Chemical
Biology
including Bioinorganic Chemistry
Research Activities
The research activities in our laboratory involve organic/inorganic chemical synthesis, artificial enzymes including nanozymes, genetic code expansion and other multidisciplinary studies in the area of biomedical research. Our recent efforts are directed toward understanding the redox regulation by synthetic compounds in mammalian cells, thyroid hormone metabolism and thyroid related disorders, development of molecular probes for the detection and quantification of reactive oxygen species in the cells and oxidative stress biomarkers. We have a unique multidisciplinary team for an efficient collaboration within the laboratory and outside to undertake challenging contemporary research problems at the chemistry-biology interface.
Recent Publications
Tuning Thiol Stability and Anticancer Activity in Benzimidazole-Derived Au(I)-NHC Complexes through Chloride-to-Thiolate Ligand Exchange.
2 July 2026
Au(I)-NHC complexes with thiolate ligands were developed to improve thiol stability while maintaining potent anticancer activity. Several complexes outperformed Auranofin and induced predominantly non-apoptotic, necrotic cell death.
Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2026, 29, 8256910.
Strain-Enabled Redox Chemistry of Naphthalene peri-Dichalcogenides: Synthetic Strategies, Unusual Reactivity, Mechanistic Insights and Potential Applications.
20 March 2026
This Review explains how peri-constrained naphthalene dichalcogenides (S, Se, Te) display unusual redox and multi-electron reactivity beyond typical organochalcogen compounds.
Chem. Eur. J. 2026, 33, e202600034.
Ligand-Tuned Mn(I) Complexes with Oxazole, Thiazole, and Selenazole Scaffolds: Synthesis and Mechanistic Insights into Light-Driven CO Release.
12 March 2026
Photo-activated carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (photo-CORMs) enable spatiotemporal control of CO delivery with therapeutic potential. This study identifies sulfur- and selenium-containing ligands as promising scaffolds for efficient Mn(I) photo-CORMs in biomedical contexts.
Inorg. Chem. 2026, 65, 000 - 000.
Dual Redox Behavior of Mitochondria-Targeting Antioxidant: Prooxidant Activity Through Light-Induced Redox Active Triplet State.
28 February 2026
A neutral mitochondria-targeted imaging/antioxidant-like molecule becomes a visible-light–activated prooxidant by forming a redox-active triplet state that redox-cycles with mitochondrial biomolecules to generate superoxide and trigger apoptosis.
ChemistryEurope, 2026, 4, e202500303.
A Single Heteroatom Controls Halogen-versus Chalcogen-Bond-Driven Cellular Uptake.
27 February 2026
We built modular fluorescent probes showing that O-based scaffolds drive halogen-bond-dependent cellular uptake, while S/Se analogues enter mainly via chalcogen bonding with little halogen effect.
Chem. Commun. 2026, 62, 0000-0000.
p-Benzoyl-L-phenylalanine as a Multifunctional Noncanonical Amino Acid in Synthetic Biology: Photoprobing, Photocatalysis, and Structural Programming for Biocontainment.
2 February 2026
This Review shows how pBzF enables precise photocrosslinking, mechanistic probes, and new-to-nature photoenzymes, extends to ncAA-based auxotrophy and live vaccines, and points toward red-shifted analogues, multi-site encoding, and in vivo deployment.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2026, 65, e202525502.
From Phenols to Proteins: One-Pot Biosynthesis and Genetic Encoding of Chalcogen-Containing Tyrosine Analogues.
19 January 2026
A one-pot enzymatic platform enables the biosynthesis and site-specific incorporation of chalcogen-containing tyrosine analogues (O, S, Se) into proteins in E. coli. Engineered TPL and orthogonal synthetases are combined to expand the genetic code.
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2026, 65, e202520166.
Chalcogen-Substituted Molecular Rotors as Polarity and Viscosity Sensors for Amyloid-β Fibril Formation and Bioimaging.
19 January 2026
This study establishes chalcogen-substituted chromone rotors as a tunable, dual-function platform for polarity/viscosity mapping and amyloid detection, and provides clear structure–property rules across the O/S/Se/Te series that can guide next-generation FMR design.
Chem. Eur. J. 2026, 32, e202503195.
Confined Micellar Environments Modulate Thiol Reactivity and Nitrite Release from 4-Nitronaphthalimide Nitric Oxide Prodrugs.
23 December 2025
Systematic studies under micellar and non-micellar conditions, with varied surfactants, thiols, and pH, reveal that confined microenvironments and the nature of micellar assemblies critically control the rate of nitrite release from NO prodrugs.
Chem. Asian. J. 2026, 21, e1588344
Non-Covalent Interactions in the Structure and Function of Metalloenzymes and Related Systems.
20 November 2025
An overview of how non-covalent interactions such as hydrogen bond, halogen bond, chalcogen bond, tetrel bond, spodium bond etc influence metalloenzyme structure, stability and their reactivity.
Coord. Chem. Rev. 2026, 549, 217404.
Glutathione-Triggered Nitrite Release from Organic Nitrites Enhances Nitric Oxide Bioavailability in Mammalian Cells
25 September 2025
Simple 4-nitro-1,8-naphthalimide derivatives efficiently and almost quantitatively liberate nitrite upon reaction with glutathione (GSH). These compounds function as NO prodrugs, enhancing NO bioavailability in mammalian cells through intracellular nitrite-to-NO conversion.
Chem. Eur. J. 2026, 32, e202502890.
An Unusual Activity of Conformationally Restricted Naphthalene peri-Dichalcogenides in the Reduction of Nitro and Azide Groups.
21 August 2025
Naphthalene-1,8-peridichalcogenides mediate a six-electron reduction of organic nitro compounds to produce the corresponding primary amines at physiologically relevant temperature (37 °C) using water as the solvent. They also mediate the reduction of azides to amines.