bioinorganic chemistry @UBB – Facultatea de Chimie și Inginerie Chimică

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Welcome to Prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu’s research group page at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University. We are an enthusiastic team focused on bioinorganic chemistry – and especially metalloproteins – at UBB since 2006.

We are interested especially in small molecule activation at bioinorganic systems containing transition metals (heme proteins, non-heme iron cobalamin, copper-containing proteins, model systems and others) as well as on oxidative/nitrosative stress especially when pertaining to bioinorganic centers and biologically-relevant free radical chemistry.

We typically employ methods such as UV-vis, EPR, stopped-flow, freeze-quench, molecular biology, protein overexpression and purification, as well as molecular modelling (DFT, semiempirical, molecular dynamics, docking and others).

Our team is part of the Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Heterochemistry METALOMICA

Our main labs are in rooms 56 (stopped-flow, UV-vis, student office), 2 (EPR), and 80 (prof’s office) at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, UBB, downtown Cluj-Napoca.

11, Arany Janos, RO-400024 Cluj-Napoca; Romania

e-mail: radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro

Fax: +40-264590818; Skype: radu.silaghidumitrescu

Tel: +40-264593833 ext. 5675; Mob: +40-741810819

Prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu

Group leader
Google Scholar profile

Prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu teaches biochemistry, computational chemistry and related subjects, while also serving as president of the Scientific Council and director of the Center for University Strategies at UBB.
CV(EN) / CV (RO)
radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro

Dr. Adrian MV Brânzanic

Senior researcher
Google Scholar profile

Dr. Adrian Brânzanic is a computational chemist with interest in cluster chemistry, bioinorganic centers and materials science. He is currently affiliated with our group via research grants, but also as a researcher at the Institute of Chemistry of our University.
adrian.branzanic@ubbcluj.ro

Dr. Maria Lehene

postdoctoral researcher
Google Scholar profile

Maria has recently defended her PhD studying the reactions of cobalamin and of globins with small-molecule ligands, using UV-vis, stopped-flow, NMR, resonance Raman and fluorescence. She now also works on the T3Pt project on Pt(IV) anticancer drug candidates.
maria.lehene@ubbcluj.ro

Cezara Zăgrean-Tuza

postdoctoral researcher
Google Scholar profile

Cezara’s research projects have a focus on EPR spectroscopy but also include UV-vis, stopped-flow, NMR and other methods. Her targets include plant globins, cytochrome P450 and others.
cezara.zagrean@ubbcluj.ro

Ioana-Alexandra Mânzat

MSc student

First-year MSc student in Clinical Chemistry and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Rami Doukeh

PhD student
Google Scholar profile

Rami is a lecturer at the Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești and pursues a second PhD degree in our group, focused on small molecule activation with metal-based catalysts with industrial applications.
rami.doukeh@ubbcluj.ro

Andrei Oarga

MSc student

Andrei is interested in albumin’s biomedical relevance in developing and producing therapeutics.

Alexandru Sonica

PhD student

Alex works on the interactions of hemoglobin and its redox interactions.
alexandru.sonica@ubbcluj.ro

Radu Onija

PhD student

Radu works on unusual coordination and electronic structures in cobalamin and related systems.
radu.onija@bbcluj.ro

Sergiu-Raul Cosma

PhD student

Raul works on QM/MM and MD simulations of metalloenzymes.
sergiu.cosma@ubbcluj.ro

Nicoleta Andrian

PhD student
Google Scholar profile

Nicoleta works on the interactions of anticancer drug candidates with biological molecules.
nicoleta.andrian@ubbcluj.ro

Other students

A number of other students do occasional internships in our group. We also welcome occasional visitors.

Blood Substitutes
The blood currently used in transfusions presents problems linked to stability (requiring refrigeration and becoming outdated after about a month), availability (especially under crisis situations, such as major accidents, military situations, or major outbreaks), antigens (blood group compatibility), contamination (AIDS, hepatitis, or agents yet to be identified) or ethics (e.g., Jehovah’s witnesses). Blood substitutes are chemical or biochemical preparations aimed at being used in transfusions without the above-mentioned drawbacks and with the sole role of enhancing oxygen transport by the patient’s blood (as opposed to the more complex functions that blood normally achieves, such as transport or defense).

There are three classes of blood substitutes currently being debated in the scientific literature. The first two classes represent purely synthetic approaches, while the third is semi synthetic, employing the hemoglobin already produced by living organisms. We have recently added a fourth class of blood substitutes, whose active ingredient is also a protein specialized in oxygen transport, but of non-heme nature: hemerythrin (Hr). Hr employs a binuclear non-heme diferrous center to bind oxygen; the resulting adduct is formally described as Fe(III)-Fe(III)-OOH, i.e. diferric peroxo. This mode of binding oxygen has the remarkable advantage of (1) not featuring a superoxide ligand (unlike Hb), which drastically reduces the reactivity towards NO, and (2) exhibiting stability towards peroxide (unlike Hb).

Anticancer Drugs
Cisplatin and related compounds are known to exert much of their useful therapeutic effects via binding to DNA. The need for more effective drugs as well as the wide range of side-effects (nausea, progressive peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, vomiting, alopecia, hematological suppression, renal damage) have, for several decades now, fueled interest into understanding the complex mechanisms of interaction of cisplatin and related compounds with various biomolecules. One notable observation in this respect has been that platinum can bind to a range of proteins, as demonstrated by elemental analyses, chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our own research, with established as well as with experimental drugs, including natural extracts of various sources, is seeking to investigate the free-radical mechanisms involved in such drug-protein interactions, with purified proteins as well as with intact cells.
In a more recent development, we working with synthetic chemistry colleagues to characterize new Pt(IV) complexes based on cisplatin and related metal compounds together with one or more other anticancer drugs. This project, ”Targeted Tumor Therapy with multifunctional platinum(IV)-drug conjugates (T3-Pt)”, is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU and the Romanian Government, under National Recovery and Resilience Plan for Romania Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitalization, within Component 9, Investment I8.

Small Molecule Activation at Biological Complexes (high-valent and super-reduced centers; linkage isomerism)
Reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide is essential in certain living species, and has recently been proposed to be an important secondary function of hemoglobin in humans. In vivo, nitrite reduction is accomplished by metalloenzymes, involving direct metal-nitrite coordination. We proposed that linkage nitro/nitrito isomerism is an essential part of the mechanism in copper and in heme d1-containing nitrite reductases. Recent experimental work has also shown involvement of linkage isomerism in catalytic reduction of nitrite by free hemes and related small complexes in solution. This mechanism reconciles the cd1NIR chemistry with the puzzling fact that Fe(III)-NO is kinetically inert and hence cannot possibly be a part of the cd1NIR catalytic cycle.

Proteins such as cytochrome P450 (P450), horseradish peroxidase (HRP), hemoglobin and catalase are all known to bind and/or ruduce (activate) dioxygen at their heme active sites, in the ferrous form. Our interest has been in defining the properties and reactivity of the transient adducts (nature of ferrous-dioxygen bonding, nature of ferric-peroxo interaction, electronic structure and protonation state of ferryl, i.e. Compounds I and II).

We are also pursuing the related reactions of heme systems with sulfide and sulfur oxyanions (e.g., sulfite reductase and sulfhemoglobin chemistry), as well as with halide oxyanions (relevant to myeloperoxidase, chlorite discutase and others). We have more recently extended this line towards other transition metal – containing macrocyclic complexes, such as cobalamin, porphyrazines and phthalocyanines. In such systems, unusual metal oxidation states (e.g., Fe(IV), Fe(I), Fe(0), Co(I)) under physiologically-relevant conditions are a common theme.

