The Organic & Medicinal Chemistry, Drug Discovery & Development group has four faculty members interested in design and synthesis of novel organic molecules including polymers and nanomaterials that can A) alter physiological processes with the goal to manage diseases and/or B) respond towards changes of environments with the goal of sensing, locating, or shaping. Research projects are highly interdisciplinary in connecting chemistry with other natural sciences and medicine and are supported by very talented graduate and undergraduate students. More details about research projects led by each individual faculty can be found below as well as their specific research group websites.
Faculty Research
- Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry
- Director, Milwaukee Institute of Drug Discovery
- arnold2@uwm.edu
- 414-251-9450
- Chemistry Building 272C
Alexander (Leggy) Arnold’s research focuses on drug discovery and development. Currently, the Arnold Group is developing new treatments for asthma and COPD targeting the GABA(A) receptors expressed in the lung. This approach also permits the development of countermeasures for accidental chlorine exposure. We developed a new strategy of small molecule pegylation to achieve tissue selectivity and for the development of pro-drugs. Further investigations identified benzodiazepines that bind specific GPCR subtypes without interacting with the GABA(A) receptors. Our research is very interdisciplinary accepting graduate and undergraduate students that are interested in organic/medical chemistry, (bio)analytical chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and biomedical science.
For more information: Arnold Group Website
In nature, materials are often created to realize multiple tasks such as mechanical support, sensing, actuation, energy generation, communication, self-healing. Nature’s multi-functional materials are not only active, adaptive, and autonomous, but also efficient and sustainable. Chen group’s research is focused on development of bio-inspired smart multi-functional materials for various applications.
Our research focuses on the rational design and synthesis of small-molecule therapeutics targeting critical biological pathways involved in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. We have established a concise and efficient synthetic strategy for the preparation of microtubule inhibitors tryprostatins A and B, along with structurally diverse analogs. Ongoing efforts focus on expanding the chemical library, evaluating cytotoxic activity in cancer cell lines, and identifying lead compounds with favorable therapeutic indices for further preclinical investigation. We are also developing selective histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) inhibitors to address memory impairment associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A focused library of compounds has been synthesized and evaluated for HDAC2 inhibitory activity and toxicity profiles. The most promising lead compound, exhibiting strong inhibitory activity with minimal toxicity, will undergo further evaluation in mouse models to assess its ability to ameliorate AD-related memory deficits.
Xiaohua Peng’s research focuses on developing targeted cancer therapies that maximize antitumor efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. The group designs and synthesizes non-toxic small-molecule prodrugs and theranostic agents that are selectively activated by tumor-specific features. We have developed ROS-responsive prodrugs and a novel combination therapy that pairs these agents with pro-oxidants, such as vitamin C, to amplify intratumoral oxidative stress and prodrug activation, thereby enhancing therapeutic selectivity and durability. This approach has achieved complete tumor regression in preclinical models without systemic side effects. The research integrates organic synthesis, mechanistic studies, and in vitro and in vivo cancer models to elucidate tumor biology and advance precision therapeutics for hard-to-treat cancers, including triple-negative breast cancer and glioblastoma
For more information: Peng Group Website