Research in Chemistry

Chemistry research is wide-ranging, with an emphasis on biomolecular compounds and drug discovery.

Undergraduate research in chemistry is a great way to get first-hand, real-life experience in a lab setting. The College of Science and Mathematics provides students access to the Chemical and Biomolecular Analysis Facility, a core resource with state-of-the-art instrumentation, including NMR, ICP, CD, and XRD spectroscopy, among others.

Contact Us

Department of Chemistry

Health Sciences Campus

Science & Mathematics Building

706-729-2259

chemistry@augusta.edu

Fundamental Backbone

Research Areas

Contact faculty member for more information on specific research areas.

The Borgini Lab

The Borgini Lab has deep expertise in the synthesis of peptides and small molecules for therapeutic applications.

Research Interests: Chemical Biology / Medicinal Chemistry / Organic Chemistry /

The Culha Lab

The Culha Lab focuses on the implementation of the nanomedicine and nanobiotechnology concepts for the solution of today’s challenging problems such as cancer detection and treatment.

Research Interests: Materials Science

The Green Lab

The Green Group researches analysis of the extract compounds from plants and fungi and computational modeling of Reaction Dynamics.

Research Interests: Phytochemistry / Extract Analysis / Reaction Mechanisms

The Guediche Lab

The Guediche Lab focuses on understanding flexibility and plasticity in human perception using a combination of methods including behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments to tap into the brain mechanisms that underlie adaptive behavior.

Research Interests: Neuroanatomy of Language / Neuroimaging / Electrophysiology

The Mori Lab

The Mori lab focuses on the characterization of natural product biosynthesis and the engineering of their biosynthetic enzymes to develop enzymatic tools.

Research Interests: Natural Product Chemistry

The Panda Lab

The Panda Lab researches the development of small drug-like molecules that draw inspiration from natural product scaffolds. The lab integrates the principles of medicinal chemistry, molecular hybridization, and a rational drug design approach to formulate a comprehensive and effective strategy for drug discovery.

Research Interests: Medicinal Chemistry / Drug Development

The Verbeck Lab

The Verbeck Lab offers a suite of mass spectrometry and imaging instruments with applications in chemistry, biochemistry, toxicology, environmental, forensic, and material science.

Research Interests: Biochemistry / Environmental Chemistry / Forensic Chemistry / Materials Science / Toxicology /

