Trinity College Dublin

Research Interests

Organic, Medicinal and Supramolecular Chemistry:

Our research effort in Trinity College Dublin is centred on the development of novel drugs for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Our main research theme is best described as the recognition and targeting of biologically relevant species.

The research group consists of about 20 researchers and their work focuses on developing novel sensory systems for detection of physiological species; developing supramolecular systems, where devices and tools on macroscopic levels are mimicked by synthetic molecules on a microscopic level e.g. molecular logic gates, molecular light switches, etc.

Our three main areas of research are best summarised as follows:

1. Fluorescent, Lanthanide luminescent and Colorimetric Supramolecular Devices
   Here the main emphasis is on the development of light off-on switches (like light switches), luminescent sensors for ions and molecules for in vivo detection and the development of luminescent self-assembly units and structures for materials science. This area also encompasses the development of oligonucleotide based signalling and sensing devices for gene targeting.
2. Lanthanide Ion based Peptide Conjugates as Ribonuclease Mimics
   Our main aim is to develop highly targeting and site-specific cleavers for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and DNA. This work is leading towards the development of novel antisense drugs using modified oligonucleotides and peptide nucleic acids.
3. Develoments of Novel Anti-cancer Agents
   Our main target is leukaemia. This work involves the development of new DNA targeting and enzyme inhibitors. In addition to carrying out all synthesis and evaluating the interactions of these compounds with nucleic acids in house, we also have our own cell testing and screening programme. This is done in collaboration with Professor Mark Lawler from the Department of Haematology, TCD.

Selected Publications

1. 'Synthesis and characterisation of bis-cyclen based dinuclear lanthanide complexes' Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson and Andrew J. Harte, Org. Biomol. Chem., 2006, 4, 1572-1579.
2. 'Colorimetric "Naked Eye" Sensing of Anions in Aqueous Solutions' Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson, Paul E. Kruger, Paul Jensen, Juliann Tierney, Haslin Dato Paduka Ali, and Gillian M. Hussey, J. Org. Chem., 2005, 70, 10875-10878. (featured in Chemical and Engineering News article; Issue dated February 13, 2006)
3. 'Anion recognition using preorganized thiourea functionalized [3]polynorbornane receptors' Frederick M. Pfeffer, Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson, Paul Jensen and Paul E. Kruger, Org. Lett., 2006, 7, 5357-5360.
4. '4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide based anion receptors: employing the naphthalimide N-H moiety in the cooperative binding of dihydrogenphosphate' Frederick M. Pfeffer, Alisha M. Buschgens, Neil W. Barnett, Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson and Paul E. Kruger, Tetrahedron Lett., 2005, 46, 6579-6584.
5. 'Lanthanide luminescent switches: Modulation of the luminescence of bis-macrocyclic based Tb(III) conjugates in water by H+, Na+ and K+' Thorfinnur Gunnlaugsson and Joseph P. Leonard, Dalton Trans., 2005, 3204-3212.