self - funded PhD Project: Synthesis of Targeted Ruthenium (II) therapeutics against Breast Cancers (STRUT BC)

TU Dublin have developed synthetic protocols for the synthesis and characterisation of a library of compounds developed that take a systematic approach by variation of the auxiliary ligand (2, 2’-bipyridine (bpy), 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,2’-biquinoline (biq)), and the main polypyridyl ligand 2-(4-formylphenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (p-FPIP), 2-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (p-NPIP), 2-(4-bromophenyl)imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (p-BPIP), the regioisomeric ligand 4-(1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzonitrile (p-CPIP) and 2-(1H-Imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-2-yl)benzonitrile (o-CPIP), which were studied in terms of functional group change and regioisomeric effect with respect to the electronic, vibrational and excited state characteristics of the compounds. The complexes will be tested for their behaviour against breast cancer cell lines. The synthetic design and development of the complexes and their interaction with DNA will be the main focus of this study. To purify the racemic mixtures of the complexes previously sunthesised.

1.      In vitro cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species and cell cycle arrest studies of novel ruthenium (II) polypyridyl complexes towards A549 human non-small cells lung cancer cell lines. Muhammad Qasim Mushtaq Warraich , Alessandra Ghion , Laura Perdisatt, Luke O’Neill, Alan Casey, Christine O’Connor, Drug and Chemical Toxicology, 2019, DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2019.1589492.

2.      Structure property relationships for a series of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes elucidated through systematic functional group change, by Luke O'Neill, Laura Perdisatt and Christine O'Connor submitted to Journal of Spectroscopy, Journal of Spectroscopy 2018(8):1-11 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3827130

3.      Synthesis, characterization and DNA intercalation studies of regioisomers of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes, L. Perdisatt, L. O’Neill, G. Hessman, S. Moqadasi, Q. Warraich, A. Ghion, A. Casey, C. O’Connor, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2018, 182, 71-82.

Influence of Auxiliary Ligands on the Photophysical Characteristics of a Series of Ruthenium(II)–Polypyridyl Complexes, L. O’Neill, L. Perdisatt and C. O’Connor, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2012, 116 (44), 10728–10735.

Student requirements for this project

A min. 2.1 (Hons) BSc in Chemical Sciences, BSc in Medicinal Chemistry or related disciplines.

Experience of synthetic organic, inorganic chemistry, purification techniques and spectroscopic characterisation (IR, Raman, NMR, Mass Spec, UV/Vis, Fluorescence) would be an advantage.

If you are interested in submitting an application for this project, please complete an Expression of Interest and email it to phd@tudublin.ie.