Complete list of publications is available here.
Key Skills and Knowledge Areas
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Medicinal Chemistry
- Therapeutics development via Organic Chemistry (specialty in radioprosthetic, chelator, amino acid and nucleotide development)
- Synthetic route design and optimization
- Bioconjugation (small molecules payloads, linkers, oligonucleotides, peptides, antibodies)
- Solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS, standard and custom amino acids, manual and automatic, linear and cyclic)
- Solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis (SPOS, standard and custom phosphoramidites, also on-bead triphosphorylation)
- Biomolecule library development through computational modelling, databases and structural activity relationship (SAR)
- Validation via mass spectroscopy (MS, including MALDI analysis of oligonucleotides), inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS, ICP-OES), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC, including LC-MS), nuclear magnetic spectroscopy (NMR), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), X-ray crystallography (XRD)
- I also teach some of these topics in UBC Chemistry course CHEM461+561.
Radiochemistry
- Radioisotopes: 18F, 32P, 68Ga, 111In, 161Tb, 177Lu, and more
- Manual (by hand/ telemanipulators) and automated synthesis (Trasis AllinOne)
- Protein (including antibodies) and peptide radioconjugates (includes chelators)
- Oligonucleotide, nucleotide, antibody, peptide radioconjugates (includes chelators)
- Radiobiocatalysis (specialty in oligonucleotide biochemistry)
- Labeling conditions and assay development
- Quality control data and troubleshoot radiosyntheses
- Method development and optimization
- Inventory, shipment, and containment management
Molecular Biology
- Functional (biological) assay development (e.g. MTT/MTS, ELISA, lentivirus, binding assays)
- Culturing (bacterial, mammalian) and sterile workflows
- Enzymology (specialty in nucleic acid-modifying enzymes)
- Oligonucleotide (DNA/ RNA) manipulation and purification (includes HPLC)
- Microscopy
- Lentivirus manipulation
- I also teach some of these topics in UBC Biochemistry course BIOC301.
Pre-clinical Comparative Nuclear Medicine
- PET scan processing and analysis
- Rodent restraint
- Subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injections
- Biodistribution analysis
Academic Communication
- Scientific artwork (Adobe Illustrator + InDesign)
- Webpage design (WordPress)
- Technical writing
- Peer-reviewed articles
- Technology transfer documents
- Scientific instruction at university level
Personal Attributes
- Project leadership and collaboration across multi-disciplinary boundaries
- Autonomous experimental design and execution
- Robust collaboration, negotiation, and problem solving
- Coaching and advising young scientists through facilitation
- Fluency in English
Knowledge Areas/ Professional Development
- Chemical biology
- Biochemistry
- Radiation oncology (specialty in nuclear medicine)
- PK/PD
- Pharmaceutical industry and business translation (specialty in radiopharmaceuticals)
- Health economics and regulatory science in US, Canadian, and European markets
- Biopharmaceutical manufacturing and GMP
As evidence of demonstrating these skills, the complete list of publications is available here. For lay summary, see My Work: Explained.
Modification of Nucleotides for Biological Recognition
My research focuses on the chemical biology of nucleotides, exploring modifications to enhance their molecular targeting capacities and biological stability. This work is particularly relevant in advancing medical applications, as exemplified by approval of nucleic acid-based medicines such as vaccines, aptamer drugs, and nucleotide analogs.
DNA with Medical Isotopes
We developed the first enzymatic method to program multiple radiometals into precise DNA positions: a step toward cancer imaging and therapy.
Medical Imaging
My first leading-author publication on positron emission tomography (PET) targeting thymidine metabolism in colorectal cancer.
DNAzyme Selection
Modification of nucleotide triphosphates leads to selection of DNAzymes that cleaves specific RNA sequences.
Development of Peptide Inhibitor Theranostics for Pre-clinical Cancer Care
In response to the persistent public health challenge posed by cancer, our research team is developing peptide inhibitor radiopharmaceuticals by integrating diagnostic and therapeutic radioisotopes (i.e. theranostics). Building on the FDA approval of Prostate Membrane Specific Antigen (PSMA)-specific radiotracers, we aim to enhance the chemical libraries of PSMA and Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) inhibitors (FAPI) to optimize in vivo performance. This collaborative holds promising potential for translation to human clinical trials, such as prostate and colorectal cancer.
PSMA Analogs with clinically impactful bio-distribution
Careful choice of amino acid in PSMA analogs reduces salivary gland uptake in mouse model.
1 This study was conducted by an independent team; it is included for narrative completeness only.
Novel Tricyclic FAPI Analogs
Exploring novel tricyclic FAPI analogs (e.g. SB03178) with sustained radiotracer tumor uptake.
2 Antonio has no financial interest in this compound.
Structural Activity Relationship of Small Molecule Inhibitors
My work delves into the structural activity relationship of small molecule inhibitors, with a focus on α-amanitin, a potent neurotoxin isolated from the death cap mushroom Amanita phalloides. Leveraging the first total synthesis of amanitin, I aim to explore its close analogs to identify more potent toxins for targeted cancer therapy, tapping into the immense potential of natural products as potent drugs.
Novel antibody-amanitin conjugates
By studying the hydroxy-proline residue, novel antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with synthetic amanitin analogs were tested in vitro for the first time.
Supratoxic analogs rival the natural product
Novel amanitin analogs were found more potent than the naturally found α-amanitin through modification of the eastern-ring.