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Luca Ronconi

Lecturer Below The Bar MSc, PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Below The Bar
SCHOOL OF CHEMISTRY
NUI GALWAY

E: LUCA.RONCONI@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher

Biography

    I studied chemistry at the University of Padova (Italy) where I received the MChem degree in Inorganic and Physical Chemistry in 2000 and, subsequently, the PhD in Chemical Sciences in 2004 (awarded the prize for the Best Ph.D. Thesis in Inorganic Chemistry by the Italian Society of Chemistry). After one year of postdoctoral research at the same university, I took up a two-year Marie Curie Intra-European postdoctoral fellowship and, afterwards, a Körber Foundation postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Edinburgh (UK). I returned to Italy in late 2007 and, after a short period as Senior Researcher, in April 2008 I was appointed Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemical Sciences of the University of Padova. In February 2013, I was appointed Lecturer (Below the Bar) in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry of the NUI Galway.
    My research interests are within the field of bioinorganic/medicinal chemistry and have been focusing on the interaction between metal complexes and biologically-relevant macromolecules in order to develop (in collaboration with several Italian, American and European research groups) new potential anticancer agents. In particular, my professional experience includes the synthesis of coordination compounds (Sn, Pt, Pd, Au, Ru, Zn, Cu) and the use of spectroscopic techniques (mainly mono- and multidimensional NMR, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy) to both characterize the novel synthesized metal derivatives and study their properties and mechanism of action under physiological-like conditions.
    Recently, my research work has been moving toward the design of receptor metal-based chemotherapeutics that could be selectively delivered into the tumor cell. In this regard, I have run a three-year research project (Marie Curie European Re-Integration Grant, 2008-2010) awarded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme.
    I am coauthor of 33 papers published in international peer-reviewed journals (ISI cit. metrics 2002-2014: times cited 1,265; h-index 19, average I.F. 4.588), 2 patents and 55 scientific contributions presented at national and international conferences, including a number of oral/invited lectures and seminars.
    I am Associate Editor of Metallodrugs (a De Gruyter Open journal, http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/medr) and regular reviewer for journals published by the major scientific publishing houses, and member of the Italian Society of Chemistry, the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, the American Chemical Society, and the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC).

Research Interests

My current research mainly involves the design of receptor metal-based chemotherapeutics that could be selectively delivered into the tumor cell.

Past projects:

  • Sn(IV)-, Pt(II)-, Pd(II)- and Au(I/III)-dithiocarbamato derivatives of amino acids as anticancer agents (1998 - 2003, University of Padova)

  • Catalytic activity of di-Rh(II) complexes (2003 - 2004, University of Padova)

  • Photoactivatable Pt(IV)-diazido complexes as potential anticancer agents in Photodynamic therapy (PDT) (2005 - 2007, University of Edinburgh)

  • Photoactivation of Pt(IV) anticancer agents by means of photonic crystal fibers (2007, University of Edinburgh)

  • Au(III)-dithiocarbamato peptidomimetics for the targeted anticancer chemotherapy (2008 - 2013, University of Padova)

Ongoing projects:

  • Vitamin B12 as a carrier for the targeted delivery of gold-based chemotherapeutics

