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Alma universitas studiorum parmensis A.D. 962 - Università di Parma Alma universitas studiorum parmensis A.D. 962 - Università di Parma
Department of
Food and Drug
Università degli Studi di Parma

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Groups and research topics of the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Area

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RESEARCH LINES

The Research Group specializes in the design and development of potential new drugs for the treatment of specific infectious and chronic diseases. Targeted, multi-target agents or PROTACs are developed. Particular attention is paid to aspects related to the sustainable development of new pharmacologically active candidates using instrumental techniques and approaches attributable to the concept of green chemistry (microwave-assisted synthesis, electrochemistry, click-chemistry, MCR).

Research activities focus on the following topics:

Development of new antiviral molecules:

  • Design and synthesis of novel broad-spectrum antivirals acting on cellular targets (PI4KB, DDX3X, DDX5, PCSK9, ESCRT pathway);
  • Design and synthesis of new broad-spectrum antivirals acting on viral targets (Nsp13, RdRp, NS3-NS5 PPI)
  • Application of phenotypic and multi-target approaches for the identification of new antivirals
  • Design and synthesis of new PROTACs with antiviral activity

Development of new molecules for chronic diseases:

  • Design and synthesis of new multi-target molecules for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (correctors-antiviral, correctors-antibacterial)
  • Design and synthesis of new molecules active on the CCR6-CCL20 axis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases (IBD, cystic fibrosis)
  • Design and synthesis of new PCSK9 inhibitors for the treatment of cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.

Development of new synthetic methodologies:

  • Development of new microwave-assisted (MW)
  • Development of new electrochemical (EC)
  • Development of new multicomponent (MCR)

Development of new pesticides:

  • Design and synthesis of new pesticides with low impact to biodiversity and low toxicity to mammals

For more information visit: https://sites.google.com/site/marcoradi/home

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RESEARCH LINES

The research activities of the group focus on the following topics

Molecule with antimicrobial activity

  • Design and synthesis of new antibacterial agents effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, with innovative mechanisms of action.
  • Development of adjuvant compounds targeting nonessential bacterial targets (e.g., acetylserine sulfhydrylase and serine acetyltransferase), aimed at enhancing the efficacy of existing antibiotics.
  • Selective inhibitors of bacterial efflux pumps, designed for use in combination therapy, in order to counteract antimicrobial resistance phenomena.

Antituberculars and antimalarials

  • Synthesis of molecules with antitubercular activity designed to circumvent efflux mechanisms and maintain high intracellular bioavailability.
  • Development of mycobacterial efflux pump inhibitors, intended for synergistic use with first-line drugs such as isoniazid and rifampicin.
  • Design of compounds capable of disrupting the electron transport chain on the surface of mycobacterium, impairing its energy metabolism.
  • Synthesis of benzothiophene scaffolds for the development of new antimalarials.
  • Evaluation of antiplasmodial activity of natural extracts (e.g., tetradenia), with isolation, structural characterization and optimization by synthesis of bioactive analogs.

Peptides and Peptidomimetics

  • Synthesis of antibacterial peptides and peptidomimetics, inspired by structures such as brefeldin, with high specificity for pathogens.
  • Peptides with antitubercular activity, aimed at inhibiting DNA replication in mycobacterium via a protein-protein interaction inhibition approach.
    Design of modified peptidomimetics, active against resistant bacterial and fungal infections, with improved pharmacokinetic properties


Nanoparticle functionalization

  • Nanoparticle functionalization using active peptides, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and long-chain fatty acids to promote absorption through the nasal mucosa.
  • Nose-to-brain delivery strategies aimed at selective delivery of therapeutic agents into the central nervous system.


Pharmacological Chaperones

  • Synthesis of small-molecules as potential pharmacological chaperones for the treatment of genetic and metabolic diseases.

Pharmaceutical Botany

  • Bioactive phytocomplexes: isolation, chemical characterization and evaluation of pharmacological activity (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective) of secondary metabolites from medicinal plants.
  • Plant Biotechnologies: cell and tissue culture for sustainable production of active ingredients, including elicitation and gene editing approaches to increase metabolites of interest.
  • Metabolomics and chemotaxonomy: study of metabolic profiles to correlate phytochemical variability with environmental, genetic and agronomic factors.
  • Ethno-pharmacobotany: enhancement of plants traditionally used in different cultures, with scientific validation of therapeutic and nutraceutical properties.
  • Sustainability and circular economy: recovery of agro-food wastes and plant residues as a source of bioactive molecules, with a view to green chemistry.
  • plant-microbiota interactions: investigation of the role of the plant microbiome in the synthesis of secondary metabolites and in enhancing biological activity.
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