Laccase (p-diphenol:dioxygen oxidoreductase), one of the oldest discovered enzymes, contains four copper ions in two active sites and catalyzes a monoelectronic oxidation of substrates such as phenols and their derivatives, or aromatic amines, coupled to a four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water. The catalytic mechanism was studied for decades but is still not completely elucidated, especially in terms of the reduction of dioxygen to water. The high interest in laccases is explained by the large number of biotechnological applications. We have purified and characterized laccase-type enzymes, with interest in their applications as well as in further understanding their mechanisms of action.

Polyoxometalates (POMs) comprise a rich and diverse family of metal-oxygen clusters of the early transition metals in high oxidation states, most commonly V(V), Mo(VI) and W(VI), with unique versatility in terms of shape, polarity, redox potentials, surface charge distribution, acidity, and solubility. We are analyzing iron-substituted POMs in search of features common with/reminiscent of those seen in iron-based redox metalloenzymes.

Molecular Modelling of Biopolymers
We are investigating preferences for various types of secondary structure, and tools for predicting three-dimensional structures in peptides and in other biopolymers, such as polylactic acid and polymers relevant in dental materials.

Natural Extracts
We are examining plant extracts, fungi, food- or drug-related components, or other natural products, for their antioxidant and biological activity (anticancer, etc.), with emphasis on chemical mechanisms of their action.

Cultural Studies
We are also pursuing the application of chemical and biochemical concepts in social/cultural studies.

The stopped-flow UV-vis facility

A stopped-flow UV-vis with diode array detector as well as monochromator, with freeze-quench capability, and with three-syringe sequential mixing capability (BioLogic, France), is available for use by interested researchers. The instrument is located in room 56 at the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering @UBB, as part of the Center for Fundamental and Applied Heterochemistry.

The manager of the stopped-flow facility is Prof Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu. The team of authorized operating personnel includes researchers specialized in analytical chemistry, biochemistry and bioinorganic chemistry: assist. prof. Augustin Moț and PhD students Maria Lehene and Cezara Zăgrean-Tuza.
The main activities of the facility are research-related. Contract-based services are also welcome. Any interested parts are welcome to approach the laboratory director in order to discuss either line of collaboration. Prices for renting the facility, and/or for providing services, will be subjects of negotiation.
All BBU personnel may enjoy access to the facility, free of charge – pending a schedule approved by the laboratory director and with the actual measurements being performed by the core personnel. For more extensive collaborations, as well as for contracts/collaborations with third parties, protocols will be negotiated regarding the operator of the instrument, types of experiments and their length, costs, and other aspects.
Contact:
Tel. + 40 264 593833, radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro

Laboratory of EPR spectroscopy

The laboratory’s main objective is research in the field of electron spin resonance/electron paramagnetic resonance. The target is advanced research with applications in materials science, physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, environment – using electron spin resonance / electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR, ESR), including pulsed procedures such as Electron Spin Echo Envelope Modulation (ESEEM), 2D HYperfine Sub-level CORrElation (HYSCORE), ENDOR, PELDOR as well as experiments at variable temperature (liquid nitrogen and helium).

Our team:
Prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu (chemistry/biochemistry)
Prof. Grigore Damian (physics/biophysics)
Prof. Vasile Miclăuș (chemistry)
Assist. Prof. Augustin Moț (chemistry/biochemistry)
PhD student Cezara Zăgrean-Tuza (biochemistry)

The main activities of the Center are research-related. Contract-based services are also expected. Any interested parts are welcome to approach the laboratory director in order to discuss either line of collaboration.

All UBB personnel may enjoy access to the facility (ELEXSYS 580 and/or EMXmicro) free of charge with the measurements being performed by the core personnel. For more extensive collaborations, as well as for contracts/collaborations with third parties, protocols will be negotiated regarding the operator of the instrument, types of experiments and their length, costs, and other aspects.

Contact:
Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro
Grigore Damian, grigore.damian@ubbcluj.ro
Vasile Miclăuș, vasile.miclaus@ubbcluj.ro
Dr. Augustin Moṭ, augustin.mot@ubbcluj.ro

Outreach

Community/public outreach is something we care about. Here are some of the things we have done about it.

Să punem punctul pe i? Nu prea avem nici punct, nici i. Vatra, 2024, 1-2, 56. https://revistavatra.org/2024/04/18/perspectivele-studiilor-umaniste-ii/#more-12822

Accountability and honesty as we move towards a more CoARA-based approach in academic evaluation at the Ministry of Education and Research – a public position assumed by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu as Personal Advisor to the Minister on RDI

Prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu takes on a role as contributor to the InHouse monthly magazine of the National Authority for Research at the Ministry of Education and Research

Public lectures
Two TEDx talks on blood substitute development: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS4PZuyuWiY&t=26s&ab_channel=TEDxTalks and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9MNWUTcteY&ab_channel=TEDxTalks
Measuring the science – on bibliometrics and the Leiden Manifesto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUimXIqjlEw&ab_channel=Enformation.ro
Metals in living systems: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x1N5gmNiHs&ab_channel=UniversitateaBabe%C5%9F-Bolyai

The uniMIND journal club at Cluj-Napoca
The MIND Foundation is a European non-profit science and education organization that promotes psychedelic research and therapy. Related to this, Prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu has co-tutored the uniMIND student journal club at Cluj-Napoca; you may watch their meetings online https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=unimind+cluj-napoca

On pseudoscience
How vaccination campaigns gone wrong can now fuel COVID conspiracy theories: contributors.ro 2021, https://www.contributors.ro/pandemia-care-n-a-fost-si-vaccinurile-care-nu-trebuiau-1976-plus-vaccinurile-pentru-sterilizare/
On some not-so-scientifically-grounded myths regarding healthy living: contributors.ro 2021, https://www.contributors.ro/ce-sa-faci-zilnic-pentru-o-viata-sanatoasa/
UBB’s manifesto against pseudo-therapies and pseudoscience: https://cercetare.ubbcluj.ro/ro/manifest-asupra-pseudo-terapiilor/
Do Romanians really have an unusual history of killing their leaders? Matricea Românească, 2018, https://matricea.ro/mitul-freneziei-regicide-printre-valahi-o-replica-la-afirmatia-lui-georg-reicherstorffer-despre-romani-si-asasinate-politice/
Measuring pseudoscience in Romanian mass-media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK_mb2iAl-M&t=32s&ab_channel=TVRCluj
What to do about overhyped advertisements regarding food and vityamin/mineral supplements?
https://www.contributors.ro/ar-trebui-interzise-reclamele-exagerate-la-suplimente-alimentare-si-produse-naturiste/

Our research in the news
Our blood substitute project has received some attention in the news – though most such reports were arguably in extensive breach of professional ethics by the respective journalists. Here is a somewhat more accurate report: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/a-romanian-scientist-claims-to-have-developed-artificial-blood-180947565/
Our report on the cobalamin reaction with hydrogen peroxide: https://news.doctorat.ubbcluj.ro/2021/08/20/vitamin-b12-and-hydrogen-peroxide-secret-unveiled-by-ubb-researchers/
Our report on the Dyes and Pigments paper:
https://news.doctorat.ubbcluj.ro/2022/08/08/vibrating-blue-at-ubb-new-derivatives-and-new-near-infrared-light-on-150-year-old-pigment-with-medical-relevance/
Our report on the iodine-starch reaction:
https://news.doctorat.ubbcluj.ro/2022/12/20/why-so-blue-new-explanation-for-the-well-known-iodine-starch-reaction-in-chemistry/
Our work on automated text analysis of national anthems:
https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-opinii-26784102-regele-comunistii-sangele-roman-spune-ceva-despre-noi-imn-national-schimbat-numar-record-ori.htm, Romanian Science Digest
Our new grant on anticancer drugs with prof. Hey-Hawkins
https://news.ubbcluj.ro/ubb-atrage-noi-cercetatori-de-top-din-strainatate-in-ubbmed-din-nou-cei-mai-multi-intre-universitatile-din-tara/
Our iodine-starch research, featured on a recent episode of ACS Chemical Reactions produced in partnership with PBS Digital Studios Can science beat counterfeit detector pens?

