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

PhD student
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

Oleg Rudenco

PhD student

Oleg has graduated his MSc studies working on the reactivity of thiourea dioxide versus biological centers, using UV-vis, NMR and DFT calculations. He is now working jointly with Prof. Alexandru Lupan on a PhD project involving computational chemistry approaches to cluster chemistry.
oleg.rudenco@ubbcluj.ro

Alexandru Sonica

MSc student

Alex is a second-year MSC student working on the interactions of hemoglobin and its redox interactions.
alexandru.sonica@stud.ubbcluj.ro

Radu Onija

MSc student

Radu is a second-year MSc student who works on unusual coordination and electronic structures in cobalamin and related systems.
radu.onija@stud.ubbcluj.ro

Sergiu-Raul Cosma

PhD student

Raul is a first-year PhD student who works on QM/MM and MD simulations of metalloenzymes.
sergiu.cosma@ubbcluj.ro

Nicoleta Andrian

MSc student

Nicoleta is a second-year MSc student in clinical chemistry and works on the interactions of anticancer drug candidates with biological molecules.
nicoleta.andrian@stud.ubbcluj.ro

Andrea Incze

MSc student

Andrea is a second-year MSc student in forensic chemistry.
andrea.incze@stud.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

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

9.02.25 – new paper out – Maria Lehene, Cezara Zagrean-Tuza, Stefania D. Iancu, Sergiu-Raul Cosma, Adrian M. V. Brânzanic, Radu Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Bianca Stoean. The chlorite adduct of aquacobalamin: contrast with chlorite dismutase. J Biol Inorg Chem (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-025-02100-5

7.02.25 – new paper out – Mot, A. C., & Silaghi-Dumitrescu, R. (2025). A polyethylene glycol derivatized laccase with improved thermal resistance. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation,1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/10242422.2025.2462010

23.01.25 – 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

15.01.24 – professor Silaghi-Dumitrescu is appointed as Personal Advisor on scientific research, development and innovation to the Minister of Education and Research in the Romanian government https://www.edu.ro/echipa_consilieri_ministru_DD

27.12.24 – new paper out – 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, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT03041A

20.12.24 – new paper out – 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?, in the Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry

20.12.24 – Ioana-Alexandra Mânzat, a first-year MSC student in Clinical Chemistry, joins our group. PhD student George Vaida in turn goes on a sabbatical. We wish him all the best in his new endeavor.

02.12.24 – Alexandru Sonica attends the 360RG-CHEM Challenge competition – a joint initiative of the Faculty of Chemistry of the Silesian University of Technology, the Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, the Faculty of Chemistry of the Lodz University of Technology and the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Silesia in Katowice.

13-17.11.24 – Alexandru Sonica attends the EUTOPIA Hackathon, Innovation Challenges for Students: Discovery Week – CY Chapter at CY Cergy Paris Université, France

14.10.24 – new paper out – Binuclear Methylphosphinidine Complexes of Cyclopentadienylruthenium Carbonyls: Effects of the Higher Ligand Field Strength of Ruthenium Derivatives Relative to Iron Derivatives in Dalton Transactions

27.09.24 – Alexandru Sonica wins a prize from the Romanian Chemical Society for his presentation at the 37th National Chemistry Conference

24.09.24 – celebrating Maria Lehene’s PhD defense – with maximum qualifications (“excellent”)

24-27.09.24 – group trip to the 37th National Chemistry Conference in Targoviste with prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Maria Lehene, Alexandru Sonica and Nicoleta Andrian

18-20.09.24 – prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu presents a plenary lecture at the 16th Edition of the conference New Trends in Chemistry Research in Timisoara

11-14.09.24 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu attends the 19th Central European Symposium on Theoretical Chemistry in Croatia

05.09.24 – our new book out – 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

29.08.24 – Alexandru Sonica gets one of the poster prizes at the 17th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC-17)

25.08.24 – group trip to the 17th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference (EuroBIC-17) at the University of Münster – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Maria Lehene, Cezara Zagrean-Tuza and Alexandru Sonica

01.08.24 – Cezara Zagrean-Tuza starts a two-month Erasmus stay at the University of Osnabrück

01.08.24 – calling potential participants to the winter school Quantum Chemistry of Excited States QCES-2024, November 25th–29th, 2024
Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. We are proud to be a part of this school, as local organizers: https://molcas.org/QCES/index.html

22.07.24 – Raul Cosma passes aces his entrance exam to become a PhD student as of this autumn. Congratulations!

