Farmacevtska kemija (Slovene)

Our research programme includes rational design, synthesis, characterization and biological testing of new active compounds of pure synthetic or natural origin, mainly peptidomimetics(e.g. thrombin inhibitors, fibrinogen receptor antagonists, analogs of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanine-D-isoglutamine), which are designed as selective ligands of receptors and enzymes. The preferred target macromolecules are proteins with solved three-dimensional structure, e.g. human thrombin, which in connection with molecular modeling, efficient screening methods, X-ray analysis of protein-ligand complexes, molecular biology and combinatorial chemistry form a solid base for rational drug design. We are searching also for inhibitors ob serine and cysteine proteases in plans and fungi. A field of our research is also design and synthesis of novel spin labeled compounds, spin labeling of biologically important macromolecules and study of radical reactions of biologically active compounds. Our research interest is further devoted to the design and synthesis of new biocompatible materials with designed properties for new pharmaceutical formulations and to investigation of new diagnostic markers which will enable specific detection, diagnosis and monitoring of different pathological states.