Research

Research Fields

  • Isolation, identification and use of natural products:

a) Isolation techniques for main components of natural products: pectins, hemicelluloses lignins and celluloses from Kenaf, carotenoids, picrocrocin, safranal and flavonoids from Saffron, essential oils from aromatic and pharmaceutical plants (mastic gums, oregano, thyme, dictamus, rosemary, lavender etc.) and applications in agriculture

b) Studies of anticancer drugs (Pt, Pd, Ga complexes) and carotenoids including bioassays

c) Studies of natural products by UV-Vis, FT-IR, FT-Raman, GC-MS, HPLC-MS

d) Analytical applications of FIA, FT-IR, FT-Raman SERS, GC-MS, HPLC-MS

e) Natural product complexation with cyclodextrins, proteins and resins

f) Study of the biomolecules' stereochemistry by molecular modeling

  • Study of natural products of Greek biodiversity. Their uses as

a) food preservation agents

b) agrochemicals substitutes

c) row materials for food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries

  • Total asymmetric synthesis of natural products:

a) Biaryl ethers (Bastadins, Combretastatins) of anticancer and antibiotic activity

b) Antioxidant naphthoquinones (Alkannin and Shikonin) of wound healing and anti-inflammatory activity

c) Steroids (Adociasulfate-2) cytotoxic specific inhibitors of kinesins

d) Bioactive macrolactones (Radicicol, Resorcylide)

e) Inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), (Bisobisilinoids)

f) Methodology for the synthesis of γ- and δ- lactones. Preparation of insect pheromones

  • Combinatorial Chemistry: Design, synthesis and development of bioactive derivatives of pharmacophoric scaffolds

a) Directed libraries of pharmacophoric molecules (aminosugars, aminocyclitols, benzodiazepines, anthraquinones, pyrans, oxazolines)

b) Novel derivatives of anticancer, microtubule polymerizers (Phenylastatin, Taxol)

  • New materials:

a) Microcapsules for the ecologic control of harmful insects

b) Photosensitizers applied in microlithography 

  • Synthesis of bioactive compounds – Isolation and study of lipids from natural sources.

a) Design  and synthesis of lipophilic inhibitors of digestive lipases

b) Synthesis of phospholipase A2 inhibitors as novel anti-inflammatory agents

c) Synthesis of lipophilic compounds exhibiting anti-inflammatory and/or anticancer activity

d) Organocatalysis

e) Uses of enzymes in organic synthesis

f) NMR lipid profiler of cell tissues

g) Enrichment of fish oils in ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

h) Lipase-assisted hydrolysis of fish and plants oils

  • Automated Methods for Monitoring and High Throughput Screening,

b) Flow and Sequential Injection Analysis,

c)  ICP-MS,

d)  Raman & Fluorescence Spectroscopy,

e) Rapid Methods for Toxicity Assessment,

f)  Biosensors

  • Analysis of Olive Oil, Pesticides, Antioxidants and Pharmaceutics