  • Glycosylated metal complexes in targeted cancer chemotherapy

  • Design of fluorescent gold-dithiocarbamato derivatives as anticancer agents

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2013) 'Insights into the reactivity of gold-dithiocarbamato anticancer agents toward model biomolecules from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'
Boscutti, G; Marchiò, L; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2013) 'Insights into the reactivity of gold-dithiocarbamato anticancer agents toward model biomolecules from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'. Chemistry-A European Journal, 19 (40):13428-13436 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Chemotherapeutic induction of mitochondrial oxidative stress activates GSK-3 alpha/beta and Bax, leading to permeability transition pore opening and tumor cell death'
Chiara, F; Gambalunga, A; Sciacovelli, M; Nicolli, A; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D; Bernardi, P; Rasola, A; Trevisan, A (2012) 'Chemotherapeutic induction of mitochondrial oxidative stress activates GSK-3 alpha/beta and Bax, leading to permeability transition pore opening and tumor cell death'. Cell Death & Disease, 3 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Noble metal-dithiocarbamates: precious allies in the fight against cancer'
Nagy, EM; Ronconi, L; Nardon, C; Fregona, D (2012) 'Noble metal-dithiocarbamates: precious allies in the fight against cancer'. Mini reviews in medicinal chemistry, 12 (12):1216-1229 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 't-Butylsarcosinedithiocarbamato gold(III)-based anticancer agents: design, in vitro biological evaluation and interaction with model biomolecules'
Boscutti, G; Feltrin, L; Lorenzon, D; Sitran, S; Aldinucci, D; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2012) 't-Butylsarcosinedithiocarbamato gold(III)-based anticancer agents: design, in vitro biological evaluation and interaction with model biomolecules'. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 393 :304-317 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Rational design of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato peptidomimetics for the targeted anticancer chemotherapy'
Negom Kouodom, M; Boscutti, G; Celegato, M; Crisma, M; Sitran, S; Aldinucci, D; Formaggio, F; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2012) 'Rational design of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato peptidomimetics for the targeted anticancer chemotherapy'. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 117 :248-260 [DOI] [Details]
(2012) 'Toward the selective delivery of chemotherapeutics into tumor cells by targeting peptide transporters: tailored gold-based anticancer peptidomimetics'
Negom Kouodom, M; Ronconi, L; Celegato, M; Nardon, C; Marchiò, L; Dou, QP; Aldinucci, D; Formaggio, F; Fregona, F (2012) 'Toward the selective delivery of chemotherapeutics into tumor cells by targeting peptide transporters: tailored gold-based anticancer peptidomimetics'. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry, 55 (5):2212-2226 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'Insights into the acid-base properties of PtIV-diazidodiam(m)inedihyroxido complexes from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'
Ronconi, L; Pizarro, AM; McQuitty, RJ; Sadler, PJ (2011) 'Insights into the acid-base properties of PtIV-diazidodiam(m)inedihyroxido complexes from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'. Chemistry - A European Journal, 17 :12051-12058 [Details]
(2011) 'Photoreaction pathways for the anticancer complex trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)2]'
Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2011) 'Photoreaction pathways for the anticancer complex trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)2]'. Dalton Transactions, 40 :262-268 [Details]
(2011) 'Antitumor activity of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato derivatives on prostate cancer cells and xenografts'
Cattaruzza, L; Fregona, D; Mongiat, M; Ronconi, L; Fassina, A; Colombatti, A; Aldinucci, D (2011) 'Antitumor activity of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato derivatives on prostate cancer cells and xenografts'. International Journal Of Cancer, 128 :206-215 [Details]
(2011) 'Gold(III)-dithiocarbamato anticancer agents: activity, toxicology and histopathological studies in rodents'
Marzano, C; Ronconi, L; Chiara, F; Giron, MC; Faustinelli, I; Cristofori, P; Trevisan, A; Fregona, D (2011) 'Gold(III)-dithiocarbamato anticancer agents: activity, toxicology and histopathological studies in rodents'. International Journal Of Cancer, 129 :487-496 [Details]
(2010) 'Recent Advances in PUVA Photochemotherapy and PDT for the Treatment of Cancer'
Nagy, EM; Dalla Via, L; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2010) 'Recent Advances in PUVA Photochemotherapy and PDT for the Treatment of Cancer'. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 16 :1863-1876 [Details]
(2010) 'Latest insights into the anticancer activity of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato complexes'
Ronconi, L; Aldinucci, D; Dou, QP; Fregona, D (2010) 'Latest insights into the anticancer activity of gold(III)-dithiocarbamato complexes'. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 10 :283-292 [Details]
(2010) 'Inhibition of tumor proteasome activity by gold dithiocarbamato complexes via both redox-dependent and -independent processes'
Zhang, X; Frezza, M; Milacic, V; Ronconi, L; Fan, Y; Bi, C; Fregona, D; Dou, QP (2010) 'Inhibition of tumor proteasome activity by gold dithiocarbamato complexes via both redox-dependent and -independent processes'. Journal Of Cellular Biochemistry, 109 :162-172 [Details]
(2009) 'Photoinduced reactions of cis,trans,cis-[PtIV(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)2] with 1-methylimidazole'
Phillips, HIA; Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2009) 'Photoinduced reactions of cis,trans,cis-[PtIV(N3)2(OH)2(NH3)2] with 1-methylimidazole'. Chemistry - A European Journal, 15 :1588-1596 [Details]
(2009) 'The Midas touch in cancer chemotherapy: from platinum- to gold-dothiocarbamato complexes'
Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2009) 'The Midas touch in cancer chemotherapy: from platinum- to gold-dothiocarbamato complexes'. Dalton Transactions, :10670-10680 [Details]
(2009) 'Groundbreaking gold(III) anticancer agents'
Aldinucci, D; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D (2009) 'Groundbreaking gold(III) anticancer agents'. Drug Discovery Today, 14 :1075-1076 [Details]
(2009) 'Preliminary chemico-biological studies on Ru(III) compounds with S-methylpyrrolidine/dimethyl dithiocarbamate'
Giovagnini, L; Mancinetti, E; Ronconi, L; Sitran, S; Marchiò, L; Castagliuolo, I; Brun, P; Trevisan, A; Fregona, D (2009) 'Preliminary chemico-biological studies on Ru(III) compounds with S-methylpyrrolidine/dimethyl dithiocarbamate'. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 103 :774-782 [Details]
