Dr Robert Elmes

    Chemistry, Human Health Institute

    On sabbatical
    Semester 1: 2021-22

    Chemistry Department, Science Building
    2nd Floor
    2.62
    (01) 708 4615

    Biography

    Rob graduated from the University of Dublin, Trinity College in 2007 having undertaken his final year project at the Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, Université Montpellier I, France under the supervision of Prof. Thierry Durand. In 2007 he was awarded an IRCSET Embark Scholarship to undertake his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Thorri Gunnlaugsson at TCD where his research concerned the design, synthesis and evaluation of new metal complexes and nanomaterials as DNA probes and photoreagents. After a short postdoctoral tenure at the Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute in Dublin, Rob moved to The University of Sydney under the guidance of Prof. Kate Jolliffe. Here, he was involved in the development of new platforms for the recognition, sensing and transport of biologically relevant anions. In late 2014, Rob returned to Ireland taking up a lecturing position at Maynooth University where he is currently a Lecturer in Organic Chemistry within the Department of Chemistry. Rob’s research interests lie in the fields of Supramolecular Chemistry and Chemical Biology where the group is trying to develop areas in both health- and nano- science. Rob’s current research concerns designing biomimetic materials as drug delivery vehicles, diagnostic tools, antitumor therapeutics and environmental sensors. 

    Research Interests

    • Medicinal Chemistry

    • Supramolecular and host:guest chemisty

    • Peptidomimetics

    • Chemical biology and Nano-Biotechnology

    Post Doctoral Fellows/Research Team

      Researcher Name Project Role Funding Body
    Lokesh Kumawat Colorimetric and Luminescent Squaramide Based Anion Receptors Post Doctorate Irish Research Council (IRC)

