Research in the Zanda group integrates synthetic/bioorganic/medicinal chemistry with translational biomedical research and molecular imaging technologies, particularly Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with applications in brain imaging, cardiovascular and oncology.
As a recent example, we reported the first synthesis of the fungal metabolite YWA1 and several functional constructs carrying biotin, Oregon green and the fluorescent dye PyMPO, which are useful tools for studying the biology of pathogenic Aspergillus fungi, with the view of developing diagnostics and therapeutics for fungal infections (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.joc.0c02324). The project is a collaboration with the group of Prof Gordon Brown at the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter (UK) https://www.exeter.ac.uk/medicalmycology/team/.
FIGURE 1
We also have a special interest in organofluorine chemistry and novel methodologies in bioorthogonal chemistry. For example, we developed a novel strategy for the conjugation of trans-cyclooctene (TCO) derivatives to a biomolecule, by exploiting the potential of trans,trans-cyclooctadiene (E,E-COD) (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.0c00375). Bovine serum albumin was labelled with bifunctional linkers derived from E,E-COD, as well as the bacterial wall of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, showing the potential of these linkers for live-cell imaging. Furthermore, these linkers could be conjugated with mAbs such as Rituximab and Obinutuzumab, to show the viability of the method for preparing mAb-constructs.
FIGURE 2.
Matteo Zanda is coauthor of ~210 papers, including 8 patent applications.
FIGURE 1 & FIGURE 2
PROJECTS
Coordinatorore of H2020 MSCA-ITN “PET Imaging in Drug Design and Development” (PET3D): https://www.pet3dproject.com/ (2016-2020)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Fluoro; Imaging; click Chemistry; Bioortogonale; Progettazione di farmaci; Chimica medicinale
SCIENTIFIC SKILLS
Medicinal chemistry; Bioorthogonal chemistry; PET Imaging; Radiochemistry; Fluorine chemistry; Drug discovery
RESEARCH AREA
