Assistant Professor

Tel: (+302610) 996015

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Web Page: http://www.chem.upatras.gr/faculty/mourtas

Curriculum Vitae

Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece.

Education

1998: Diploma in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, UPAT, Greece.  Degree: 8.1/10

2002: PhD in “Organic Chemistry”. Dissertation Title: “Solid Phase Synthesis of Mercapto compounds”, Department of Chemistry, UPAT, Greece.

2010: MSc in “Industrial Pharmacy and Drug Analysis”, Department of Pharmacy, UPAT, Greece.

Participation in Research Projects/ Work Experience

Postdoctoral research

• National program:«Development of novel nanocarriers for long-acting insulin-like peptides», Acronym: Νano-INS. Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation - RIS3. Regional Operational Program of Western Greece 2014-2020 (2019 - 6.2020).
• National program: «Innovative Systems for Delivery of anti-cancer drugs and imaging agents», Acronym: SISTOFAR. Operational Program “Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning 2014-2020”. EDVM-34 (7.2018 - 9.2018).
• European program FP7: «Nanoparticles for therapy and diagnosis of alzheimer disease», Acronym NAD. Νumber of participants: 19 (13 countries) (2014 - 12.2017 / 2^nd period).
• European program FP7: «KRas mutation interactions with host immunity in malignant pleural effusion», Acronym: KRASHIMPE (9.2013 - 8.2014).
• European program FP7: «Nanoparticles for therapy and diagnosis of alzheimer disease», Acronym NAD. Νumber of participants: 19 (13 countries) (2009 - 8.2013 / 1^st period).
• Interreg IIIa, Greece - Italy, 2006-2008: «Establishment of a multidisciplinary Scientific Network for the Development and Application of Biomaterials» (1.2007 - 8.2008).
• European program FP6: «Selection and development of microbicides for mucosal use to prevent sexual HIV transmission/acquisition», Acronym SHIVA. FP6 (Health). Νumber of participants: 11 partners (6 countries) (6.2004 - 2.2009).

Experience in chemical/biopharmaceutical industry

• Chemist at Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Laboratories (CBL S.A.) (7.2001 - 5.2004, with a gap of nine months to perform military service).

Responsibilities: Synthesis of resins of the trityl-type and suitably protected amino acids. Synthesis of key building blocks.

Processes: Solution and solid phase organic synthesis. Solid phase peptide synthesis. Small- and large-scale synthesis (industrial synthesis). Scale-up/Optimization. Analysis.

 

Prices/Honors

• Scholarship from Greek State Scholarships’ Foundation (IKY) for outstanding performance during first year undergraduate studies (Ranking 1^st in class) (1993 - 1994).
• Short-oral-communication prize (Prize: 1000 ILS) at the Israel-Greece Joint Meeting, 2014, Weizmann Institute, Israel.

Patents

1. «Complex formulations for administration of microbicides or other categories of drugs via mucosal (or vaginal or rectal) routes, with high drug-loading capacity and controllable drug release rates». Greek Patent, 20090100244, 2009, Inventor(s): S. G.Antimisiaris, P.Klepetsanis, Mourtas.
2. «Novel curcumin derivatives with improved physicochemical properties and surface-decorated Nanoliposomes (with the derivatives) with very high affinity for Amyloid-β1-42 peptide». Greek Patent application 20100100563, 2010. European patent application 110079902-2112, 2011 (EP2436673A1), Inventor(s): S. G.Antimisiaris, F. Nicotra, Mourtas, C. Zona, B. LaFerla, A. Niaraki.

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Courses

Undergraduate

• “Structure and Activity in Organic Chemistry” (Department of Chemistry, UPAT).
• “Organic Chemistry of Functional Groups II” (Department of Chemistry, UPAT).
• “Organic Chemistry” (Department of Biology, UPAT).

Graduate

• “Biomacromolecular and Combinatorial Chemistry” (MSc Program: «Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology», Department of Chemistry, UPAT).

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Research Activities

• Organic synthesis, peptide synthesis, solid phase synthesis, combinatorial chemistry.
• Methods to increase structural diversity of biologically active compounds and peptides.
• Synthesis of organic building blocks, aminoacid derivatives, drug derivatives.
• Synthesis of lipids and lipid derivatives with pharmaceutical interest.
• Methods to attach bioactives (small molecules and biomacromolecules) on lipidic nanoparticles.

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Representative Publications

• S. Mourtas, D. Gatos, K. Barlos. Solid phase synthesis of benzothiazolyl compounds. Tetrahedron Letters, 2001, 42 (11), 2201-2204.
• S. Mourtas, D. Gatos, V. Kalaitzi, C. Katakalou, K. Barlos. S-4-Methoxytrityl mercapto acids: synthesis and application. Tetrahedron Letters, 2001, 42 (39), 6965-6967.
• S. Mourtas, D. Gatos, M. Karavoltsos, C. Katakalou, K. Barlos. Resin-bound mercapto acids: synthesis and application. Tetrahedron Letters, 2002, 43 (18), 3419-3421.
• Karavoltsos, S. Mourtas, D. Gatos, K. Barlos. SPPS of Protected Peptidyl Aminoalkyl Amides. Journal of Peptide Science, 2002, 8 (11), 615-620.
• S. Mourtas, C. Katakalou, A. Nicolettou, C. Tzavara, D. Gatos, K. Barlos. Resin-bound aminothiols: synthesis and application. Tetrahedron Letters, 2003, 44 (1), 179-182.
• S. Mourtas, M. Canovi, C. Zona, D. Aurilia, A. Niarakis, B. La Ferla, M. Salmona, F. Nicotra, M. Gobbi, S. G. Antimisiaris. Curcumin-decorated nanoliposomes with very high affinity for amyloid-β1-42 peptide. Biomaterials, 2011, 32, 1635-1645.
• Airoldi^‡, S. Mourtas^‡, F. Cardona^‡, C. Zona, E. Sironi, G. D'Orazio, E. Markoutsa, F. Nicotra, S. G. Antimisiaris, B. La Ferla. ^‡Equal contribution. Nanoliposomes presenting on surface a cis-glycofused benzopyran compound display binding affinity and aggregation inhibition ability towards Amyloid β1-42 peptide. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2014, 6 (85), 43-50.
• S. Mourtas*, P. Christodoulou, P. Klepetsanis, D. Gatos, K. Barlos, S. G. Antimisiaris. Preparation of Benzothiazolyl-Decorated Nanoliposomes. Molecules, 2019, 24, 1540.
• S. Mourtas, C. Katakalou, D. Gatos, K. Barlos. Convergent Synthesis of Thioether Containing Peptides. Molecules, 2020, 25, 218.
• S. Mourtas*, B. Mavroidi, A. Marazioti, M. Kanavou, M. Sagnou, M. Pelecanou and S. G. Antimisiaris. Novel liposomes decorated with 2-(4'-aminophenyl)benzothiazole effectively inhibit Aβ_1-42 aggregation and exhibit in vitro brain targeting potential. Biomacromolecules, 2020, 21, 12, 4685–4698.