BrainMap

Mrs. Florina Scurtu

PhD

researcher - UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRICOLE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA CLUJ-NAPOCA

Researcher

Web of Science ResearcherID: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/P-4602-2014

Curriculum Vitae (08/08/2020)

Expertise & keywords

Development of a SERS-TFF based nanoscreening platform for early detection and assessment of breast disease progression using blood samples Call name:
37_765 2016 - 2020

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU" (RO); INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE DEZVOLTARE PENTRU TEHNOLOGII IZOTOPICE SI MOLECULARE I N C D T I M (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU" (RO)

Project website:

Abstract:

Polyhedral metallaboranes: metal clusters stabilized in borane matrices Call name: Projects for Young Research Teams - RUTE -2014 call
PN-II-RU-TE-2014-4-1197 2015 - 2017

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://www.chem.ubbcluj.ro/~alupan/TE2014/TE-2014-4-1197.htm

Abstract:

Incorporating transition metals into a borane cage creates novel metal environments that modify their reactivity and hence their catalytic properties. Molecules based on such systems have potential applications in homogenous catalysis. Related metallaboranes with metal carbonyl vertices are potentially useful as precursors for the preparation of special metal boride materials with novel electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. Our recent studies have focused on such systems, with theoretical predictions that agree well with experimental data on numerous derivatives – thus confirming the reliability of our methods. The general objective of this research project is understanding the structure, bonding, thermochemistry, and chemical reactivity of polyhedral metallaboranes, particularly those containing two or more transition metal vertices. To this end, density functional theory methods will be employed on various families of transition metal boranes. The research will focus on the study of internal and surface metal-metal bonding in dimetallaborane clusters of Ni and Mn, as well as on recently-reported hydrogen-rich oblatonido species having more open polyhedral structures, borane iron carbonyl derivatives, metallathiaboranes, trimetallaboranes and supraicosaheral systems. The influence of external factors, from solvation to interaction with biological ligands, including metallaborane-protein binding of potential medical importance, will also be examined.

Redox activation of small molecules at biological metal centers Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2012 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2012-4-0488 2013 - 2016

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES BOLYAI (RO)

Project website: http://chem.ubbcluj.ro/~rsd/PCE-2012-4-0488.htm

Abstract:

Redox activation of small molecules by metalloenzymes often entails unusual oxidation states, e.g. low-valent Ni and/or Fe in hydrogenases, or high-valent iron in oxygenases. Such systems offer promise of high-impact practical applicability (e.g., for energy sources, or for facile commodity production), as well as for novel theoretical findings. Our group's recent contributions have focused towards understanding high-valent metal-oxo complexes, as well as low-valent iron systems, with hydrocarbon activation as a special focus. The current proposal is a natural extension of this line of study. The aim is to investigate the reductive and oxidative activation of small molecules at centers including iron enzymes, cobalamin, and related model systems. Substrates for such experiments will be hydrogen sulfide (recently acknowledged as important signalling molecule acting on metalloenzymes), as well as sulfur oxides and oxyanions - with intriguing preliminary new data on cobalamin already reported by us. Enzymes working on halide and carbon oxyanions will offer interesting parallels with the sulfur systems; (mechanisms in, e.g., sulfite reductase or chlorite dismutase still await detailed exploration). Proton reduction is also expected to be implicit in the case of the lower-oxidation states - especially in cobalamin-related models. Computational as well as experimental methods (rapid kinetics, low-temperature spectroscopy) will be employed to this end.

BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS OF METAL COMPOUNDS METALLOMICS Call name: Complex Exploratory Research Projects - PCCE-2008 call
PN-II-ID-PCCE-2008-0140 2010 - 2013

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA, CENTRUL DE CHIMIE ORGANOMETALICA

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA, CENTRUL DE CHIMIE ORGANOMETALICA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA, LABORATORUL DE MODELARE MOLECULARA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA, LABORATORUL DE CARACTERIZARE A COMPUSILOR ORGANOMETALICI (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, INSTITUTUL DE CERCETARI EXPERIMENTALE INTERDISCIPLINARE, LABORATORUL DE CERCETARI IN ELECTROCHIMIE, CENTRUL DE ANALIZE FIZICO-CHIMICE (RO); UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA (RO); INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC, PROFESOR DR. I. CHIRICUTA, CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE IULIU HATIEGANU DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE STIINTE AGRICOLE SI MEDICINA VETERINARA, BANAT, TIMISOARA, FACULTATEA DE TEHNOLOGIA PRODUSILOR ALIMENTARI, DEPARTAMENTUL DE BIOCHIMIE SI BIOLOGIE MOLECULARA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE STIINTA SI INGINERIA MATERIALELOR, LABORATORUL DE ANALIZA FORMELOR SI STRUCTURILOR TEHNOLOGICE (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA BABES-BOLYAI DIN CLUJ-NAPOCA, FACULTATEA DE CHIMIE SI INGINERIE CHIMICA (RO)

Project website: http://chem.ubbcluj.ro/pagini/anorganica/ihaiduc/metallomics/index.html

Abstract:

We propose a complex inter-/trans-disciplinary fundamental research program in the field of biomedical applications of metallocomplexes. The wide international interest on this topic, as well as the perspective of obtaining new fundamental knowledge and the potential applications thereof, justify such a program in romania. The project involves specialists from diverse fields: chemistry, biochemistry, biology, medical doctors specialized in clinical laboratory, medical oncology, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, anatomo-pathology, pharmacology, cell biology and materials science. Inorganic and organometallic compounds of transition metals and of main group elements (e.g., ga) with heterocyclic ligands containing one or more sulfur and/or nitrogen atoms, chiral as well as achiral (phenothiazines, pyridines, diazines, triazines, tetrazoles), diazenium-diolates, calixarenes, calixpyrroles, dithiocarbamates, and heteropolytopic ligands (p/n, p/s, as/n, as/s), including potential nitric oxide generators, will be synthesized, characterized and tested. In order to facilitate targeted delivery and gradual release of the active components (hence, controlled concentrations thereof), compounds/ligands will be attached to peptidic moieties or other biocompatible matrices. The final goal is to identify compounds with anti-mitotic and anti-proliferative effect, with applications in developing new chemotherapeutical drugs and radiosensitizing materials for use in cancer therapy, as well as the elucidation of biochemical, immunological, molecular, radiobiological, and oxidative stress-related aspects of the interaction of metals with living cells. This will entail a systematic study of the molecular-level interaction between metalloproteins (e.g., cytochrome c, relevant to apoptosis) and the newly-synthesized compounds, as well as of the degree to which the latter modulate the levels of stress agents (e.g., no, superoxide) and/or affect key steps in apoptosis or cancer.

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects