Dr Alice Johnson MChem, MRSC

Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry

Summary

I joined Sheffield Hallam University as a lecturer in inorganic chemistry in 2022. My research focusses on the mechanism of action of metal complexes in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and I am a member of both the chemistry research group and the cancer research group within the Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre. I teach undergraduate and postgraduate students across the chemistry and biosciences degree programmes. I am a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Real Sociedad Española de Química and am currently the Early Career Researcher representative for the Industry and Innovation Research Institute.

E-mail

About

I obtained my Master of Chemistry (MChem) at the University of Durham and as part of this undertook a research placement in Spain through the ERASMUS scheme. Following this I moved to the Institute of Chemical Synthesis and Homogenous Catalysis (ISQCH) at the University of Zaragoza, Spain, to complete a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry working on the synthesis and properties of novel organogold complexes under the supervision of Prof. M. Concepción Gimeno. Through this I gained significant experience in synthetic organometallic chemistry as well as in studies of luminescence and cytotoxicity of metal complexes. I also undertook research placements at Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) in Tarragona, Spain, working for Prof. Antonio Echavarren on the synthesis of novel gold catalysts, and at the Fundamental and Applied Heterochemistry Laboratory within the Paul Sabatier University in Toulouse, France, working for Prof. Didier Bourissou on gold carbene complexes.

Following completion of my PhD, I moved to the University of Oxford for a postdoctoral research position in the group of Prof. Andrew Weller where I worked on rhodium catalysed amine-borane dehydropolymerisation, including the isolation and characterisation of sigma-complexes and studies of rhodium nanoparticle catalysis. I then moved to the University of Leicester for a postdoctoral position in the group of Dr Rama Suntharalingam working on the synthesis of anti-cancer stem cell copper complexes. It was here I gained expertise in cell culture and cancer cell assays.

My current research focusses on the synthesis of novel metal complexes featuring bioactive ligands and the study of their mechanism of action in inflammatory diseases, including cancer.

Teaching

Department of Biosciences and Chemistry

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Biosciences and Chemistry

BSc/MChem Chemistry, BSc/MSci Biochemistry, BSc Biomedical Science, MSc Analytical Chemistry, MSc Pharmaceutical Analysis

Introduction to Inorganic and Materials Chemistry; Physical and Inorganic Chemistry; Advanced Inorganic, Physical and Materials Chemistry; Frontiers of Chemical Research; Professional and Scientific Practice; Bioanalytical Methods; Plant Physiology and Anatomy; Atoms to Molecules; Energy and Reactions; Advanced Laboratory and Research Practice; BSc Research Project; MSc Research Project; MChem Research Project

Research

Industry and Innovation Research Institute

Synthesis of novel metal complexes for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Studies of the mechanism of action of metal based drugs in biological systems. New drug delivery approaches.

Publications

Journal articles

Johnson, A., Feng, X., Singh, K., Ortu, F., & Suntharalingam, K. (2023). The anti-breast cancer stem cell potency of copper(I)-non-ateroidal anti-inflammatory drug complexes. Molecules, 28 (17). http://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176401

Cross, M., Brodie, C., Crivoi, D., Goodall, J., Ryan, D., Martínez-Martínez, A., ... Weller, A.S. (2023). Dehydropolymerization of Amine-Boranes using Bis(imino)pyridine Rhodium Pre-Catalysis: σ-Amine-Borane Complexes, Nanoparticles, and Low Residual-Metal BN-Polymers that can be Chemically Repurposed. Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany). http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202302110

Johnson, A., Olelewe, C., Kim, J.H., Northcote-Smith, J., Mertens, R.T., Passeri, G., ... Suntharalingam, K. (2022). The anti-breast cancer stem cell properties of gold( i )-non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug complexes. Chemical Science. http://doi.org/10.1039/d2sc04707a

Xiao, Z., Northcote‐Smith, J., Johnson, A., Singh, K., & Suntharalingam, K. (2022). The cancer stem cell potency of group 10‐Azadiphosphine metal complexes. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry. http://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202200427

Johnson, A., Iffland-Mühlhaus, L., Northcote-Smith, J., Singh, K., Ortu, F., Apfel, U.-.P., & Suntharalingam, K. (2022). A bioinspired redox-modulating copper(II)–macrocyclic complex bearing non-steroidalanti-inflammatory drugs with anti-cancerstem cell activity. Dalton Transactions. http://doi.org/10.1039/D2DT00788F

