic substances and their biological evaluation in models of these pathologies. The use of cyclic organic peroxides (dioxetanes and trioxolanes) and antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic alternatives against pathogenic organisms will be evaluated. Bioactive molecules will also be synthesized through multicomponent reactions, with or without metalloid-based functional groups (selenium and tellurium), or by traditional sequential transformations, using batch or continuous flow methodologies.

Coordinator: Prof. Dr. Vani Xavier de Oliveira Junior
E-mail: vani.junior@ufabc.edu.br

Coordinator’s Curriculum Lattes (research projects, publications and academic info)

Coordinator’s research grants, scholarships and main publications (FAPESP)