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2021 'Real-Time Multi-Photon Tracking and Bioimaging of Glycosylated Theranostic Prodrugs upon Specific Enzyme Triggered Release'
    Calatrava-Pérez E.;Marchetti L.A.;McManus G.J.;Lynch D.M.;Elmes R.B.P.;Williams D.C.;Gunnlaugsson T.;Scanlan E.M. (2021) 'Real-Time Multi-Photon Tracking and Bioimaging of Glycosylated Theranostic Prodrugs upon Specific Enzyme Triggered Release'. Chemistry - A European Journal, [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'Squaramide-Based Self-Associating Amphiphiles for Anion Recognition'
    Kumawat L.K.;Wynne C.;Cappello E.;Fisher P.;Brennan L.E.;Strofaldi A.;McManus J.J.;Hawes C.S.;Jolliffe K.A.;Gunnlaugsson T.;Elmes R.B.P. (2021) 'Squaramide-Based Self-Associating Amphiphiles for Anion Recognition'. ChemPlusChem, 86 (8):1058-1068 [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'Investigating structural property relationships to enable repurposing of pharmaceuticals as zinc ionophores'
    Kavanagh O.;Elmes R.;O’sullivan F.;Farragher J.;Robinson S.;Walker G. (2021) 'Investigating structural property relationships to enable repurposing of pharmaceuticals as zinc ionophores'. Pharmaceutics, 13 (12) [DOI] [Details]
    2021 'Coumarin-based fluorescent probe for the detection of glutathione and nitroreductase'
    Tian, X;Kumawat, LK;Bull, SD;Elmes, RBP;Wu, LL;James, TD (2021) 'Coumarin-based fluorescent probe for the detection of glutathione and nitroreductase'. Tetrahedron, 82 [DOI] [Details]
    2021 '1,8-Naphthalimide based fluorescent sensors for enzymes'
    Geraghty, C;Wynne, C;Elmes, RBP (2021) '1,8-Naphthalimide based fluorescent sensors for enzymes'. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 437 [DOI] [Details]
    2020 'Glycosyl squaramides, a new class of supramolecular gelators'
    Ramos J;Arufe S;Martin H;Rooney D;Elmes RBP;Erxleben A;Moreira R;Velasco-Torrijos T; (2020) 'Glycosyl squaramides, a new class of supramolecular gelators'. Soft Matter, [DOI] [Details]
    2020 'Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Profiling of Ruthenium(II)-Based 4-Nitro- And 4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide Conjugates'
    Elmes R.B.P.;Ryan G.J.;Erby M.L.;Frimannsson D.O.;Kitchen J.A.;Lawler M.;Williams D.C.;Quinn S.J.;Gunnlaugsson T. (2020) 'Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Profiling of Ruthenium(II)-Based 4-Nitro- And 4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide Conjugates'. Inorganic Chemistry, [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'RGD conjugated cell uptake off to on responsive NIR-AZA fluorophores: Applications toward intraoperative fluorescence guided surgery'
    Wu D.;Daly H.;Grossi M.;Conroy E.;Li B.;Gallagher W.;Elmes R.;O'Shea D. (2019) 'RGD conjugated cell uptake off to on responsive NIR-AZA fluorophores: Applications toward intraoperative fluorescence guided surgery'. Chemical Science, 10 (29):6944-6956 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2019 'Coumarin-based fluorescent 'AND' logic gate probes for the detection of homocysteine and a chosen biological analyte'
    Wu L.;Gardiner J.;Kumawat L.;Han H.;Guo R.;Li X.;He X.;Elmes R.;Sedgwick A.;Bull S.;James T. (2019) 'Coumarin-based fluorescent 'AND' logic gate probes for the detection of homocysteine and a chosen biological analyte'. RSC Advances, 9 (45):26425-26428 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2019 'The Versatility of Squaramides: From Supramolecular Chemistry to Chemical Biology'
    Marchetti L.;Kumawat L.;Mao N.;Stephens J.;Elmes R. (2019) 'The Versatility of Squaramides: From Supramolecular Chemistry to Chemical Biology'. Chem, 5 (6):1398-1485 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2019 'Receptors for sulfate that function across a wide pH range in mixed aqueous-DMSO media'
    Qin L;Wright JR;Lane JDE;Berry SN;Elmes RBP;Jolliffe KA; (2019) 'Receptors for sulfate that function across a wide pH range in mixed aqueous-DMSO media'. Chemical Communications, [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'Squaramide—Naphthalimide Conjugates as “Turn-On” Fluorescent Sensors for Bromide Through an Aggregation-Disaggregation Approach'
    Kumawat, Lokesh K. and Abogunrin, Anthony A. and Kickham, Michelle and Pardeshi, Jyotsna and Fenelon, Orla and Schroeder, Martina and Elmes, Robert B. P. (2019) 'Squaramide—Naphthalimide Conjugates as “Turn-On” Fluorescent Sensors for Bromide Through an Aggregation-Disaggregation Approach'. Frontiers in Chemistry, 7 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2019 'Extraction and transport of sulfate using macrocyclic squaramide receptors'
    Qin L.;Vervuurt S.;Elmes R.;Berry S.;Proschogo N.;Jolliffe K. (2019) 'Extraction and transport of sulfate using macrocyclic squaramide receptors'. Chemical Science, 11 (1):201-207 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2018 'Dynamic materials fabricated from water soluble pillar[n]arenes bearing triethylene oxide groups'
