Ivanovic-Burmazovic
| Prof. Dr. Ivana Ivanović-Burmazović | Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry |
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Address: |
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |
| Room: Phone: Fax: |
A2.37 +49 9131 - 85 25428 +49 9131 - 85 27345 |
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| E-mail: |
ivana.ivanovic@chemie.uni-erlangen.de | |
Research
The general goal of our Chair for Bioinorganic Chemistry is elucidation of the metal-tuned redox processes of biological and catalytic relevance at the molecular level. In a focus is the activation of small molecules (superoxide radical anion (O2-), nitric oxide (NO),peroxynitrite (ONOO-), hydrogen sulphide (H2S)) by redox-active metal complexes, which can have physiological or pathophysiological consequences in biological systems, but at the same time can find application in bioinspired catalysis and biotechnology. We study reaction mechanisms to understand elementary reaction steps of complex bioinorganic processes and design efficient enzyme mimetics, metal based human pharmaceuticals and chemical catalysts. The approach is to rationally design bio-active metal complexes with desirable physiological effects based on understanding of their kinetic, thermodynamic, redox and mechanistic behavior.
News:
2012:
The Biochemical Journal-BJ Energy took our publication " Novel insight into H2S biochemistry and physiology" as spotlight.
2011:
Our research project “Medicinal Redox Inorganic Chemistry” has been promoted to Emerging Fields Initiative of the FAU.
Medicinal Redox Inorganic Chemistry:
Redox-Active Small Inorganic Molecules as Biological Mediators and Therapeutic Drugs
Increased challenges in health care (ageing populations, chronic disease, spiralling costs, etc.) urgently call for the development and exploitation of less conventional, non-carbon-based bioactive molecules that meet the biomedical requirements of the time ahead of us. Chronic inflammation, pain and accelerated ageing are important problems in many autoimmune, autoinflammatory and infectious diseases. Modern cytokine inhibitors (“biologicals”) such as TNF-alpha blockers have profoundly improved the treatment of inflammation in autoimmune diseases, but they have major drawbacks. They are very expensive, are associated with severe infectious complications, and frequently lose their activity due to neutralizing antibodies. Since reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), as well as sulfur containing low-molecular weight species play major roles in the pathogenesis of inflammation and nociception, we propose the development of redox-active metal complexes and small sulfur containing species that are capable to inactivate or modify ROS/RNS for the patient benefit: (a) as pharmacological tools for analyzing the function of ROS/RNS in (patho)physiological processes and (b) as new low-cost inorganic candidates for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases in an ageing population. Inorganic chemists, biochemists, and physical chemists, as well as medical/clinical experts of FAU are working together (coordinated by the Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry) within this unique interdisciplinary research platform.
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2010:
The Chair of Bioinorganic Chemistry congratulates Dipl.-Chem. Johannes Broichhagen on his excellent diploma thesis ("New Reations of Hydrogen Sulfide in Biological Systems") and on receiving the Zerweck-Price.