News

16.12.26 – online now – the website for this year’s MolMod conference organized by our group together with others at UBB. Mark your calendars for June 18th-20th this year! The Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University invites you to the 11th edition of MolMod, to take place in Cluj-Napoca, from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th of June 2026. The conference covers theoretical methods (molecular mechanics and quantum methods) as applied in organic, organometallic and coordination chemistry, structure and bonding, biochemistry, bioinorganic chemistry.
This year MolMOD 2026 will be a satellite to
https://isqbp2026.com/
Location – INSPIRE platform and the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 11, Arany Janos str, Cluj-Napoca

06.02.26 – professor Silaghi-Dumitrescu receives three annual prizes for excellence in research from UBB, based on his position among the top 2% researchers in the world as measured over all topics as well as measured within inorganic chemistry

03.02.26 – new paper from us Williams, L.J., Kamps, J.J., Brânzanic, A.M.V. et al. Can ferric-oxyl excited states explain elongated iron-oxygen bonds in heme peroxidase catalytic intermediates?. Nature Communications (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69192-8

30.12.25 – our recent paper now featured on the cover of Chemistry – A European Journal – Prof. Dr. Jindra Valentová, Adrian Humboldt, Dr. Lucia Lintnerová, Emil Švajdlenka, Dr. Barbora Svitková, Prof. Dr. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Alexandru Sonica, Prof. Dr. Thomas Schupp, Dr. Milan Gembicky, Momoka Nakashita, Kya R. Lester, Prof. Dr. Peter Baran – Copper(II) Complexes with Schiff Bases Derived from 2-Pyridinecarbaldehyde N-Oxide and Amino Acids: Studies on DNA, BSA Binding, Nuclease Activity, and Cytotoxicity, Chemistry – A European Journal, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202501578

18.12.25 – new paper from us in special issue dedicated to professor Bogdan Simionescu – Andrian, Nicoleta; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Lehene, Maria; Brem, Balazs; Gal, Emese; Stoean, Bianca; Gaina, Luiza; Hey-Hawkins, Evamarie; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Controlling the biologically relevant reactivity in coumarin derivatives: from antioxidant to prooxidant to DNA toxicity in two 5,7-dihydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives. Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2025, 70(7–8) 421–433. DOI: 10.33224/rrch.2025.70.7-8.06

12.11.25 – new paper from us – Doukeh, Rami; Lehene, Maria; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Mot, Augustin C; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Sarosi, Codruta; Fort, Carmen Ioana; Turdean, Graziella Liana; Pandele, Madalina; Borodi, Gheorghe; Movileanu, Luminiţa Daniela. Catalytic Activation of Molecular Nitrogen by Enzyme-Inspired Metal–Organic Catalysts. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c05271

10-15.11.25 – dr. Cezara Zagrean Tuza delivers a presentation and dr. Maria Lehene, Nicoleta Andrian and Alexandra Manzat present posters at the MEDICINE, MOLECULAR AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES meeting (MedMolMed 2025) in Chisinau, Moldova

5.11.25 – congratulations to Alexandru Sonica for being elected as PhD student representative to the Council of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

4-7.11.25 – prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu addresses three of the panels at the Smart Diaspora conference in Cluj-Napoca – chemistry, responsible tech transfer, and open science.

3.11.25 – a team of 5 colleagues form the State University of Moldova, headed by prof. Gheorghe Duca, DHC of UBB and president of the Moldovan Chemical Society, visit our lab – and three of them will spend one month as part of our collaborative RO-MD grant

26-27.10.25 – prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu attends the The 76th Southeastern and 81st Southwest Joint Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Orlando, FL, and delivers a presentation as part of the section celebrating prof. Donald M. Kurtz, Jr.’s retirement

24.10.25 – first-year MSc student Andrei Oarga joins the group

30.09.25 – new paper from us – Prof. Dr. Jindra Valentová, Adrian Humboldt, Dr. Lucia Lintnerová, Emil Švajdlenka, Dr. Barbora Svitková, Prof. Dr. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Alexandru Sonica, Prof. Dr. Thomas Schupp, Dr. Milan Gembicky, Momoka Nakashita, Kya R. Lester, Prof. Dr. Peter Baran – Copper(II) Complexes with Schiff Bases Derived from 2-Pyridinecarbaldehyde N-Oxide and Amino Acids: Studies on DNA, BSA Binding, Nuclease Activity, and Cytotoxicity, Chemistry – A European Journal, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202501578

29.09.25 – the QCES International School Quantum Chemistry of Excited States starts in Cluj, coordinated locally from our group by dr. Adrian Branzanic, with an exciting line-up of teachers. Congratulations and good luck to the participants.

29.09.25 – PhD students Oleg Rudenco and George Vaida move on to other career priorities and out of academia. We thank them for their contributions and wish them all the best in their further endeavors

24-26.09.25 – congratulations to Florina Scurtu and Alexandru Sonica who won poster prizes at the two conferences in Timișoara

24-26.09.25 – group trip to the 17th edition of “New Trends in Chemistry Research” in Timisoara – Nicoleta Andrian, Alexandru Sonica, Alexandra Manzat, Maria Lehene, and plenary lecture by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu

21-24.09.25 – group trip to the 14th International Conference on Protein Stabilization ProtStab2025 in Timisoara – Nicoleta Andrian, Alexandru Sonica, Alexandra Manzat, Maria Lehene, and invited plenary lecture by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu

19.09.25 – congratulations to (now) dr. Cezara Zagrean-Tuza for an excellent successful defense of her PhD thesis

16-21.09.25 – excited to host prof Michael T Green from UC Irvine and Johann P Klare from Osnabrück University, visiting for Cezara Zagrean-Tuza’s PhD defense on 19.09.25

08.09-11.09.25 – Radu Onija and Raul Cosma attend the 20th Central European Symposium on Theoretical Chemistry

09.09.25 – new paper from us in special issue dedicated to our colleague and professor Ion Grosu of UBB – Cosprundan, Ariadna Maria; Andrian, Nicoleta; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Lehene, Maria; Brem, Balazs; Gal, Emese; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Influence of the second coordination sphere on the autooxidation reaction in oxygen-binding proteins. Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2025, 70(5–6), 313–327

07-11.09.25 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu presents a talk at the 7th EuChemS Inorganic Chemistry Conference EICC7, at the University of Belgrade

25.08.25 – Raul Cosma completes a two-week research visit at Uppsala University under the guidance of prof. Henning Henschel

28.07.25 – 01.08.25 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu delivers an invited talk at the 21st International Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference – ICBIC – in Long Beach, California

26.07.25 – new paper from us: Victoria Cîrjeu, Nicoleta Andrian, Cristina Puşcaş, Cezara Zagrean-Tuza, and Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu. Dacarbazine affects the redox reactivity of hemoglobin. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424625500725