(2008) 'Unprecedented carbon-carbon bond formation induced by photoactivation of a platinum(IV)-diazido complex'
Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2008) 'Unprecedented carbon-carbon bond formation induced by photoactivation of a platinum(IV)-diazido complex'. Chemical Communications, :235-237 [Details]
(2008) 'Applications of heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy in biological and medicinal inorganic chemistry'
Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2008) 'Applications of heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy in biological and medicinal inorganic chemistry'. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 252 :2239-2277 [Details]
(2007) 'Cationic carboxylato complexes of dirhodium(II) with oxo thioethers: catalysts for silane alcoholysis under homogeneous and liquid-liquid biphasic conditions'
Biffis, A; Basato, M; Brichese, M; Ronconi, L; Tubaro, C; Zanella, A; Graiff, C; Tiripicchio, A (2007) 'Cationic carboxylato complexes of dirhodium(II) with oxo thioethers: catalysts for silane alcoholysis under homogeneous and liquid-liquid biphasic conditions'. Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis, 349 :2485-2492 [Details]
(2007) 'Gold(III)-dithiocarbamato complexes induce cancer cell death triggered by thioredoxin redox system inhibition and activation of ERK pathway'
Saggioro, D; Rigobello, MP; Paloschi, L; Folda, A; Moggach, SA; Parsons, S; Ronconi, L; Fregona, D; Bindoli, A (2007) 'Gold(III)-dithiocarbamato complexes induce cancer cell death triggered by thioredoxin redox system inhibition and activation of ERK pathway'. Chemistry & Biology, 14 :1128-1139 [Details]
(2007) 'Using coordination chemistry to design new medicines'
Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2007) 'Using coordination chemistry to design new medicines'. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 251 :1633-1648 [Details]
(2007) 'Formation of N-coordinated 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine from 2-(trimethylsiloxymethyl)- and 2-(hydroxymethyl)-phenyl isocyanides promoted by dirhodium(II) acetate'
Basato, M; Biffis, A; Martinati, G; Polo, M; Ronconi, L; Tubaro, C; Michelin, RA; Sgarbossa, P; Mazzega Sbovata, S (2007) 'Formation of N-coordinated 4H-benzo[d][1,3]oxazine from 2-(trimethylsiloxymethyl)- and 2-(hydroxymethyl)-phenyl isocyanides promoted by dirhodium(II) acetate'. Inorganic Chemistry Communications, 10 :407-409 [Details]
(2006) 'A novel anticancer gold(III) dithiocarbamate compound inhibits the activity of a purified 20S proteasome and 26S proteasome in human breast cancer cell cultures and xenografts'
Milacic, V; Chen, D; Ronconi, L; Landis-Piwowar, KR; Fregona, D; Dou, QP (2006) 'A novel anticancer gold(III) dithiocarbamate compound inhibits the activity of a purified 20S proteasome and 26S proteasome in human breast cancer cell cultures and xenografts'. Cancer Research, 66 :10478-10486 [Details]
(2006) 'Insights into the mechanism of action of platinum anticancer drugs from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'
Berners-Price, SJ; Ronconi, L; Sadler, PJ (2006) 'Insights into the mechanism of action of platinum anticancer drugs from multinuclear NMR spectroscopy'. Progress In Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, 49 :65-98 [Details]
(2006) 'Gold(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives for the treatment of cancer: solution chemistry, DNA binding, and hemolytic properties'
Ronconi, L; Marzano, C; Zanello, P; Corsini, M; Miolo, G; Maccà, C; Trevisan, A; Fregona, D (2006) 'Gold(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives for the treatment of cancer: solution chemistry, DNA binding, and hemolytic properties'. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry, 49 :1648-1657 [Details]
(2005) 'Gold dithiocarbamate derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents: design, spectroscopic properties and in vitro antitumor activity'
Ronconi, L; Giovagnini, L; Marzano, C; Bettio, F; Graziani, R; Pilloni, G; Fregona, D (2005) 'Gold dithiocarbamate derivatives as potential antineoplastic agents: design, spectroscopic properties and in vitro antitumor activity'. Inorganic Chemistry, 44 :1867-1881 [Details]
(2005) 'Synthesis, characterization and comparative in vitro cytotoxicity studies of platinum(II), palladium(II) and gold(III) methylsarcosinedithiocarbamate complexes'
Giovagnini, L; Ronconi, L; Aldinucci, D; Lorenzon, D; Sitran, S; Fregona, D (2005) 'Synthesis, characterization and comparative in vitro cytotoxicity studies of platinum(II), palladium(II) and gold(III) methylsarcosinedithiocarbamate complexes'. Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry, 48 :1588-1595 [Details]
(2005) 'Gold(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives of N-methylglycine: an experimental and theoretical investigation'
Ronconi, L; Maccato, C; Barreca, D; Saini, R; Zancato, M; Fregona, D (2005) 'Gold(III) dithiocarbamate derivatives of N-methylglycine: an experimental and theoretical investigation'. Polyhedron, 24 :521-531 [Details]
(2004) 'Organometallic complexes with biological molecules. XVIII. Alkyltin(IV) cephalexinate complexes: synthesis, solid state and solution phase investigations'
Di Stefano, R; Scopelliti, M; Pellerito, C; Casella, G; Fiore, T; Stocco, GC; Vitturi, R; Colomba, M; Ronconi, L; Sciacca, ID; Pellerito, L (2004) 'Organometallic complexes with biological molecules. XVIII. Alkyltin(IV) cephalexinate complexes: synthesis, solid state and solution phase investigations'. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 98 :534-546 [Details]
(2003) 'Pt(II) and Pd(II) derivatives of ter-butylsarcosinedithiocarbamate. Synthesis, chemical and biological characterization and in vitro nephrotoxicity'
Fregona, D; Giovagnini, L; Ronconi, L; Marzano, C; Trevisan, A; Sitran, S; Biondi, B; Bordin, F (2003) 'Pt(II) and Pd(II) derivatives of ter-butylsarcosinedithiocarbamate. Synthesis, chemical and biological characterization and in vitro nephrotoxicity'. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 93 :181-189 [Details]
(2003) 'Organotin(IV) complexes of ethylsarcosinehydrochloride: synthesis, characterization and in vitro anticancer activity'
Ronconi, L; Marzano, C; Russo, U; Sitran, S; Graziani, R; Fregona, D (2003) 'Organotin(IV) complexes of ethylsarcosinehydrochloride: synthesis, characterization and in vitro anticancer activity'. Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 17 :9-16 [Details]
(2002) 'Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of new organotin(IV) derivatives of N-methylglycine'
Ronconi, L; Marzano, C; Russo, U; Sitran, S; Graziani, R.; Fregona, D (2002) 'Synthesis, characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of new organotin(IV) derivatives of N-methylglycine'. Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry, 91 :413-420 [Details]