Creativity, Discovery, Engagement

Publications

Publication
Photoinduced Energy and Electron Transfer in a ‘Two-Point’ Bound Panchromatic, Near-Infrared-Absorbing Bis-styrylBODIPY(Zinc Porphyrin)₂ – Fullerene Self-Assembled Supramolecular Conjugate Shao, S., Gobeze, H. B., De Silva, I. W., Schaffner, J., Verbeck, G., Karr, P. A. & D'Souza, F., Aug 19 2024, In: Chemistry - A European Journal. 30, 46, e202401892. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Crystal structure of 3-[(triisopropylsilanyl)-ethynyl]-6a,12a-dihydro-1H-1,4-diaza-benzo[α] anthracene-2,7,12-trione, C₂₇H₂₈N₂O₃Si Zhu, L., Luo, N., Chen, J., Zhang, M., Zhao, J. & Miao, S., Sep 1 2020, In: Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie - New Crystal Structures. 235, 5, p. 1129-1131 3 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Natural Products That Contain Higher Homologated Amino Acids Owens, S. L., Ahmed, S. R., Lang Harman, R. M., Stewart, L. E. & Mori, S., May 2 2024, In: ChemBioChem. 25, 9, e202300822. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
A spin–rotation mechanism of Einstein–de Haas effect based on a ferromagnetic disk Nie, X., Li, J., Datta, T. & Yao, D. X., Oct 2024, In: Frontiers of Physics. 19, 5, 53201. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Ultrasound stimulated piezoelectric barium titanate and boron nitride nanotubes in nonconductive poly-ϵ-caprolactone nanofibrous scaffold for bone tissue engineering Çobandede, Z. & Çulha, M., Mar 25 2024, In: Nanotechnology. 35, 13, 135101. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Periodicity staircase in a centrosymmetric Fe/Gd magnetic thin film system Singh, A., Li, J., Montoya, S. A., Morley, S., Fischer, P., Kevan, S. D., Fullerton, E. E., Yao, D. X., Datta, T. & Roy, S., Dec 2024, In: npj Quantum Materials. 9, 1, 2. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Spiroindole-containing compounds bearing phosphonate group of potential M^pro-SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory properties Bekheit, M. S., Panda, S. S., Kariuki, B. M., Mahmoud, S. H., Mostafa, A. & Girgis, A. S., Oct 5 2023, In: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 258, 115563. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Microwave-assisted synthesis of five-membered azaheterocyclic systems using nanocatalysts Panda, S. S. & Hansen, D. W., Jan 1 2023, Nanoparticles in Green Organic Synthesis: Strategy towards Sustainability. Elsevier, p. 255-278 24 p. Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Indole-Based Compounds as Potential Drug Candidates for SARS-CoV-2 Girgis, A. S., Panda, S. S., Kariuki, B. M., Bekheit, M. S., Barghash, R. F. & Aboshouk, D. R., Sep 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 18, 6603. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
PREFACE Panda, S. S., 2024, In: Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry. 21, 1, p. 2 1 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Rhodium-Catalyzed Regioselective C3_Ar Functionalization of Tyrosines with Maleimides and Its Late-Stage Peptide Exemplification Kharat, N. D., Naharwal, S., Tank, D., Panda, S. S., Bajaj, K. & Sakhuja, R., Oct 27 2023, In: Organic Letters. 25, 42, p. 7673-7677 5 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Systematic Investigation of Cellular Response to Hydroxyl Group Orientation Differences on Gold Glyconanoparticles Sarıçam, M., Ercan Ayra, M. & Culha, M., Nov 14 2023, In: ACS Omega. 8, 45, p. 42921-42935 15 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Advancing Efficiency and Stability of Lead, Tin, and Lead/Tin Perovskite Solar Cells: Strategies and Perspectives Khadka, D. B., Shirai, Y., Yanagida, M., Ryan, J. W., Song, Z., Barker, B. G., Dhakal, T. P. & Miyano, K., Nov 2023, In: Solar RRL. 7, 21, 2300535. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Molecular Hybridization of Alkaloids Using 1,2,3-Triazole-Based Click Chemistry Buchanan, D., Pham, A. M., Singh, S. K. & Panda, S. S., Nov 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 22, 7593. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Tri-Substituted 1,3,5-Triazines from Metformin Using Benzotriazole Chemistry Panda, S. S., Thomas, E. & Pham, A. M., Dec 2022, In: Reactions. 3, 4, p. 516-524 9 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Editorial: Advances in natural product chemistry: Yunnan University 100th anniversary Chen, W., Dong, J. & Panda, S. S., 2023, In: Frontiers in Chemistry. 11, 1234211. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Potential RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitors as prospective drug candidates for SARS-CoV-2 Bekheit, M. S., Panda, S. S. & Girgis, A. S., Apr 5 2023, In: European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 252, 115292. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Capsaicin binds the N-terminus of Hsp90, induces lysosomal degradation of Hsp70, and enhances the anti-tumor effects of 17-AAG (Tanespimycin) Patwardhan, C. A., Kommalapati, V. K., Llbiyi, T., Singh, D., Alfa, E., Horuzsko, A., Korkaya, H., Panda, S., Reilly, C. A., Popik, V. & Chadli, A., Dec 2023, In: Scientific reports. 13, 1, 13790. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Discrimination of Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis by Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Yilmaz, D. & Culha, M., May 24 2022, In: Langmuir. 38, 20, p. 6281-6294 14 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
