1. Synthesis and evaluation of novel anticancer compounds and construction of organic carrier–drug conjugates
Among acridine derivatives with anticancer activity five main classes of compounds: nitroacridines, 9-anilinoacridines, pyrazoloacridines, imidazoacridines, and triazoloacridines, can be distinguished. Compounds from different classes differ both in mechanism of action and spectrum of anticancer activity. The examination of anticancer compounds metabolism and mechanism of their activity has to be examined.
Many metabolic inhibitors, considered potential anticancer drug candidates, exhibit very limited ability to cross the biological membranes of target cells. One of the possible solutions to this problem is aconjugation of an therapetic compound with a molecular organic nanocarrier. Nanotechnology-based drug delivery provides a promising area for improving the efficacy of cancer treatments
The examples of experimental research:
- the search for molecular targets for the rational design of new chemotherapeutic agents to control eukaryotic systems;
- rational design and synthesis of new compounds with anticancer activity;
- determination of the mechanisms of biological activity of synthesized compounds and other drugs at the molecular and cellular level;
- searching for chemotherapeutic agents able to overcome the multi-drug resistance of neoplastic and fungal cells.
The example of theoretical research:
- molecular modeling of biologically active compounds and their complexes with cellular targets;
- nanotechnology-based drug delivery provides a promising area for improving the efficacy of cancer treatments.
Key words: anticancer compounds, apoptosis, necrosis, acridines
2. Synthesis and evaluation of novel antifungal compounds
Frequent fungal infections in immunocompromised patients and mortality due to invasive mycosis are important clinical problems. The need to expand the number of therapeutic options for the treatment of fungal infections has led researchers to seek novel antifungal targets. However most of existing antifungal compounds are developed by screening, the rational design and synthesis of new compounds with antifungal activity promise better solutions. Moreover, new perspectives on the mechanisms of antifungal acridine-peptide conjugates and acridine-based hybrid molecules to effectively combat fungal infection are explored.
The examples of experimental research:
- rational design and synthesis of new compounds with antifungal activity;
- search for effective and non-toxic membrane pump modulators responsible for multi-drug resistance.
Key words: fungal infections, antifungal compounds
3. Investigation of antimicrobial potential of natural products
Assesment of antimicrobial, antibacterial and antifungal, activity of natural products is performer to establish antimicrobial potential of essential oils, bee honey and bee propolis. Identification of biologicali active ingredients of these products and modes of their antimicrobial activity is in the scope of the study.
The examples
- analysis of the in vitro antifungal activity of selected essential oils, ethanolic extracts of propolis and silver nanoparticles.
Key words: fungal infections, bacterial infections, essential oils, propolis.
