Dr Christopher Smith

BSc(Hons), PhD, MRACI, MRSC

Expertise

Chemical synthesis using benign reaction media, green sustainable technologies, application of spinning disc processing (SDP) for the synthesis of biologically active molecules, quantitative assessments of supramolecular interactions using NMR spectroscopy, self-assembly processes for building supramolecular arrays, macrocyclic chemistry, supramolecular chemistry of oligopyridine ligands, combinatorial (high-throughput) green chemistry methodologies for medicinal chemistry, synthesis of nano-functional materials.

Contribution to the Centre

The synthesis of bioactive compounds (e.g. anticancer agents) using SDP, research into developing surface catalyst systems for chemical synthesis using SDP, syntheses incorporating green chemistry metrics (benign reaction media), synthesis of surfactants and stabilising agents, the self-assembly of metallosupramolecular systems, fostering collaborative links within the University sector including interstate and overseas institutions, and with Government, CSIRO and industry, and coordinating outreach programs.

Current Projects in the Centre

• Chemical synthesis of bioactive molecules using surface catalysed SDP (with Colin Raston, Nicole Smith)
• Formation of G-quadruplex DNA binding anticancer agents using parallel synthesis in benign reaction media (PEG) (with Nicole Smith, Colin Raston and Shankar Balasubarmanian (Cambridge)).
• Preparation of supermolecules which self-assemble into porous nanoarrays for drug delivery and separation science (with Mohamed Makha, Colin Raston and Alex Sobolev)

Grants and research contracts relevant to Centre activities

• UWA Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, 'BUILDING SUPRAMOLECULAR ARCHITECTURES USING BENIGN CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES', 2004-2007 $60,000/year.
• UWA Research Grant, 'DEVELOPMENT OF NEW G-QUADRUPLEX DNA BINDING LIGANDS AS POTENTIAL ANTI-CANCER AGENTS', 2006 $18600.
• UWA OII Pathfinder Grant, 2005, Synthesis of 4'-(Pyridyl)-Terpyridines using PEG technology, $9000.
• WA Chemical Solutions (with Prof Colin Raston and Dr Mohamed Makha).

Postgraduates working on core projects in the Centre

• Nicole Smith (with Prof Colin Raston)

Visitors

• Pallavi Panse (Singapore Polytechnic) 2006