Chemistry
Chemistry Research

Chemistry Research Faculty

Mekki Bayachou, Ph.D.

Associate Dean & Professor
Email: m.bayachou@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Functional biomaterials; antithrombotic surfaces; electron transfer; nitric oxide synthases; metalloproteins; metalloenzymes; cyt P450s; bio-electrochemistry; DNA sensors; DNA-protein interaction; small molecule metabolite sensors; nanotechnology.
 

Bin Su, Ph.D.

Professor, Director of Undergraduate Program
Email: b.su@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Protein secretion dysregulation in disease development, cargo receptors impact on bleeding disorders; vesicle formation, COPII, and human disease; engineering gene therapies.
 

Warren Boyd, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Practice, AAUP
Email: w.c.boyd59@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Coordination chemistry of azodioxides, transition metal-catalyzed organic reactions, and metal-based anticancer agents.
 

Valentin Gogonea, Ph.D.

Professor
Email: v.gogonea@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Computational chemistry; enzyme reactivity; nitric oxide synthase; hydrogenase; cholesterol transport; deuterium exchange; quantum mechanical molecular mechanics; molecular dynamics; protein folding.
 

John Turner, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Email: j.f.turner@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Raman spectroscopy; fluorescence; infrared; IR; near infrared; NIR; visible; chemical imaging; multivariate analysis; chemometrics; mineral; biomineral; bone; teeth; biomaterials; implant materials; bioanalysis; spectral imaging; hyperspectral imaging; multispectral imaging; liquid crystal tunable filter; LCTF; acousto-optic tunable filter; AOTF; CCD; charge coupled device, spectroscopy; gemology; gemstone; miner- alogy; geology; Raman database; poly-llactide.
 

Xue-Long Sun, Ph.D.

Professor, Director of Graduate Program, Director of NMR Facility
Email: x.sun55@csuohio.edu
Expertise: Glycan-based antiviral and anti-inflammation drug development, immunomodulation, targeted drug delivery, nanomaterial, and biosensor applications. Biomimetic synthesis of native anticoagulant biomolecules for compensation of their loss in the pathological site as an on-demand therapeutic strategy. Profiling and modulating cell surface glycosylation pattern and cell function.
 

Chemistry Research Labs

Bin Su Lab

^{Bin Su, Ph.D.}

Dr. Su’s laboratory focuses on drug development research, with two primary directions.

The first research direction is anti-cancer drug discovery. We synthesize small molecules to inhibit heat shock proteins, which play critical roles in tumor progression and drug resistance. This research encompasses drug design, synthesis, molecular target identification, in vitro and in vivo evaluation, and pharmacokinetic investigation. Currently, our primary disease model is Androgen Receptor (AR)-overexpressing glioblastoma.

The second research direction is anti-trypanosomiasis drug discovery. Trypanosomal parasites cause human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), which is classified as a neglected tropical disease. Current treatments are toxic, have limited efficacy, and require hospitalization—posing significant challenges in many African countries. Dr. Su’s team focuses on developing orally active small molecules that selectively target the parasites without harming the host. Through a collaboration with Dr. Bibo Li, the team has already identified several lead compounds demonstrating excellent selectivity against the parasites.

Boyd Group: Transition Metal Complexes and Biological Applications

^{W. Christopher Boyd, Ph.D.}

Research in the Boyd group focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and biological activity studies of transition metal complexes of diphenylazodioxide or of modified simple sugars. Students in the Boyd group will obtain experience with the air-free synthesis, purification, and spectroscopic analysis of novel transition metal complexes, as well as cell studies aimed at identifying transition metal complexes with potential anticancer or wound-healing activity.

The X-L. Sun Lab

^{Xue-Long Sun, Ph.D.}

The X-L. Sun Lab is working in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Biomaterial Chemistry, Chemical Biology and Glycobiology areas.