19.07.24 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu takes on the position of Coordinator of the Office for Open Science at UBB

16.07.24 – new paper out – 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

11.07.24 – new paper out – 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

07-11.07.24 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu attends the 9th EuChemS Chemistry Congress

01-04.07.24 – Patrick Comer, Dipa Rani Mohajon, Lavinia Padurean, Raul Cosma and Jozsef Simon aced their dissertation presentations this week. We congratulate them for their great work.

28.06.24 – new paper out, 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

25.06.24 – new essay by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu in the cultural magazine Vatra on how we evaluate science in Romanian universities and how this relates to UBB’s Humanist Platform

22.06.24 – new version of the group website online

06.06.24 – new paper out, 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

22.05.24 – interview by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu on ‘predatory’ and ‘open-access’ journals and how the Babes-Bolyai University tackles these topics https://sciencebusiness.net/news/open-science/central-and-eastern-europe-bites-back-predatory-publishers

22-25.05.24 – prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu delivering a lecture at the 3rd International Conference on Reaction Kinetics, Mechanisms and Catalysis in Budapest

20-25.05.24 – excited to be a part of the inauguration week for the Inspire platform for biomedical imaging at UBB

18.05.24 – new paper out, Zagrean-Tuza, Cezara; Matei, Alina; Silaghi-Dumitrescu, Radu. A biomimetic assay for antioxidant reactivity, based on liposomes and myoglobin. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112613

18.05.24 – Theodor Danescu is attending the 2024 Meeting of the International Society of Quantum Biology and Pharmacology (ISQBP) in Athens, Greece

26.04.24 – website launched for our new “Targeted Tumor Therapy with multifunctional platinum(IV)-drug conjugates” (T3-Pt) project

24-26.04.24 – prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu delivering a lecture at the Petru Poni Institute of Chemistry in Iasi, for the BioMat4CAST workshop

20.04.24 – student Alex Sonica is visiting prof Jonathan Worrall’s lab at the University of Essex for some hemoglobin experiments

05.04.24 – new paper out, hopefully a good reference from now on, showing how wide/diverse are the molecular interactions of hemoglobin with therapeutic molecules 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, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2024.122053

03.04.24-07.04.24 – excited to host prof. Marcos Verissimo-Valdes from Lund University and Universidade Federal Fluminense for a MolMod Lecture on Catalysis in Thermococcus kodakarensis DNA polymerase and some further instructive activities in our laboratories

07.03.24 – new paper out – 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

05.03.24 – new paper out – 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, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.3c10460

05.03.24 – open research positions on our project on anticancer drugs – PhD students, post-docs, experienced researchers https://www.ubbcluj.ro/ro/infoubb/posturi_vacante/posturi_proiecte

16.02.24 – new article by prof. Silaghi-Dumitrescu on Open Access journals https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-opinii-26899042-revolutie-bolsevica-stiinta-open-access.htm

06.02.24 – new paper out by dr. Brânzanic – The effect of precipitation conditions on the morpho-structural and optical properties of some zinc oxidic based compounds in the Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology

05.02.24 – 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?

01.02.24 – new papers: a small contribution from us to a paper of our organic chemistry colleagues at UBB: 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, and a review on the iodine-iodide-amylose/starch color reaction by Szilárd Pesek: The Iodine/Iodide/Starch Supramolecular Complex. Molecules, 2024, 29(3), 641

30.01.24 – two Excellence Awards from the UBB to prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu for his presence in the top 2% rankings of researchers throughout all research fields as well as in the field of inorganic chemistry, based on results/citations throughout the career

09.01.24 – new student in the group – Andrea Incze. Also, new paper out from prof Silaghi-Dumitrescu: 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, covered in an essay for national commentary site contributors.ro – https://www.contributors.ro/regele-comunistii-si-sangele-roman-spune-ceva-despre-noi-un-imn-national-schimbat-de-un-numar-record-de-ori/ . Also recently out: the second edition in Romanian of our bioinorganic chemistry textbook “Metals in living systems” free to download from the publisher. Also: new research grant starting soon, on Pt-based anticancer agents – with vacancies open for hiring!

Our recent scientific publications:

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