Research Group
CHEMICAL EQUILIBRIA
Prof. Tatjana Verbić, PhD

Group Members

Group photo with students working on their final projects or volunteering, March 2024.

Group members with Dr. Alex Avdeef (in-ADME Research, Walnat Creek, CA, USA) and Prof. Dr. Abu Serajuddin (St. John's Univ, Queens, NY, USA)

Research Areas

1. Physicochemical profiling and study of various types of ionic equilibria

The physicochemical characterization and study of different types of ionic equilibria of (potentially) biologically active substances are key steps in the early stages of drug development and in predicting the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of compounds. These studies include determination of acid dissociation constants, solubility, lipophilicity, and permeability of potential drugs, as well as the study of protein interactions and determination of the corresponding binding constants. The importance of these studies has been recognized following an assessment that approximately 1/3 of substances rejected during preclinical testing were rejected because of poor ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) properties, which largely depend on the physicochemical properties of the substances. In order to increase the bioavailability of potential drugs, it is important to investigate possible ways of increasing the solubility of poorly soluble (potentially) biologically active substances, as well as to study interactions that lead to increased solubility.

Study of equilibria in clofazimine solutions.

Effects of Different Weak Small Organic Acids on Clofazimine Solubility in Aqueous Media.

Imipramine solubility-pH profiles: self-aggregation vs. common-ion effect

2. Molecularly imprinted polymers and other sorbents for solid phase extraction: preparation, characterization, and application

Molecularly imprinted polymers are functional materials with potential applications in various fields of chemistry and chemical technology. Among other applications, they are used as sorbents for solid-phase extraction, chromatographic sorbents, in various types of sensors, as artificial enzymes and microreactors, and for the controlled release and delivery of drugs. The activities of the group are focused on the development of molecularly imprinted polymers and other sorbents for “challenging” molecules such as steroids, UV filters, and psychoactive drugs. The group also focuses on the synthesis of chiral molecularly imprinted polymers, as well as polymers and sorbents that can be applied in extraction or chromatography for the analysis of real samples, such as different types of surface water.

Illustration of the preparation of molecularly imprinted polymers for benzophenone-4.

Application of BSA-modified silica for solid phase extraction of progesterone from river water samples.

3. Application of chemoinformatics in medicinal chemistry, food chemistry, and materials chemistry

Quantum-chemical calculations are applied to predict different physicochemical properties of bioactive compounds and functional materials. Studying protein-ligand interactions, mechanisms of action of natural and synthetic compounds and their ADMET properties can be elucidated. This is furthter utilized in the design of novel structures with the improved drug-likeness.

The Equipment Used in Research

• Automatic titrators
• UV/Vis spectrophotometer
• Spectrofluorimeter
• HPLC with UV/Vis, RI and FL detection
• NMR
• FTIR

Patents

Bogdan Šolaja, Jelena Grahovac, Olivera Marković, Tatjana Verbić, Tatjana Srdić-Rajić, Milica Selaković, Života Selaković, Aleksandar Pavić, Substituted thiophene derivatives of quinoline and their use; patent holder: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Patent Decision No. 65266 dated March 11, 2024, Intellectual Property Office, Republic of Serbia.

Selected publications (papers)

1. Hari P. Kandagatla, Nower Chowdhury, Tatjana Ž. Verbić, Alex Avdeef, Adélaïde Savoy, Martin Kuentz, Abu T.M Serajuddin, Using mixtures of linoleic acid, a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid, and its monoglyceride in lipid-based formulations to increase drug loading and enhance aqueous microemulsification, Int. J. Pharm. Advanced Online Articles, 2026, 127369, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2026.127369.
2. Olivera S. Marković, Miloš P. Pešić, Alex Avdeef, Abu T. M. Serajuddin, Tatjana Verbić, Imipramine solubility-pH profiles: self-aggregation vs. common-ion effect, ADMET and DMPK, 14, 2026, 3128. https://doi.org/10.5599/admet.3128
3. Mladen M. Đurđević, Miloš P. Pešić, Tatjana Ž. Verbić, Application of BSA-modified silica for solid phase extraction of progesterone from river water samples, Talanta Open, 12, 2025, 100545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talo.2025.100545
4. Igor A. Topalović, Olivera S. Marković, Miloš P. Pešić, Mufaddal H. Kathawala, Martin Kuentz, Alex Avdeef, Abu T. M. Serajuddin, Tatjana Ž. Verbić, Effects of Different Weak Small Organic Acids on Clofazimine Solubility in Aqueous Media, Pharmaceutics 16(12), 2024, 1545. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics16121545
5. Miloš P. Pešić, Jugoslav B. Krstić, Tatjana Ž. Verbić, Highly selective water-compatible molecularly imprinted polymers for benzophenone-4, J. Serb. Chem. Soc. 88(1), 2023, 55–68. https://doi.org/10.2298/JSC22032540P
6. Mila Lazović, Ilija Cvijetić, Milica Jankov, Dušanka Milojković-Opsenica, Jelena Trifković, Petar Ristivojević, COSMO-RS in prescreening of Natural Eutectic Solvents for phenolic extraction from Teucrium chamaedrys, J. Mol. Liq. 387, 2023, 122649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2023.122649.
7. Ilija N. Cvijetić, Barbara Herlah, Aleksandar Marinković, Andrej Perdih, and Snežana K. Bjelogrlić, Phenotypic Discovery of Thiocarbohydrazone with Anticancer Properties and Catalytic Inhibition of Human DNA Topoisomerase IIα, Pharmaceuticals 16(3), 2023, 341. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16030341
8. Rabab Salih, Zlate Veličković, Milena Milošević, Vera P. Pavlović, Ilija Cvijetić, Ivana V. Sofrenić, Jelena D. Gržetić, Aleksandar Marinković, Lignin based microspheres for effective dyes removal: Design, synthesis and adsorption mechanism supported with theoretical study, J. Environ. Manag. 326(B), 2023, 116838, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116838.

