Dr Ana Kesić

Research is focused on the synthesis and detailed characterization of mononuclear complexes of transition metal ions, primarily gold, silver and copper, which exhibit potential antitumor activity. The newly obtained complexes are structurally confirmed using advanced analytical techniques, including NMR, IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray structural analysis. Special emphasis is placed on studying the kinetics and mechanisms of substitution reactions of these compounds with biologically relevant molecules, such as amino acids, peptides and DNA fragments, using spectrophotometric techniques. In addition, the interactions of the complexes with DNA molecules and serum albumin proteins are studied using a combination of experimental and computational methods, with the aim of better understanding their biological behavior. The therapeutic potential of the complexes is assessed by testing their cytotoxic activity on selected tumor cell lines in vitro. In addition to metal complexes, a significant part of the research includes the green synthesis of nanoparticles of silver and other metals using plant extracts as environmentally friendly reducing and stabilizing agents. The nanoparticles are characterized by spectroscopic, diffraction and microscopic methods, and their potential biological activity is examined in the context of antimicrobial, antioxidant and antitumor properties.

1. Snežana Radisavljević, Ana Kesić, Dušan Ćoćić, Vladimir Marković, Jelena Milovanović, Biljana Petrović, Ana Rilak Simović, New gold(III) chlorophenyl terpyridine complex: Biomolecular interactions and anticancer activity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma, Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 2023, Vol. 37, Issue 1, DOI: 10.1002/aoc.6922.
   https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aoc.6922
2. Snežana Radisavljević, Ana Đeković Kesić, Dušan Ćoćić, Rainer Puchta, Lothar Senft, Milica Milutinović, Nebojša Milivojević, Biljana Petrović, Transition metal complexes with ferrocene-based ligands: Synthesis and characterization, New Journal of Chemistry, 2020, Vol. 44, Issue 14, p. 1172, DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ02037K.
   https://doi.org/10.1039/D0NJ02037K
3. Željko Milanović, Zoran Marković, Ana Kesić, Snežana Jovanović Stević, Biljana Petrović, Elma Avdović, Gold(I) and Copper(I) complexes: Synthesis, structural characterization, and biological evaluation, Dalton Transactions, 2024, Vol. 53, p. 8275, DOI: 10.1039/D4DT00789A.
   https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT00789A
4. Katarina Marković, Ana Kesić, Marija Novaković, Marija Grujović, Dušan Simijonović, Elma Avdović, Saša Matić, Milan Paunović, Milica Milutinović, Dušan Nikodijević, Oliver Stefanović, Zoran Marković, Advances in transition metal chemistry: New insights into bioactive complexes, RSC Advances, 2024, Vol. 14, p. 4591, DOI: 10.1039/D3RA07819A.
   https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RA07819A
5. Ana Kesić, Snežana Jeremić, Biljana Petrović, Coordination chemistry studies of transition metal complexes, Journal of Coordination Chemistry, 2024, Vol. 17, p. 653, DOI: 10.1080/00958972.2023.2296382.
   https://doi.org/10.1080/00958972.2023.2296382