23.07.25 – congratulations to Alexandru Sonica, Nicoleta Andrian and Radu Onija for passing their entry exams to the PhD program at our university

11.07.25 – Prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu takes on a role as contributor to the InHouse monthly magazine of the National Authority for Research at the Ministry of Education and Research

10.07.25. – new paper out – Stoean (Vasile), Bianca; Pop, Ruxandra; Rugina, Dumitrita; Branzanic Adrian M.V.; Turza, Alexandru; Cristea, Castelia; Nicolescu, Alina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Gaina, Luiza. Photosensitizer activity of phenothiazinium derivatives against melanoma cells and DFT insights into singlet oxygen generation. Bioorganic Chemistry, 2025, 163, 108720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.108720

4.07.25 – congratulations to our BSc students Georgiana Tudoran and Natalia Trisca for successfully defending their diploma papers – and to Alexandru Sonica for defending two MSc dissertations: one on research done in our lab and one in chemistry education

1.07.25 – congratulations to our MSc students for successfully defending their dissertations today – Nicoleta Andrian, Radu Onija, Carmen Scrob, Andrea Incze

20.06.25 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu attends the event Reforma finanțării sistemului de învățământ superior. A V-a Ediție a Conferinței anuale – with a speech covered in mass-media

15-18.06.25 – Nicoleta Andrian and Alexandra Manzat present their posters at ISABC17 – the 17th International Symposium on Applied Bioinorganic Chemistry – A Marcus Wallenberg symposium

11.06.25 – new paper from us: Maria Lehene, Jozsef Simon, Cezara Zagrean-Tuza, Andreea Aghion, Bianca Vasile, Alexandru Sonica, Stefania Iancu, Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu. Oxygen-carrying proteins employed in blood substitute candidates: differences in interactions with a model antioxidant molecule. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Proteins and Proteomics, 2025, 141086.

9-12.06.25 – prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu gives a talk at the 53rd edition of the International Symposium on Thermodynamics of Metal Complexes (ISMEC 2025), in Granada, Spain

8-13.06.25 – Raul Cosma attends the BioExcel Summer School on Biomolecular Simulations 2025

25.05.25 – Our team member Cezara Zagrean-Tuza proudly represented the T3Pt project as a speaker at ‘IRTG days 2025- nuclear photonics’, a challenging and ambitious event https://indico.eli-np.ro/event/258/ at ELI-NP, home of ‘the world’s strongest laser‘

25.05.25 – group activity: the Crosul Universităților Clujene / Cluj University Run, downtown Cluj-Napoca. Proud to see our Nicoleta Andrian take the third spot in the women’s category.

17.05.25 – we congratulate our collaborator and grant director Evamarie Hey-Hawkins for her accession into the Academia Europaea https://news.ubbcluj.ro/universitatea-babes-bolyai-felicita-noii-membri-ai-academiei-europaea-din-cadrul-comunitatii-ubb/

16.05.25 – new paper out – Veterinary Perspectives on Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers in Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock: Insights from Rabbit Models

9-10.05.25 – Adrian Branzanic and Raul Cosma present their results at the fifth edition of the Young Researchers’ International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering (YRICCCE V)

7-8.05.25 Looking forward to an exciting symposium coordinated here by Adrian Branzanic – “Theoretical Methods Applied in Biochemistry”

9-13.04.25 Nicoleta Andrian and Radu Onija present their results at the International Conference ”Students for Students” ICSFS XXIst edition 2025

10.04.25 – new paper out by Adrian Branzanic – https://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5c00224

1-10.04.25 – Alexandru Sonica attends the Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Zero Waste, Infinite Possibilities: Teamwork for a Sustainable Future” at the University of Almería, Spain

06.04.25 Nicoleta Andrian completes her first marathon run at the Wizz Air Cluj-Napoca 2025 Marathon held on the UN’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Our recent scientific publications:

Doukeh, Rami; Lehene, Maria; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Mot, Augustin C; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Sarosi, Codruta; Fort, Carmen Ioana; Turdean, Graziella Liana; Pandele, Madalina; Borodi, Gheorghe; Movileanu, Luminiţa Daniela. Catalytic Activation of Molecular Nitrogen by Enzyme-Inspired Metal–Organic Catalysts. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c05271
Andrian, Nicoleta; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Lehene, Maria; Brem, Balazs; Gal, Emese; Stoean, Bianca; Gaina, Luiza; Hey-Hawkins, Evamarie; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Controlling the biologically relevant reactivity in coumarin derivatives: from antioxidant to prooxidant to DNA toxicity in two 5,7-dihydroxy-2H-chromen-2-one derivatives. Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2025, 70(7–8) 421–433. DOI: 10.33224/rrch.2025.70.7-8.06
Valentová, Jindra; Humboldt, Adrian; Lintnerová, Lucia; Švajdlenka, Svitková, Emil Barbora; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Sonica, Alexandru; Schupp, Thomas; Gembicky, Milan; Nakashita, Momoka; Lester, Kya R.; Peter Baran. Copper(II) Complexes with Schiff Bases Derived from 2-Pyridinecarbaldehyde N-Oxide and Amino Acids: Studies on DNA, BSA Binding, Nuclease Activity. and Cytotoxicity, Chemistry – A European Journal, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202501578
Stoean (Vasile), Bianca; Pop, Ruxandra; Rugina, Dumitrita; Branzanic Adrian M.V.; Turza, Alexandru; Cristea, Castelia; Nicolescu, Alina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Gaina, Luiza. Photosensitizer activity of phenothiazinium derivatives against melanoma cells and DFT insights into singlet oxygen generation. Bioorganic Chemistry, 2025, 163, 108720. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.108720
Cîrjeu, Victoria; Andrian, Nicoleta; Pușcaș, Cristina; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Dacarbazine affects the redox reactivity of hemoglobin. Journal of Porphyrins and Phthalocyanines, 2025, https://doi.org/10.1142/S1088424625500725
Lehene, Maria; Simon, Jozsef; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Aghion, Andreea; Vasile, Bianca; Sonica, Alexandru; Iancu, Stefania; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Oxygen-carrying proteins employed in blood substitute candidates: differences in interactions with a model antioxidant molecule. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Proteins and Proteomics, 2025, 141086. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbapap.2025.141086
Dandea, Stefania-Mădălina; Hașaș Alina-Diana; Toma, Vlad-Alexandru; Lehene, Maria; Scurtu, Florina; Peștean, Cosmin Petru; Codea, Răzvan-Andrei; Bel, Lucia-Victoria; Melega, Iulia; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Sevastre, Bogdan. Veterinary Perspectives on Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers in Experimental Hemorrhagic Shock: Insights from Rabbit Models. Veterinary Sciences 2025, 12, 485. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12050485
Mot, Augustin C.;Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A polyethylene glycol derivatized laccase with improved thermal resistance. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation, 2025, 43(2), 218-227. https://doi.org/10.1080/10242422.2025.2462010
Lehene, Maria; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Iancu, Stefania; Cosma, Sergiu-Raul; Brânzanic Adrian M.V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Stoean (Vasile) Bianca. The chlorite adduct of aquacobalamin: contrast with chlorite dismutase. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 30, 25-34. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-025-02100-5
Richter, Stefan; Lönnecke, Peter; Bovan, Dijana; Andrian, Nicoleta; Stoean, Bianca; Lehene, Maria; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Gaina, Luiza; Mijatović, Sanja; Maksimovic-Ivanic, Danijela; Kaluđerović, Goran; Hey-Hawkins, Evamarie. Platinum(II/IV) complexes with N-substituted carboxylate ethylenediamine/propylenediamine ligands: preparation, characterization and in vitro activity. Dalton Transactions, 2024, 54(9), 3597-3609. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT03041A
Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Padurean, Lavinia; Lehene, Maria; Branzanic, Adrian; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Globin ferryl species: what is the nature of the protonation event at pH < 5? Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-024-02089-3
Rudenco, Oleg; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; King R. Bruce. Binuclear methylphosphinidine complexes of cyclopentadienylruthenium carbonyls: effects of the higher ligand field strength of ruthenium derivatives relative to iron derivatives. Dalton Transactions, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT02279C
Gal, Melinda; Gaina Luiza; Lovasz, Tamas; Gal, Emese; Craciun, Ana-Maria; Focsan, Monica; Turza, Alexandru; Rugina, Dumitrita; Brânzanic, Adrian M.V.; Pesek, Szilard; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Cristea, Castelia. Sonochemical synthesis, optical properties and DFT studies on novel (N-arylamino)phenothiazinium dyes suitable for fluorescence cells imaging. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2024, 322, 124768. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2024.124768
Stoean, Bianca; Lehene, Maria; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Cristea, Castelia Gaina, Luiza. Transient radical species and oxygen colorimetric indicators grounded on phenothiazinium dyes. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 2024, 320, 124602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2024.124602
Radu, Luana; Lupan, Alexandru; Lehene, Marria; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Weak interactions between hydracids / binary acids: some considerations from a DFT analysis. Studia UBB Chemia, 2024, LXIX(2), 121-134. DOI:10.24193/subbchem.2024.2.09
Doukeh, Rami; Craciun, Daniela; Lehene, Maria; Brânzanic Adrian M.V.; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. An iron-free nitrogenase? Computational estimation of the ability to bind/activate N2 in manganese and cobalt complexes. Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 2024, . https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2024.2372812
Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Matei, Alina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A biomimetic assay for antioxidant reactivity, based on liposomes and myoglobin. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2024, 112613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112613
Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Igescu, Ilinca; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A study of the molecular interactions of hemoglobin with diverse classes of therapeutic agents. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2024, 122053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2024.122053
Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Pato, Galaba; Damian, Grigore; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Mot, Augustin C. Redox Reactivity of Nonsymbiotic Phytoglobins towards Nitrite. Molecules, 2024, 29(6), 1200. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29061200
Rudenco, Oleg; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; King R. Bruce. Decarbonylation Products of Binuclear Methylphosphinidene Complexes of Cyclopentadienyliron Carbonyls: Triplet and Quintet Structures Are Favored Energetically over Singlet Structures with Iron–Iron Multiple Bonding. ACS Omega 2024, 9, 10, 12125–12134. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c10460
Stoean, Bianca; Lupan, Iulia; Cristea, Castelia; Silion, Mihaela; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Luminita; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Gaina, Luiza Ioana. Outcomes of folic acid esterification upon the properties of hydrophilic phenothiazinium dyes: New photosensitizers for antimicrobial photodynamic therapy. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2023, 115500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2024.115500
Pesek, Szilard; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. The Iodine/Iodide/Starch Supramolecular Complex. Molecules, 2024, 29(3), 641. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29030641
Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. The king, the communists and the roman blood: an automated analysis of the Romanian national anthems. Proglas, 2023, 32(2), 147-157. https://doi.org/10.54664/GGAE2354
Benedec, Daniela; Oniga, Ilioara; Hanganu, Daniela; Tiperciuc, Brîndușa; Nistor, Adriana; Vlase, Ana-Maria; Vlase, Laurian; Pușcaș, Cristina; Duma, Mihaela; Login, Cristian Cezar; Niculae, Mihaela; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Stachys species: comparative evaluation of phenolic profile and antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Antibiotics, 2013, 12(11), 1644. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics12111644
Dănescu, Theodor; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; King, R. Bruce. Theoretical study of the effect of phosphorus and nitrogen heteroatoms on pentahapto coordination of diazaphospholyl ligands in binuclear ruthenium and iron carbonyl derivatives. Journal of Organometallic Chemistry, 2023, 122949. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jorganchem.2023.122949
Coman, Cristina; Hadade, Niculina; Pesek, Szilard, Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Mot, Augustin C. Removal and degradation of sodium diclofenac via radical-based mechanisms using S. sclerotiorum laccase. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2023, 112400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112400
Fischer-Fodor, Eva; Szabo, Kinga; Scurtu, Florina; Lehene, Maria; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Toxicity of hemoglobin derivatized with oxidized adenosine triphosphate against tumoral human cells. Studia UBB Chemia, 2023, LXVIII(3), 153-160. DOI:10.24193/subbchem.2023.3.10.
Lehene, Maria; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Hadade, Niculina; Aghion, Andreea; Septelean, Raluca; Iancu, Stefania; Brânzanic Adrian M.V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A complex of cobalamin with an organic peroxide. New Journal of Chemistry, 2023, 47(39), 18178-18185. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NJ03307D
Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Trends in the texts of national anthems: a comparative study. Heliyon, 2023 e19105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19105
Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Patrascu, Iulia; Lehene, Maria; Bercea, Iulia. Comorbidities of COVID-19 patients. Medicina, 2023, 59(8), 1393. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59081393
Doukeh, Rami; Craciun, Daniela; Lupan, Alexandru; Brânzanic Adrian M.V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Effect of the coordination environment on the ability of iron to bind/activate N2: a theoretical study with relevance to the nitrogenase mechanism. Polyhedron, 2023, 116571. DOI: 10.1016/J.POLY.2023.116571
Lehene, Maria; Brânzanic Adrian M.V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. The adducts of cyano- and aquacobalamin with hypochlorite. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2023, 28(6),583-589. doi: 10.1007/s00775-023-02015-z
Plesa, Diana; Lehene, Maria; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. On the reaction of Co(II) cobalamin with hydrogen peroxide. Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis, 2023, 136,1791–1799. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-023-02441-9
Irsai, Izabella; Pesek, Szilard, Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A critical review of computational efforts towards identifying secondary structure elements in polylactic acid (PLA). Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2023, 68(9), 471–477. DOI: 10.33224/rrch.2023.68.9.08
Gaina-Gardiuta, Artiom; Lupan, Alexandru; Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Study of cobalamin adducts with cysteine and its oxidized sulfenic, sulfinic and sulfonic derivatives. Revue Roumaine de Chimie, 2023, 68(3–4), 143–151. DOI: 10.33224/rrch.2023.68.3-4.04
Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Quale Mechanics as a Metaphysical Weltanschauung of Quantum Mechanics. History of science and technology, 2023, 13(1), 10-33, DOI: 10.32703/2415-7422-2023-13-1-10-33
Arkosi, Mariann-Kinga; Mot, Augustin C.; Lupan, Iulia; Ghinia Tegla, Miruna Georgiana; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Selective attachment of polyethylene glycol to hemerythrin for potential use in blood substitutes. Protein Journal, 2023, 42, 374–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10930-023-10118-4