    Xiao T.;Zhou L.;Xu L.;Zhong W.;Zhao W.;Sun X.;Elmes R. (2018) 'Dynamic materials fabricated from water soluble pillar[n]arenes bearing triethylene oxide groups'. Chinese Chemical Letters, [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2018 'Artificial light-harvesting systems fabricated by supramolecular host–guest interactions'
    Xiao T.;Zhong W.;Zhou L.;Xu L.;Sun X.;Elmes R.;Hu X.;Wang L. (2018) 'Artificial light-harvesting systems fabricated by supramolecular host–guest interactions'. Chinese Chemical Letters, [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2018 'A long wavelength colourimetric chemosensor for fluoride'
    Marchetti L.;Mao N.;Krämer T.;Kitchen J.;Elmes R. (2018) 'A long wavelength colourimetric chemosensor for fluoride'. Supramolecular Chemistry, :1-11 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2018 'A simple umbelliferone based fluorescent probe for the detection of nitroreductase'
    Sedgwick, Adam C. and Hayden, Alex and Hill, Barry and Bull, Steven D. and Elmes, Robert B. P. and James, Tony D. (2018) 'A simple umbelliferone based fluorescent probe for the detection of nitroreductase'. Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2018 ''AND'-based fluorescence scaffold for the detection of ROS/RNS and a second analyte'
    Odyniec M.;Sedgwick A.;Swan A.;Weber M.;Tang T.;Gardiner J.;Zhang M.;Jiang Y.;Kociok-Kohn G.;Elmes R.;Bull S.;He X.;James T. (2018) ''AND'-based fluorescence scaffold for the detection of ROS/RNS and a second analyte'. Chemical Communications, 54 (61):8466-8469 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2017 '2-Nitroimidazole based fluorescent probes for nitroreductase; monitoring reductive stress in cellulo'
    Ao, X;Bright, SA;Taylor, NC;Elmes, RBP (2017) '2-Nitroimidazole based fluorescent probes for nitroreductase; monitoring reductive stress in cellulo'. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 15 :6104-6108 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2017 'Synthesis of Side-Chain Modified Peptides Using Iterative Solid Phase 'Click' Methodology'
    Liu, X.,Elmes, R.B.P.,Jolliffe, K.A. (2017) 'Synthesis of Side-Chain Modified Peptides Using Iterative Solid Phase 'Click' Methodology'. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 70 (2):201-207 [Details]
    2016 'Bioreductive fluorescent imaging agents: Applications to tumour hypoxia'
    Elmes R. (2016) 'Bioreductive fluorescent imaging agents: Applications to tumour hypoxia'. Chemical Communications, 52 (58):8935-8956 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2016 'Macrocyclic squaramides: Anion receptors with high sulfate binding affinity and selectivity in aqueous media'
    Qin L.;Hartley A.;Turner P.;Elmes R.;Jolliffe K. (2016) 'Macrocyclic squaramides: Anion receptors with high sulfate binding affinity and selectivity in aqueous media'. Chemical Science, 7 (7):4563-4572 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2016 'Ru(II)-polypyridyl surface functionalised gold nanoparticles as DNA targeting supramolecular structures and luminescent cellular imaging agents'
    Martiez-Calvo, M;Orange, KN;Elmes, RBP;Poulsen, BL;Williams, DC;Gunnlaugsson, T (2016) 'Ru(II)-polypyridyl surface functionalised gold nanoparticles as DNA targeting supramolecular structures and luminescent cellular imaging agents'. Nanoscale, 8 :563-574 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2016 'Catalysis and Sensing for our Environment (CASE2015) and the Supramolecular Chemistry Ireland Meeting (SCI 2015): Dublin and Maynooth, Ireland. 8th - 11th July'
    Payne D.;Fossey J.;Elmes R. (2016) 'Catalysis and Sensing for our Environment (CASE2015) and the Supramolecular Chemistry Ireland Meeting (SCI 2015): Dublin and Maynooth, Ireland. 8th - 11th July'. Supramolecular Chemistry, :1-11 [DOI] [Details]
    2015 'Unexpected DNA binding properties with correlated downstream biological applications in mono vs. bis-1,8-naphthalimide Ru(II)-polypyridyl conjugates'
    Ryan G.;Poynton F.;Elmes R.;Erby M.;Williams D.;Quinn S.;Gunnlaugsson T. (2015) 'Unexpected DNA binding properties with correlated downstream biological applications in mono vs. bis-1,8-naphthalimide Ru(II)-polypyridyl conjugates'. Dalton Transactions, 44 (37):16332-16344 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2015 'pH switchable anion transport by an oxothiosquaramide'
    Elmes R.;Busschaert N.;Czech D.;Gale P.;Jolliffe K. (2015) 'pH switchable anion transport by an oxothiosquaramide'. Chemical Communications, 51 (50):10107-10110 [DOI] [Details]
    2015 'Anion recognition by cyclic peptides'
    Elmes R.;Jolliffe K. (2015) 'Anion recognition by cyclic peptides'. Chemical Communications, 51 (24):4951-4968 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2015 'Amino acid-based squaramides for anion recognition'
    Elmes, Robert B. P. and Jolliffe Katrina A. (2015) 'Amino acid-based squaramides for anion recognition'. Supramolecular Chemistry, 27 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2015 'Detailed Biological Profiling of a Photoactivated and Apoptosis Inducing pdppz Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex in Cancer Cells'