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2013) 'Perspective gold(III)-dithiocarbamato anticancer therapeutics: learning from the past, moving to the future'
Ronconi, L; Nardon, C; Boscutti, G; Fregona, D (2013) 'Perspective gold(III)-dithiocarbamato anticancer therapeutics: learning from the past, moving to the future' In: Advances in Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry - Vol. 2. Bussum: Bentham Science Publishers. [DOI] [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2012) 12th Workshop on PharmacoBioMetallics - BIOMET12,
Ronconi, L (2012) Annual meeting of the Italian University Network on Chemistry of Metals in Biological Systems - CIRCMSB. [Conference Organising Committee Member], 12th Workshop on PharmacoBioMetallics - BIOMET12, Padova (Italy) , 26-OCT-12 - 28-OCT-12. [Details]
(2011) Interdepartmental Research Center Role of Metal Ions in Biomedical Sciences - BIOMÉTION,
Ronconi, L (2011) Opening Ceremony. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Interdepartmental Research Center Role of Metal Ions in Biomedical Sciences - BIOMÉTION, Padova (Italy) , 01-JUN-11 - 01-JUN-12. [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2006 Special Prize in the section Application-Oriented Scientific Projects 5a Edizione del Premio Regionale per l’Innovazione, Verona (Italy)
2005 Award for the Best Multidisciplinary Project “SFP - Science For Patients” 18th Workshop of Marie Curie Fellows: Research Training in Progress held under the 16th Annual Conference - FORUM ENGELBERG 2005, Engelberg (Switzerland)
2004 Award for the Best Ph.D. Thesis in Inorganic Chemistry Italian Society of Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry Division at the XXXII Congresso Nazionale della Divisione di Chimica Inorganica della SCI, Rome (Italy)

