Research

We are interested in controllable / switchable chemical catalysts. The control can be achieved by applying physical (light) or (bio)chemical (reactive oxygen species, metal ions etc) factors. These catalysts are used to regulate / affect / monitor biochemical processes / molecules in live cells.

Currently, we work on the following projects: CANCER SPECIFIC PRODRUGS and CHEMISTRY IN LIVING CELLS

Cancer specific prodrugs: we develop aminoferrocene-based or organic prodrugs, which are activated specifically at cancer-specific conditions (high concentration of reactive oxygen species, ROS), with formation of cytotoxic species. The former products inhibit the antioxidant system of cells and induce intracellular generation of ROS leading to cancer cell death. Since the prodrugs are not activated in normal cells, they exhibit low to no toxicity. These activities are supported by German Research Foundation and European Union.

  1. Arkhypov, A.; Klemt, I.; Bila, G.; Chernii, S.; Attia, D.; Bilyy, R.*; Mokhir, A.* Targeting lysosomal thiols for immunogenic cancer cell death. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202417509.
  2. Chernii, S.; Selin, R.; Bila, G.; Bilyy, R.; Körber, M.; Mokhir, A.* Red fluorescent aminoferrocene (pro)drugs for in cellulo and in vivo imaging. Chem. Eur. J. 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/chem.202401107.
  3. Daum, S.; Chekhun, V.; Todor, I.; Lukianova, N.; Shvets, Y.; Sellner, L.; Putzker, K.; Lewis, J.; Zenz, T.; Graaf, I.; Groothuis, G.; Casini, A.; Zozulia, O.; Hampel, F.; Mokhir, A.* Improved synthesis of N-benzylaminoferrocene-based prodrugs and evaluation of their toxicity and antileukemic activity. J. Med. Chem. (2015), 58(4), 2015-2024.
  4. Marzenell, P.; Hagen, H.; Sellner, L.; Zenz, T.; Grinyte, R.; Pavlov, V.; Daum, S.; Mokhir, A.* Aminoferrocene-based prodrugs and their effects on human normal and cancer as well as bacterial cells, J. Med. Chem., (2013), 56(17), 6935-6944.
  5. Hagen, H.; Marzenell, P.; Jentzsch, E.; Wenz, F.; Veldwijk, M. R.; Mokhir, A.* Aminoferrocene-Based Prodrugs Activated by Reactive Oxygen Species, J. Med. Chem., (2012), 55(2), 924-934.

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Chemistry in living cells: We develp chemical bond-forming reactions (C-O, C-S, C-Se, C-C) and cleavage reactions (C-O, B-C), which are compatible with living cells. These reactions should lead to formation of either drugs or easily detectable (e.g. fluorescent, radioactive) compounds. The results can potentially lead to new treatment methods for diseases like cancer and chronic inflammation as well as to novel diagnostic tools. The project is supported by Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in the framework of Emerging Field Initiative and European Union.

  1. Selin, R.; Özkan, H. G.; Bila, G.; Bilyy, R.; Mokhir, A.* Reaction of N-ferrocenylcarbamates with nitric oxide: an application for detection of inflammatory sites in vivo. ChemMedChem2025, 20(19), e202500356: https://doi.org/10.1002/cmdc.202500356.
  2. Körber, M.*; Rühle, J.; Halter, F.; Mokhir, A.* Hydrogen peroxide – responsive aminoferrocene prodrugs. Eur. J. Org. Chem.2025, 28(33), e202500294: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202500294.
  3. Raucheisen, M.; Attia, D.; Körber, M.; Crevillén, A. A.; Hidalgo, A.; Mokhir, A.* Mitochondria-Catalyzed Activation of Anticancer Prodrugs. ChemCatChem. 2025, e2202500054: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cctc.202500054.

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