DNA Gyrase as a Target for Quinolones Spencer, A. C. & Panda, S. S., Feb 2023, In: Biomedicines. 11, 2, 371. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Editorial: Current approaches in infectious disease drug discovery Silva-Jr, F. P., Panda, S. S., Andrade, C. H. & Furnham, N., Nov 30 2022, In: Frontiers in Chemistry. 10, 1102402. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
PREFACE Panda, S. S., Feb 2023, In: Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry. 20, 1, p. 2 1 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Spirooxindole: A Versatile Biologically Active Heterocyclic Scaffold Panda, S. S., Girgis, A. S., Aziz, M. N. & Bekheit, M. S., Jan 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 2, 618. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
New NSAID Conjugates as Potent and Selective COX-2 Inhibitors: Synthesis, Molecular Modeling and Biological Investigation Bokhtia, R. M., Panda, S. S., Girgis, A. S., Samir, N., Said, M. F., Abdelnaser, A., Nasr, S., Bekheit, M. S., Dawood, A. S., Sharma, H., Wade, M., Sharma, S. K. & Ghanim, A. M., Feb 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 4, 1945. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Bicyclic 6-6 Systems With One Bridgehead (Ring Junction) Nitrogen Atom: Four Extra Heteroatoms 2:2 Panda, S. S. & Carr, J. A., Jan 1 2021, Comprehensive Heterocyclic Chemistry IV. Elsevier, p. 297-304 8 p. Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Azomethine Ylides—Versatile Synthons for Pyrrolidinyl-Heterocyclic Compounds Panda, S. S., Aziz, M. N., Stawinski, J. & Girgis, A. S., Jan 2023, In: Molecules. 28, 2, 668. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Modified Curcumins as Potential Drug Candidates for Breast Cancer: An Overview Flint, A. L., Hansen, D. W., Brown, L. V. D., Stewart, L. E., Ortiz, E. & Panda, S. S., Dec 2022, In: Molecules. 27, 24, 8891. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Investigation of effects of transferrin-conjugated gold nanoparticles on hippocampal neuronal activity and anxiety behavior in mice Yavuz, Y., Yesilay, G., Guvenc Tuna, B., Maharramov, A., Culha, M., Erdogan, C. S., Garip, G. A. & Yilmaz, B., Aug 2023, In: Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 478, 8, p. 1813-1824 12 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Ursolic Acid Analogs as Potential Therapeutics for Cancer Panda, S. S., Thangaraju, M. & Lokeshwar, B. L., Dec 2022, In: Molecules. 27, 24, 8981. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Novel Curcumin Mimics: Design, Synthesis, Biological Properties and Computational Studies of Piperidone-Piperazine Conjugates Youssef, M. A., Panda, S. S., Aboshouk, D. R., Said, M. F., El Taweel, A., GabAllah, M., Fayad, W., Soliman, A. F., Mostafa, A., Fawzy, N. G. & Girgis, A. S., Aug 19 2022, In: ChemistrySelect. 7, 31, e202201406. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Synthesis of Potential Antiviral Agents for SARS-CoV-2 Using Molecular Hybridization Approach Wyman, K. A., Girgis, A. S., Surapaneni, P. S., Moore, J. M., Abo Shama, N. M., Mahmoud, S. H., Mostafa, A., Barghash, R. F., Juan, Z., Dobaria, R. D., Almalki, A. J., Ibrahim, T. S. & Panda, S. S., Sep 2022, In: Molecules. 27, 18, 5923. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of spiro-3-indolin-2-one containing compounds of antiproliferative and anti-SARS-CoV-2 properties Fawazy, N. G., Panda, S. S., Mostafa, A., Kariuki, B. M., Bekheit, M. S., Moatasim, Y., Kutkat, O., Fayad, W., El-Manawaty, M. A., Soliman, A. A. F., El-Shiekh, R. A., Srour, A. M., Barghash, R. F. & Girgis, A. S., Dec 2022, In: Scientific reports. 12, 1, 13880. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Label-Free Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Cancer Detection Avci, E., Yilmaz, H., Sahiner, N., Tuna, B. G., Cicekdal, M. B., Eser, M., Basak, K., Altıntoprak, F., Zengin, I., Dogan, S. & Çulha, M., Oct 2022, In: Cancers. 14, 20, 5021. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Influence of Protein Size on Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Spectra in Binary Protein Mixtures Avci, E. & Culha, M., Aug 2014, In: Applied Spectroscopy. 68, 8, p. 890-899 10 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Gold nanoparticles conjugated DNA-tile nanomaterials for simultaneous delivery of morpholino antisense oligonucleotides and doxorubicin Tunc, C. U. & Culha, M., Aug 2022, In: Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology. 74, 103546. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of a SERS based cancer diagnosis approach employing cryosectioned thyroid tissue samples on PDMS Mert, S., Sancak, S., Aydın, H., Fersahoğlu, A. T., Somay, A., Özkan, F. & Çulha, M., Aug 2022, In: Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine. 44, 102577. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Raman and surface-enhanced Raman scattering for biofilm characterization Keleştemur, S., Avci, E. & çulha, M., Mar 1 2018, In: Chemosensors. 6, 1, 5. Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Characterization techniques of living cells encapsulated with nanomaterials Çulha, M., 2014, In: RSC Smart Materials. 2014-January, 9, p. 80-97 18 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of proteins Kahraman, M., Sur, I. & Culha, M., 2010, XXII International Conference on Raman Spectroscopy, ICORS 2010. p. 1055-1056 2 p. (AIP Conference Proceedings; vol. 1267). Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