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action CM1105 "Functional metal complexes that bind to biomolecules" Member 08-MAY-12 /
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Member (MRSC) 02-MAR-07 /
American Chemical Society (ACS) Member 15-FEB-12 /
Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (SBIC) Member 01-AUG-07 /
Association for the Research of Targeted Therapies in Oncology - ARTEMO Member and co-founder 22-SEP-11 /

Patents

  Patent Number Title Granted
WO2010105691A1 Gold(III) complexes with oligopeptides functionalized with sulfur donors and use thereof as antitumor agents 23-SEP-10
IT1347835B1 Dithiocarbamate complexes of gold(III) and their use as antitumor agents 02-OCT-08

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
College of Science Internationalization Committee Representative for the School of Chemistry 15-SEP-13 /
School of Chemistry Staff-Student Committee Member 16-OCT-13 /

Employment

  Employer Position From / To
National University of Ireland Galway (Ireland) Lecturer (Below the Bar) in Chemistry 01-FEB-13 /
University of Padova (Italy) Assistant Professor of Inorganic Chemistry 01-APR-08 / 27-JAN-13
University of Padova (Italy) Postdoctoral Fellow 01-JAN-08 / 31-MAR-08
University of Edinburgh (UK) Körber Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow 01-JAN-07 / 30-JUN-07
University of Edinburgh (UK) Marie Curie Intra-European Postdoctoral Fellow 01-JAN-05 / 31-DEC-06
University of Padova (Italy) Postdoctoral Fellow 01-NOV-03 / 31-OCT-04

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2004 University of Padova (Italy) DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chemical Sciences
2002 University of Padova (Italy) MASTERS OF SCIENCE Inorganic and Physical Chemistry

Languages

  Language
Italian
English

Reviews

  Journal Role
Chemistry - A European Journal Reviewer
Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, And Engineering Sciences Reviewer
Plos One Reviewer
European Journal Of Inorganic Chemistry Reviewer
Journal Of Medicinal Chemistry Reviewer
Inorganica Chimica Acta Reviewer
New Journal Of Chemistry Reviewer
Dalton Transactions Reviewer
Inorganic Chemistry Reviewer
Journal Of Coordination Chemistry Reviewer
Journal Of Inorganic Biochemistry Reviewer

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2013/2014 Spectroscopic and Physical Methods and Applications CH448 Spectroscopy of Metals
2013/2014 Advanced Inorganic Chemistry I CH445 Chemistry of the f-Block Elements
2013/2014 Inorganic Chemistry CH307 Nuclear and Isotopic Chemistry
2013/2014 Inorganic Chemistry CH204 Molecular Structure and Bonding
2012/2013 Inorganic Chemistry CH433 f-Block Chemistry
2012/2013 Inorganic Chemistry CH433 Spectroscopy of Coordination Compounds