Rudenco, Oleg; Lehene, Maria; Lupan, Alexandru; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Stoean, Bianca; Gaina-Gardiuta, Artiom; Ulici, Adelina Maria; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Versatility of thiourea dioxide as redox agent in globins: case study with myoglobin. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2023, 121474. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2023.121474
Stoica, Anca D.; Toma, Vlad-Al.; Roman, Ioana; Sevastre, Bogdan; Scurtu, Florina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Glutaraldehyde-polymerized hemerythrin: evaluation of performance as an oxygen carrier in hemorrhage models. Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications, 2022, 2209101. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2209101
Pesek, Szilard; Lehene, Maria; Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. On the origin of the blue color in the iodine / iodide / starch supramolecular complex. Molecules, 2022, 27(24), 8974. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248974
Irsai, Izabella; Pesek, Szilard, Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Polylactic acid inter-chain interactions. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia, 2022, LXVII, 47-71. DOI:10.24193/subbchem.2022.4.04
Stoean, Bianca; Gaina, Luiza; Cristea, Castelia; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Focsan, Monica; Fischer-Fodor, Eva; Tigu, Bogdan; Moldovan, Cristian; Cecan, Andra Diana; Achimas-Cadariu, Patriciu; Astilean, Simion; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Luminita. New methylene blue analogues with N-piperidinyl-carbinol units: Synthesis, optical properties and in vitro internalization in human ovarian cancer cells. Dyes and Pigments, 2022, 205, 110460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dyepig.2022.110460
Osokin, Vladimir S.; Dereven’kov, Ilia A.; Makarov, Sergei V.; Gaina-Gardiuta, Artiom; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Effect of trans-ligand on properties of nitric oxide motif in nitrosylcobinamide. Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 2022, 75(11–14), 1606–1616. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2022.2079409
Carrascoza, Francisco; Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. The dynamics of hemerythrin and hemerythrin derivatives. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia, 2021, 64(4), 397-404.
Dănescu, Theodor; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Lupan, Alexandru; King R Bruce. Cyclopentadienylmetal group 6 carbonyl derivatives with 2-propanoneoximato and related ligands. New Journal of Chemistry, 2021, 45, 21092-21099. https://doi.org/10.1039/D1NJ04379J
Suciu, Ioana-Alexandra; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Peroxo-transition metal systems: examples of redox Isomerism in palladium structure. Revue Roumaine de Chimie 2021, 66(10-11), 811–820. 10.33224/rrch.2021.66.10-11.04
Mazilu (Moldovan), Amalia; Popescu, Violeta; Sarosi, Codruta; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Chisnoiu, Andrea Maria; Moldovan, Marioara; Silaghi Dumitrescu, Laura; Prodan, Doina; Carpa, Rahela; Gheorghe, Georgiana Florentina; Chisnoiu, Radu Marcel. Preparation and in vitro characterization of gels based on bromelain, whey and quince extract. Gels, 2021, 7, 191. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels7040191
Lehene, Maria; Plesa, Diana; Ionescu-Zinca, Stefania; Iancu, Stefania D.; Leopold, Nicolae; Makarov, Sergei V.; Brânzanic, Adrian M.V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Adduct of aquacobalamin with hydrogen peroxide. Inorganic Chemistry, 2021, 60(17), 12681-12684.
Irsai, Izabella; Branzanic, Adrian M. V.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Polylactic acid interactions with bioceramic surfaces. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia, 2021, 66(3), 107-121.
Carrascoza, Francisco; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. The dynamics of hemoglobin-haptoglobin complexes. Relevance for oxidative stress. Journal of Molecular Structure, 2022, 1250(1), 131703.
Cîrjeu, Victoria; Pușcaș, Cristina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Vincristine affects the redox reactivity of hemoglobin. Studia UBB Chemia, 2021, LXVI(2), 325-332.
Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Measuring pseudoscience in online media: a case study on Romanian websites. Journal of Romanian Studies, 2021, 2, 111-128.
Dereven’kov, Ilia A.; Makarov, Sergei V; Branzanic, Adrian; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Molodtsov, Pavel A.; Pokrovskaya, Elizaveta A.. Formation of hydroxyl radical in aqueous solutions containing selenite and glutathione. Polyhedron, 2021, 115072.
Radu, Luana; Attia, Amr A.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Lupan, Alexandru; King, R. Bruce. Binuclear ethylenedithiolate iron carbonyls: a density functional theory study. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2021, 120260.
Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. Topics in National Anthems. Journal of Language and Literature, 2020, 20(2), 288-306, http://dx.doi.org/10.24071/joll.v20i2.2541
Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu; Gruian, Cristina; Puscas, Cristina; Simon, Alexandra; Fischer-Fodor, Eva; Toma, Vlad Al.; Farcas, Anca D.; Roman, Ioana; Scurtu, Florina; Attia, Amr A.A.; Damian, Grigore. Spin labelled hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOC): preparation and evaluation of in vivo/in vitro stability. Studia UBB Chemia, 2020, 65(2), 121-132.
Lehene, Maria; Fischer-Fodor, Eva; Scurtu, Florina; Hadade, Niculina; Mot, Augustin C.; Gal, Emese; Matei, Alina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. Excess ascorbate is a chemical stress agent against proteins and cells. Pharmaceuticals, 2020, 13(6), 107. doi.org/10.3390/ph13060107
Farcas, Anca D.; Toma, Vlad Al.; Roman, Ioana; Sevastre, Bogdan; Scurtu, Florina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Glutaraldehyde-polymerized hemoglobin: in search of improved performance as oxygen carrier in hemorrhage models. Bioinorganic Chemistry and Applications, 2020, 1096573. doi.org/10.1155/2020/1096573
Matei, Alina; Puscas, Cristina; Patrascu, Iulia; Lehene, Maria; Ziebro, Julia; Scurtu, Florina; Baia, Monica; Porumb, Dan; Totos, Robert; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. On the stability of glutaraldehyde in biocide compositions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, 21(9), 3372.
Carrascoza, Francisco; Surducan, Mihai; Eriksson, Leif; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Interaction of cobalt and iron hydroperoxo bleomycin with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): dynamic vs. electronic structure considerations. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2020, 119682.
Obasi, Titus Chukwuemeka; Benedec, Daniela; Hanganu, Daniela; Gheldiu, Anamaria; Vlase, Laurian; Oniga, Ilioara; Pușcaș, Cristina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Oprean, Radu. Free radical scavenging activity and total polyphenol content of Securidaca longipedunculata roots and leaves extracts. Farmacia, 2020, 68(1), 116-120.
Puscas, Cristina; Moldovan, Marioara; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Laura; Ungureanu, Lavinia; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. On the apparent redox reactivity of “oxygen-enriched water”. Biological Trace Element Research, 2020, 198, 350–358. doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02056-4
Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Redox reactivity in globins: modulation by covalent and non-covalent modifications with biomedical relevance. Journal of Experimental and Molecular Biology, 2019, XX(3), 1-2.
Attia, Amr A.; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; King, R. Bruce. Neutral rhenadicarbaboranes with Re(CO)2(NO) vrtices: a theoretical Study of building blocks for rhenacarborane-based drug delivery agents. Molecules, 2019, 25(1), E110.
Branzanic, Adrian; Ryde, Ulf; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Importance of the iron–sulfur component and of the siroheme modification in the resting state of sulfite reductase. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2019, 110928.
Mot, Augustin C.; Coman, Cristina; Hadade, Niculina; Damian, Grigore; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Heering, Hendrik A. “Yellow” laccase from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a blue laccase that enhances its substrate affinity by forming a reversible tyrosyl-product adduct. PLoS One, 2019, 0225530.
Branzanic, Adrian; Ryde, Ulf; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Why does sulfite reductase employ siroheme? Chemical Communications, 2019, 55, 14047-14049.
Hanganu, Daniela; Olah, Neli-Kinga; Pop, Carmen; Vlase, Laurian; Oniga, Ilioara; Ciocarlan, Nina; Matei, Alina; Puscas, Cristina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Benedec, Daniela. Evaluation of polyphenolic profile and antioxidant Activity for some Salvia species. Farmacia, 2019, 67(5), 801-805. https://doi.org/10.31925/farmacia.2019.5.8
Hannibal, Luciana; Molodtsov, Pavel; Branzanic, Adrian; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Makarov, Sergei. Kinetic, spectroscopic and in silico characterization of the first step of the reaction between glutathione and selenite. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2020, 499, 119215.
Moldovan, Mirela L.; Iurian, Sonia; Puscas, Cristina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Hanganu, Daniela; Bogdan, Catalina; Vlase, Laurian; Oniga, Ilioara; Benedec, Daniela. A design of experiments strategy to enhance the recovery of polyphenolic compounds from Vitis vinifera by-products through heat reflux extraction. Biomolecules, 2019, 9(10), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100529
Farcas, Anca Daniela; Mot, Augustin C.; Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Ticolea, Madalina; Sevastre, Bogdan; Kulak, Muhittin; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu, Parvu, Alina. Remarkable rutin-rich Hypericum capitatum extract exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on turpentine oil-induced inflammation in rats. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019, 19, 289.
Sacalis, Carmen; Morar, Cristina; Lameiras, Pedro; Lupan, Alexandru; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Bende, Attila; Katona, Gabriel; Porumb, Dan; Harakat, Dominique; Gál, Emese; Darabantu, Mircea. Design, synthesis and structure of novel dendritic G-2 melamines comprising piperidine motifs as key linkers and 4-(n-octyloxy)aniline as a peripheral unit. Tetrahedron, 2019, 75, 130468, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2019.130468
Radu, Luana; Attia, Amr A.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Lupan, Alexandru; King, R. Bruce. The group 9 cyclopentadienylmetal cis ethylenedithiolates as metallodithiolene ligands in metal carbonyl chemistry: analogies to benzene metal carbonyl complexes. New Journal of Chemistry, 2019, 43(32), 12711-12718.
Puscas, Cristina; Mircea, Alina; Raiu, Madalina; Mic, Mihaela; Attia, Amr A. A.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. Affinity and effect of anticancer drugs on the redox reactivity of hemoglobin. Chemical Research in Toxicology, 2019, 32(7), 1402-1411.
Mot, Augustin C.; Puscas, Cristina; Dorneanu, Sorin; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. Isolation, purification and characterization of ascorbate oxidase and peroxidase from Cucurbita pepo medullosa. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia, 2019, 64(2), 49-60.
Scurtu, Florina; Tebrean, Bogdan; Árkosi, Mariann Kinga; Ionele, Adrian; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. Hemoglobin-albumin co-polymers for blood substitutes: increasing the reproducibility of the polymerization reaction. Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai Seria Chemia, 2019, 64(2), 421-434.
Mot, Augustin C; Puscas, Cristina; Dorneanu, Sorin; Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu. EPR detection of sulfanyl radical during sulfhemoglobin formation–Influence of catalase. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 2019, 137, 110-115.
Radu, Luana; Attia, Amr A.; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu; Lupan, Alexandru; King, R. Bruce. Reversible complexation of ammonia by breaking a manganese-manganese bond in a manganese carbonyl ethylenedithiolate complex: a theoretical study of an unusual type of Lewis acid. Dalton Transactions, 2019, 48, 324-332.

