Aaron Joseph L. Villaraza, PhD
Inorganic Chemistry
Professor
Email: alvillaraza@up.edu.ph
Office Room and Phone No.: T232-233, Local 3xxx
Lab Room: R217-218
Research Laboratory: Villaraza Lab
Education & Background
| Undergraduate | BS Chemistry, UP Diliman, 2001 |
| Graduate | PhD Chemistry, University of Manchester, 2008 |
| Postdoctoral & Visiting Scholar Fellowships | Academic Visitor, University of Oxford, 2012-2013 Visiting Scientist, University of Utah, 2011 Visiting Scholar, US National Institutes of Health, 2008-2010 |
| Previous Employment & Appointments | Deputy Director for Academic Affairs (DDAA), Institute of Chemistry, 2024 (Aug-Sep) Deputy Director, Office of International Linkages, UP System, 2015-2019 |
Teaching
| Chem 17: General Chemistry II |
| Chem 26: Introduction to Quantitative Chemical Analysis |
| Chem 113: Transition and Rare Earth Elements and their Compounds |
| Chem 217: Nuclear Chemistry |
Research
Research Focus
Medicinal Chemistry, Peptides, & Chelators
Our research is centered on:
- peptides as potential antibacterial, anticancer, and analgesic compounds
- peptides and cyclic polyamino carboxylates as metal chelators in medical diagnostics and therapy
- organic synthesis, inorganic complexation, HPLC, MALDI mass spectrometry, UV-Vis and CD-ORD spectroscopy
Selected Publications
(1) C. M. M. Ocampo and A. J. L. Villaraza. A Gd(III)-labelled self-assembling peptide as a potential pH-responsive MRI contrast agent. Dalton Trans. 2024, 53, 14971-14974. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT01773K
(2) C. R. Inocentes, L. A. Salvador-Reyes, A. J. L. Villaraza. Total synthesis and bioactivity evaluation of hydrophobic microcionamide-inspired peptides. Chem. Biodiv. 2023, 20, e202200832. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbdv.202200832
(3) O. J. V. Belleza, J. O. Tun, G. P. Concepcion, A. J. L. Villaraza. On the inhibition of capsaicin response in dorsal root ganglion neurons by nobilamide B and analogues: a structure-activity relationship study. Med. Chem. Commun. 2018, 9, 1673-1678. https://doi.org/10.1039/C8MD00304A
(4) O. J. V. Belleza, A. J. L. Villaraza. Ion charge density governs selectivity in the formation of metal-xylenol orange (M-XO) complexes. Inorg. Chem. Commun. 2014, 47, 87-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2014.07.024
(5) A. J. L. Villaraza, A. Bumb, M. W. Brechbiel. Macromolecules, dendrimers and nanomaterials in magnetic resonance imaging: the interplay between size, function and pharmacokinetics. Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 2921-2959. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr900232t
Awards & Extension Work
| 2016: Outstanding Young Scientist (Chemistry), NAST, DOST Philippines |
| 2013: 1st Place, Talent Search for Young Scientist, NAST, DOST Philippines |
| Membership in Professional Organizations 2023: Full Member, Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE, USA-Philippines) 2018: Member, Royal Society of Chemistry (United Kingdom) |