    Cloonan, S.M., Elmes, R.B.P., Erby, M., Bright, S.A., Poynton, F.E., Nolan, D.E., Quinn, S.J., Gunnlaugsson, T., Williams, D.C. (2015) 'Detailed Biological Profiling of a Photoactivated and Apoptosis Inducing pdppz Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complex in Cancer Cells'. Medicinal Chemistry, 58 :4494-4505 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2014 'Sulfate-Selective Recognition by Using Neutral Dipeptide Anion Receptors in Aqueous Solution'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Yuen, K. K. Y., Jolliffe, K. A. (2014) 'Sulfate-Selective Recognition by Using Neutral Dipeptide Anion Receptors in Aqueous Solution'. CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, 20 :7373-7380 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2014 'Thiosquaramides: pH switchable anion transporters'
    Nathalie Busschaert, Robert B. P. Elmes, Dawid D. Czech, Xin Wu, Isabelle L. Kirby, Evan M. Peck, Kevin D. Hendzel, Scott K. Shaw, Bun Chan, Bradley D. Smith, Katrina A. Jolliffe and Philip A. Gale (2014) 'Thiosquaramides: pH switchable anion transporters'. CHEMICAL SCIENCE, 5 :3617-3626 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2013 'Colorimetric and Luminescent Sensors for Chloride: Hydrogen Bonding vs Deprotonation'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Turner, P., Jolliffe, K. A. (2013) 'Colorimetric and Luminescent Sensors for Chloride: Hydrogen Bonding vs Deprotonation'. Organic Letters, 15 :5638-5641 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Photophysical and biological investigation of novel luminescent Ru(II)-polypyridyl-1,8-naphthalimide Trger's bases as cellular imaging agents'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Erby, M., Bright, S. A., Williams, D. C., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2012) 'Photophysical and biological investigation of novel luminescent Ru(II)-polypyridyl-1,8-naphthalimide Trger's bases as cellular imaging agents'. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 48 :2588-2590 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Synthesis and photophysical evaluations of fluorescent quaternary bipyridyl-1,8-naphthalimide conjugates as nucleic acid targeting agents'
    Ryan, G. J., Elmes, R. B. P., Quinn, S. J., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2012) 'Synthesis and photophysical evaluations of fluorescent quaternary bipyridyl-1,8-naphthalimide conjugates as nucleic acid targeting agents'. Supramolecular Chemistry, 24 :175-188 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Pushing the limit: synthesis, photophysical and DNA binding studies of a NIR-emitting Ru(II)-polypyridyl probe with light switch behaviour'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Kitchen, J. A., Williams, D. C., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2012) 'Pushing the limit: synthesis, photophysical and DNA binding studies of a NIR-emitting Ru(II)-polypyridyl probe with light switch behaviour'. DALTON TRANSACTIONS, 41 :6607-6610 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2011 'Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles; Their DNA Binding Abilities and Application As Cellular Imaging Agents'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Orange, K. N., Cloonan, S. M., Williams, D. C., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2011) 'Luminescent Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles; Their DNA Binding Abilities and Application As Cellular Imaging Agents'. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 133 :15862-15865 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2011 'Quaternarized pdppz: synthesis, DNA-binding and biological studies of a novel dppz derivative that causes cellular death upon light irradiation(Link)'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Erby, M., Cloonan, S. M., Quinn, S. J., Williams, D. C., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2011) 'Quaternarized pdppz: synthesis, DNA-binding and biological studies of a novel dppz derivative that causes cellular death upon light irradiation(Link)'. CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS, 47 :686-688 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2010 'Luminescence anion sensing via modulation of MLCT emission from a naphthalimide-Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex'
    Elmes, R. B. P., Gunnlaugsson, T. (2010) 'Luminescence anion sensing via modulation of MLCT emission from a naphthalimide-Ru(II)-polypyridyl complex'. TETRAHEDRON LETTERS, 51 :4082-4087 [DOI] [full-text] [Details]

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Royal Society of Chemistry Local Section Treasurer 01-JAN-15 /
    Institute of Chemistry of Ireland Council member 01-DEC-14 /

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    Frontiers in Supramolecular Chemistry Associate Editor /

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    2007 Medicinal Chemistry B. A. Mod.
    2011 Medicinal and Supramolecular Chemistry PhD