Books
Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Daniela Cioloboc. An introduction to bioinorganic chemistry, 2015, Presa Universitara Clujeana, Cluj-Napoca. (English)
Sergei V Makarov, Attila K Horvath, Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Qingyu Gao. Sodium Dithionite, Rongalite and Thiourea Oxides, World Scientific, London, 2016, 244 pp, ISBN: 978-1-78634-095-5
Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Daniela Cioloboc, Mariann Kinga Árkosi, Nicoleta Tomoioagă, Metalele in sistemele vii – ediția a II-a (Romanian), 2023, Presa Universitara Clujeana, Cluj-Napoca, ISBN 978-606-37-1937-0

Alexandru Lupan, Adrian M. V. Branzanic, Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu. Elemente de chimie computațională, 2024, Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca ISSN 978-606-37-2255-4 http://www.editura.ubbcluj.ro/bd/ebooks/pdf/4322.pdf

PhD students

Augustin Moț, Florina Deac (Scurtu), Cristina Bischin, Izabella Irsai, Mihai Surducan, Amr Attia, Francisco Carrascoza, Luana Radu, Adrian Branzanic, Alina Matei, Radu Catana, Szilárd Pesek

Undergraduates and MSc

Diana Plesa, Victoria Cirjeu, Bianca Caba, Norbert Szabó, Ilinca Igescu, Flavia Oana, Iulia Bercea, Mara Lala, Maria Popa, Catalina Barcaru, Artiom Gaina-Gardiuta, Bogdan Timisag, Iulia Patrascu, Nicoleta Tomoioaga, Bianca Popus, Lavinia Ungureanu, Biborka Boga, Vicentiu Taciuc, Rebeca-Oana Grecu, Karina Malearciuc, Anca Anghel, Alexandra Serban, Alexandra-Domnica Magdici, Madalina Raiu, Diana-Dana Toth, Alina Mircea, Adriana Andonie, Patricia Miclea, Vlad Toma, Anca Farcas, Tünde Evelin Takács, Hilda Timea Pato, Kinga Szabo, Flavia-Luana Radu, Daniela Craciun, Oana Cristina Rus, Camelia Tusan, Flavia Rakoczi, Adela Marina Covaciu, Adrian Ionele, Alexandra Simon, Andreea-Ancuţa Bujdei, Denisa Hathazi, Daniela Cioloboc, Sonia Diana Mahut, Cristina – Izabella Berci, Anetta Vaida, Diana Hotea, Claudia Pasc, Alina M. Crainic, Carmen-Elena Miron, Raluca Florina Mătieş, Ancuta Teodora Tomolea, Bianca Marcela Mureşan, Bernadett-Edina Vitek-Daroczi, Daliana-Camelia Şimon, Cristina Miron, Andreea Bob, Antonela Camelia Botiş, Anamaria Felicia Popa, Camelia Clenci, Ciprian Cosar, Bianca Alexandra Iacob, Anamaria Popa, Bianca Marcela Mureşan, Gabriela Daniela Contra, Ioana-Alexandra Suciu, Anita Papp, Anamaria Imre, Csongor Matyas, Dorina Lup, Agnes Kozma, Roxana-Viruca Ţolan, Oana Cristina Rus, Mariann-Kinga Arkosi, Cristina Dobie, Oana Zolog, Ioana Andreea Todea, Alina Roman, Stanca Boboia, Anamaria Todea, Ana-Maria Bolfa, Zoltan Kis, Laszlo Ajtai, Irina Ciotlaus, Angela Sas, Liana Tamas

Vacancies and internships. Join us!

We always welcome students interested in studying and conducting scientific research. The steps below refer to unpaid internships, undergraduate diploma and MSc papers. Paid positions and scholarships are occasionally available (and will be advertised here) – though one should note that they are relatively rare and usually come on a very competitive basis.

1. If possible: talk to somebody already in the group and/or ask people from other groups about what you can expect. Look up the groups web page. Note that membership to the group entails as minimum requirements (1) attendance of weekly group meetings (where you would also have to participate in the discussions, discuss your progress over the past week, and occasionally give presentations), (2) attending, within reasonable limits, the scientific events (conferences, seminars) indicated/recommended in group meetings or in other communications within the group, (3) observe any other rules laid out in the group’s handbook.

