Medicinal Chemistry - Synthesis of biologically active small molecules. Coordinator: Minarini

Research themes

The research activity of the group focuses on the design and synthesis of multifunctional ligands as modulators of targets and biological pathways involved in neurodegeneration and cancer. In particular, the research lines cover the development of:

• antioxidant/antinflammatory molecules
• Aβ peptide antiaggregating molecule
• Protein-kinase GSK3-beta and Fyn inhibitors
• NMDA receptor antagonists
• topoisomerase inhibitors and DNA intercalators
• amino oxidase inhibitors

The group has a documented expertise in the structural modification of natural compounds, quinazoline derivatives and aromatic heterocycles, and in the synthesis of polyamine conjugated of bioactive molecules to improve the cellular and subcellular cellular delivery.

Lab Members

Anna Minarini, Full Professor (e-mail)

Michela Rosini,  Associate Professor (e-mail)

Filippo Basagni, Research Fellow (e-mail)

Giambattista Marotta, PhD Student (e-mail)

Internship projects

Every year the research group can guest 4 students for the preparation of the experimental thesis that takes place in about 6 months and, every three years, a position for the PhD program. The thesis work consists in the synthesis, purification and characterization of organic molecules designed on the basis of ongoing research projects in the group.

Main publications

• Basagni F, Naldi M, Ginex T, Luque FJ, Fagiani F, Lanni C, Iurlo M, Marcaccio M, Minarini A, Bartolini M, Rosini M. (2022) “Inhibition of β-Amyloid Aggregation in Alzheimer's Disease: The Key Role of (Pro)electrophilic Warheads.” ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 13:1812-1818. 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.2c00410
• Marotta G, Basagni F, Rosini M, Minarini A. (2022) “Role of Fyn Kinase Inhibitors in Switching Neuroinflammatory Pathways.” Curr Med Chem. 29: 4738-4755. 10.2174/0929867329666211221153719
• Marotta G, Basagni F, Rosini M, Minarini A. (2020) “Memantine Derivatives as Multitarget Agents in Alzheimer's Disease.” Molecules. 25: 4005. 10.3390/molecules25174005
• Basagni F, Lanni C, Minarini A, Rosini M. (2019) “Lights and shadows of electrophile signaling: focus on the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway.” Future Med, Chem. 11: 707-721. 10.4155/fmc-2018-0423

• Rosini, E. Simoni, R. Caporaso, F. Basagni, M. Catanzaro, I. F. Abu, F. Fagiani, F. Fusco, S. Masuzzo, D. Albani, C. Lanni, Ian R. Mellor, A. Minarini. (2019) “Merging memantine and ferulic acid to probe connections between NMDA receptors, oxidative stress and amyloid-β peptide in Alzheimer's disease.” Eur J Med Chem. 180: 111-120. 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.07.011