Nanospectroscopy Nanospectroscopy Çulha, M., Nov 1 2015, In: Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry. 407, 27, p. 8175-8176 2 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering for Label-Free Living Single Cell Analysis Kuku, G., Altunbek, M. & Culha, M., Nov 7 2017, In: Analytical Chemistry. 89, 21, p. 11160-11166 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Exploiting urazole’s acidity for fabrication of hydrogels and ion-exchange materials Hanay, S. B., Fallah, A., Senturk, E., Yetim, Z., Afghah, F., Yilmaz, H., Culha, M., Koc, B., Zarrabi, A. & Varma, R. S., Dec 2021, In: Gels. 7, 4, 261. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Effects of developmental exposure to silver in ionic and nanoparticle form: A study in rats Charehsaz, M., Hougaard, K. S., Sipahi, H., Ekici, A. I. D., Kaspar, Ç., Culha, M., Bucurgat, Ü. Ü. & Aydin, A., 2016, In: DARU, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 24, 1, 24. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Characterization of Yeast Species Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Sayin, I., Kahraman, M., Sahin, F., Yurdakul, D. & Culha, M., Nov 2009, In: Applied Spectroscopy. 63, 11, p. 1276-1282 7 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Surface-raman scattering for medical applications Çulha, M., Aug 31 2012, Biomedical Nanosensors. Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd., p. 97-119 23 p. Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Evaluation of newly synthesized and commercially available charged cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) for capillary electrokinetic chromatography Culha, M., Schell, F. M., Fox, S., Green, T., Betts, T. & Sepaniak, M. J., Jan 22 2004, In: Carbohydrate Research. 339, 2, p. 241-249 9 p. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Development of Isatin-Based Schiff Bases Targeting VEGFR-2 Inhibition: Synthesis, Characterization, Antiproliferative Properties, and QSAR Studies Seliem, I. A., Panda, S. S., Girgis, A. S., Tran, Q. L., Said, M. F., Bekheit, M. S., Abdelnaser, A., Nasr, S., Fayad, W., Soliman, A. A. F., Sakhuja, R., Ibrahim, T. S., Abdel-Samii, Z. K. M. & Al-Mahmoudy, A. M. M., Jul 5 2022, In: ChemMedChem. 17, 13, e202200164. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Design, Synthesis, and Molecular Docking Studies of Curcumin Hybrid Conjugates as Potential Therapeutics for Breast Cancer Panda, S. S., Tran, Q. L., Rajpurohit, P., Pillai, G. G., Thomas, S. J., Bridges, A. E., Capito, J. E., Thangaraju, M. & Lokeshwar, B. L., Apr 6 2022, In: Pharmaceuticals. 15, 4, 451. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Design and synthesis of ibuprofen-quinoline conjugates as potential anti-inflammatory and analgesic drug candidates Ghanim, A. M., Girgis, A. S., Kariuki, B. M., Samir, N., Said, M. F., Abdelnaser, A., Nasr, S., Bekheit, M. S., Abdelhameed, M. F., Almalki, A. J., Ibrahim, T. S. & Panda, S. S., Feb 2022, In: Bioorganic Chemistry. 119, 105557. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Discovery of Highly Potent Fusion Inhibitors with Potential Pan-Coronavirus Activity That Effectively Inhibit Major COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOCs) in Pseudovirus-Based Assays Curreli, F., Ahmed, S., Victor, S. M. B., Drelich, A., Panda, S. S., Altieri, A., Kurkin, A. V., Tseng, C. T. K., Hillyer, C. D. & Debnath, A. K., Jan 2022, In: Viruses. 14, 1, 69. Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Research News

Augusta University researcher helps in the fight against fentanyl

Three female students and a female professor stand in front of a table smiling at the camera.

AU undergraduate research team selected to participate in national program

A group of people stand around a poster pinned to a moveable board. A college woman is talking to the group and pointing to pictures and graphs on the board.

STAR Program opens research pathways for undergrads

Get Involved

Student talking to another in the tutoring lab

Student Opportunities

Clubs and associations have proven to enrich the lives of our students and the overall experience at Augusta University

Student in lab with goggles on doing research

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities are available for both undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Science and Mathematics.

Graduates of Science and Math on the field

Distinguished Alumni

A showcase of notable graduates of the science and math disciplines

An Education Like No Other

The College of Science and Mathematics provides students with strong foundations in the sciences as well as preparation for careers, citizenship, and a life-long love of learning. We are committed to providing experiences promoting scientific inquiry and discovery and dedicated to creating opportunities for intellectual growth and community involvement.

Apply Now Request Info Tour Campus