2. Schedule a preliminary interview with prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu – either by stopping by room 80 or by messaging radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro

3. Prepare a motivation letter (at least one A4 page, Times New Roman 12, spaced at 1.5) describing your motivations and expectations regarding your research activity within the group, as well as further context (e.g., future plans). Please write this in your own words and speak to the point. Letters written with AI and/or consisting of empty vague statements will be ignored.

4. Prepare a short essay (not shorter than 2 pages) expressing your opinions (including any possible criticisms) about the relevance and contributions of science (be they good or bad, small or large) in an event/topic of significant public interest – such as the COVID crisis, pollution, globalization, immigration, global warming, deforestation, vaccination, online culture (e.g., online teaching, social media etc), development of medical drugs, or any other topics (they can also be much narrower than the examples given above). Submit the letter and the essay to radu.silaghi@ubbcluj.ro and schedule an interview based on these, where decision on acceptance will be made. Please do not use any AI tools for writing/enhancing your letter and essay. We want to hear your words as the candidate, not the words of the likes of Elon Musk or Bill Gates (no offense, Bill!).

Instructions for preparing your scientific report – applied for the dissertation to our MolMod MSc programme RO, EN

Beginner’s hints for preparing your “PowerPoint” presentation (applied for dissertations / diploma papers) RO EN

The MolMod lectures

The MolMod Lectures are a series of research-informed on-line and/or hybrid tutorials initiated in 2022 and focused on topics related to Molecular Modeling in Chemistry and Biochemistry. This series of lectures is an extension of the homonymous conference series and MSc programme hosted by the Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) via its Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering since 2007. The expected target will be the students registered for the MolMod MSc programme at UBB, as well as the general audience typically found at the MolMod conference series.

http://chem.ubbcluj.ro/molmod_lectures/

Upcoming conferences

July 15-18 2024, Bucharest, 10th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ADVANCED MATERIALS

August 25-29 2024, Münster17th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC-17)

September 4-7 2024, Constanța, Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering RICCCE 23

September 11-14 2024, Croatia, 19th Central European Symposium on Theoretical Chemistry

September 18-20 2024, Timișoara, ”Coriolan Drăgulescu” Institute of Chemistry, Romanian Academy, the 16th edition of the International Conference ”New Trends in Chemistry Research”

September 25-27 2024, Târgoviște, 37th Romanian National Chemistry Conference

September 25-27 2024, Bucharest, Annual conference of the Romanian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Some of our favorite links:

Molecular Modeling in Chemistry and Biochemistry Conference

Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering @UBB

Babeș-Bolyai University

The Scientific Council of the Babeș-Bolyai University

Division of Computational and Theoretical Chemistry (DCTC) @ the European Chemical Society (EuChemS)

PhD News @ UBB

Welcome to the page dedicated to our research grant within the programme Complex bilateral projects with the Republic of Moldova,
PCB-RO-MD-2024

Project information
CONTRACT NR. 52PCBROMD/2025

PROJECT TITLE (ROMANIAN)
Chimie redox și coordinativă nouă cu cobalamina și sisteme din clasa cobalaminei
PROJECT TITLE (ENGLISH)
New redox and coordination chemistry with cobalamin and related systems
PROJECT ACRONYM
REDOXCOB

PROJECT SUMMARY (ROMANIAN)
Mecanismele reacțiilor redox la cobalamină (Cbl) și la centri bioinorganici conecși (inclusiv o nou-descoperită clasă de corinoizi
stabili de potențială relevanță biomedicală, SYC) vor fi explorate utilizând peroxizi organici, oxizi și oxianioni de S/N/halogeni, agenți
reducători organici (ex., ascorbat), cu accent pe noi intermediari de reacție și pe proprietățile lor structurale, spectroscopice și
cinetice. Observațiile noastre asupra unei noi stări stabile și reversibile a Cbl, cu un ligand de interes biologic larg (H₂O₂), unde
spectrul UV-vis oferă diferențe abia detectabile față de starea de referință aqua-Cbl în timp ce RMN prezintă diferențe clare
(împreună cu rezonanța Raman de asemenea într-o oarecare măsură), deschid posibilitatea unui nou set de investigații și unei noi
game de complecși de Cbl, unde UV-vis poate fi nevoie să fie semnificativ complementat de RMN. Metodele vor include tehnici
spectroscopice și cinetice – stopped-flow, freeze-quench, UV-vis, RES, RMN, rezonanță Raman, LC/UV-vis-MS, precum și metode
computationale avansate (în principal tip DFT, explorând structura și mai ales proprietățile spectroscopice). Impactul este așteptat
din punct de vedere biomedical (noile SYC, activitatea de antidot împotriva otrăvirii cu cianură și cu alți compuși, reacții ale unei
vitamine cu agenți biologici de stres), precum și în definirea de noi seturi de compuși biologici de coordinare și de noi direcții de
activare/clivare a moleculelor mici.

PROJECT SUMMARY (ENGLISH)
The mechanisms of redox reactions at cobalamin (Cbl) and related bioinorganic centers (including a newly-discovered class of
stable yellow corrinoids – SYC – of potential biomedical relevance) will be explored with peroxides, oxides and oxyanions of S/N
/halogens, organic reducing agents (e.g., ascorbate), with a focus on new transient intermediates and their structure, kinetics and
spectroscopic properties. Our observation of a new stable and reversible state of Cbl, with a ligand of wide biological interest
(H₂O₂), where the UV-vis spectrum shows barely distinguishable differences from the aqua state while the NMR shows clear
differences (together with resonance Raman also to some extent), opens the possibility for a new set of investigations and a new
range of complexes of Cbl – where the UV-vis may need to be significantly complemented by NMR. The tools will include
spectroscopic and kinetic techniques- primarily stopped-flow, freeze-quench, UV-vis, EPR, NMR, resonance Raman, LC-MS/UV-vis –
as well as complex computational methods (mainly DFT simulations of structures and especially of spectroscopic properties).
Impact is expected in biomedical terms (the new SYC, antidotes against poisoning with cyanide and other small molecules,
reactions of a vitamin with biological agents of stress), and also in defining new sets of biological coordination compounds and new
directions of small molecule activation/cleavage.

PROJECT DURATION
2025-2027

BUDGET

BUDGET FUNDED BY ROMANIA’S AGENCY FOR
ROMANINAN COORDINATOR (LEI)
375.000,00
BUDGET FUNDED BY ROMANIA’S AGENCY FOR
MOLDOVAN PARTNER (LEI)
225.000,00
TOTAL BUDGET FUNDED BY ROMANIA’S AGENCY
(LEI)
600.000,00
BUDGET FUNDED BY MOLDOVA’S AGENCY FOR
MOLDOVAN PARTNER (LEI)
150.000,00
TOTAL BUDGET FUNDED BY MOLDOVA’S AGENCY
(LEI)
150.000,00
TOTAL PUBLIC BUDGET REQUESTED (LEI)
750.000,00

TEAM

Coordinator
UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI
Principal investigator
Prof. Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu

PARTENER
MOLDOVA STATE UNIVERSITY
Prof. Viorica Gladchi
(viorica.gladchi@usm.md)

dr. Maria Lehene (UBB)

dr. Cezara Zagrean-Tuza (UBB)

Assoc. prof. Alexandru Lupan (UBB)

Acad. prof. Gheorghe Duca (MSU)

PhD candidate Viorica Purcel (MSU)

PhD candidate Angela Jalba (MSU)