Partners

• in-ADME Research, New York, USA (Alex Avdeef)
• St. John's University, New York, USA (Abu T.M. Serajuddin)
• University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (Martin Kuentz, Adélaïde Savoy)
• Hungarian Academy of Science, Budapest, Hungary (George Horvai)
• Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary (Viola Horvath, Blanka Toth)
• University College London, UK (Klara Valko, Mire Zloh)
• University of Barcelona, Spain (Clara Rafols, Elisabet Fuguet, Elisabet Bosch, Marti Roses, Susana Amezqueta)
• Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti (Bogdan A. Šolaja)
• Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Shanghai, China (Goran Angelovski)
• National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia (Andrej Perdih)
• University of Milano, Italy (Alessandro Pedreti)
• Institut za nuklearne nauke "Vinča" - Nacionalni institut Republike Srbije, Univerzitet u Beogradu (Svetlana Jovanović)
• Univerzitet u Beogradu - Farmacetuski fakultet (Gordana Popović)
• Univerzitet u Beogradu - Tehnološko-metalurški fakultet (Aleksandar Marinković, Aleksandra Božić)
• Univerzitet u Beogradu - Šumarski fakultet (Ivana Stojiljković)
• Univerzitet u Kragujevcu - Medicinski fakultet (Ratomir Jelić), Prirodno-matematički fakultet (Andrija Ćirić)
• Univerzitet u Novom Sadu - Prirodno-matematički fakultet, Novi Sad (Gorana S. Mrđan, Borko M. Matijević)
• Istraživačka stanica Petnica, Petnica, Valjevo

Projects

1. “Synthesis and Application of New Chemotherapeutic Agents Based on Natural Products and Metal Complexes (SIPHEMO),” strategic project of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA). Project Leader: Academician Dr. Bogdan Šolaja, Professor Emeritus. Duration: 2020–2022.
2. “Preparation and Characterization of Selective Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Sorbents” – bilateral project between the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA) and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Project Leaders: Prof. Dr. Tatjana Verbić (Serbian side) and Dr. Viola Horvat (Hungarian side). Duration: 2016–2018.
3. “Molecules in Motion – MOLIM,” CMST COST Action, CM1405 – European Union, Brussels, Belgium. Project Leader: Dr. Sonja Grubišić, Principal Research Fellow. Duration: 2014–2018.
4. “Small Molecule Antiviral Inhibitors,” University of Belgrade and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). Project Leader: Academician Prof. Dr. Bogdan Šolaja. Duration: 2015–2018.
5. “Synthesis of Aminoquinolines and Their Derivatives as Antimalarial Agents and Inhibitors of Botulinum Neurotoxin A,” Project No. 172008, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. Project Leaders: Prof. Dr. Bogdan Šolaja (2011–2018); Prof. Dr. Igor Opsenica (2018). Duration: 2011–2018.
6. “Rational Design and Synthesis of Biologically Active and Coordination Compounds and Functional Materials Relevant to (Bio)nanotechnology,” Project No. 172035, Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia. Project Leaders: Prof. Dr. Ivan Juranić (2011); Dr. Aleksandar Nikolić, Senior Research Associate (2012–2018). Duration: 2011–2018.
7. “Synthesis, Characterization and Activity of Organic and Coordination Compounds and Their Application in (Bio)nanotechnology,” Project No. 142010, Ministry of Science and Technological Development. Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Ivan Juranić. Duration: 2006–2010.
8. “Synthesis, Analysis and Activity of New Organic Polydentate Ligands and Their Complexes with d-Metals,” Project No. 142062, Ministry of Science and Technological Development. Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Živoslav Tešić. Duration: 2006–2010.
9. “Synthesis, Characterization, Structure and Biological Activity of Metal Complexes with Synthetic and Natural Organic Ligands,” Project No. 1713, Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection. Project Leader: Prof. Dr. Živoslav Tešić. Duration: 2001–2005.