Johnson, A., Royle, C.G., Brodie, C.N., Martínez-Martínez, A.J., Duckett, S.B., & Weller, A.S. (2021). η2-Alkene complexes of [Rh(PONOP-iPr)(L)]+ cations (L = COD, NBD, Ethene). Intramolecular alkene-assisted hydrogenation and dihydrogen complex [Rh(PONOP-iPr)(η-H2)]. Inorg Chem, 60 (18), 13903-13912. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03687

Johnson, A., Iffland, L., Singh, K., Apfel, U.-.P., & Suntharalingam, K. (2021). A dithiacyclam-coordinated silver(i) polymer with anti-cancer stem cell activity. Dalton Trans, 50 (17), 5779-5783. http://doi.org/10.1039/d1dt01155c

Xiao, Z., Johnson, A., Singh, K., & Suntharalingam, K. (2021). The Discrete Breast Cancer Stem Cell Mammosphere Activity of Group 10‐Bis(azadiphosphine) Metal Complexes. Angewandte Chemie, 133 (12), 6778-6783. http://doi.org/10.1002/ange.202014242

Xiao, Z., Johnson, A., Singh, K., & Suntharalingam, K. (2021). The discrete breast cancer stem cell mammosphere activity of group 10-Bis(azadiphosphine) metal complexes. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 60 (12), 6704-6709. http://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202014242

Johnson, A., Northcote-Smith, J., & Suntharalingam, K. (2021). Emerging metallopharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer. Trends in Chemistry, 3 (1), 47-58. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.trechm.2020.10.011

Northcote-Smith, J., Johnson, A., Singh, K., Ortu, F., & Suntharalingam, K. (2021). Breast Cancer Stem Cell Active Copper(II) Complexes with Naphthol Schiff Base and Polypyridyl Ligands. Inorganics, 9 (1). http://doi.org/10.3390/inorganics9010005

Kaur, P., Johnson, A., Northcote-Smith, J., Lu, C., & Suntharalingam, K. (2020). Immunogenic Cell Death of Breast Cancer Stem Cells Induced by an Endoplasmic Reticulum-Targeting Copper(II) Complex. ChemBioChem, 21 (24), 3618-3624. http://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202000553

Feld, C.J., Johnson, A., Xiao, Z., & Suntharalingam, K. (2020). Breast Cancer Stem Cell Potency of Nickel(II)-Polypyridyl Complexes Containing Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs. Chemistry, 26 (61), 14011-14017. http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202001578

Johnson, A., & Gimeno, M.C. (2020). Yldiide Ligands as Building Blocks for Polynuclear Coinage Metal Complexes: Metal Squares, Triangles and Chains. Chemistry - A European Journal, 26 (49), 11256-11265. http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202001022

Johnson, A., Marzo, I., & Gimeno, M.C. (2020). Heterobimetallic propargyl gold complexes with π-bound copper or silver with enhanced anticancer activity. Dalton Transactions, 49 (33), 11736-11742. http://doi.org/10.1039/d0dt02113j

Eskandari, A., Kundu, A., Johnson, A., Karmakar, S., Ghosh, S., & Suntharalingam, K. (2020). A tri-metallic palladium complex with breast cancer stem cell potency. Dalton Transactions, 49 (14), 4211-4215. http://doi.org/10.1039/d0dt00006j

Boyd, T.M., Andrea, K.A., Baston, K., Johnson, A., Ryan, D.E., & Weller, A.S. (2019). A simple cobalt-based catalyst system for the controlled dehydropolymerisation of H3B·NMeH2 on the gram-scale. Chemical Communications, 56 (3), 482-485. http://doi.org/10.1039/c9cc08864d

Dietz, M., Johnson, A., Martínez-Martínez, A., & Weller, A.S. (2019). The [Rh(Xantphos)]+ catalyzed hydroboration of diphenylacetylene using trimethylamine-borane. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 491, 9-13. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2019.03.032

Johnson, A., Martínez-Martínez, A.J., Macgregor, S.A., & Weller, A.S. (2019). A d10 Ag(i) amine-borane σ-complex and comparison with a d8 Rh(i) analogue: structures on the η1 to η2:η2 continuum. Dalton Trans, 48 (26), 9776-9781. http://doi.org/10.1039/c9dt00971j

Johnson, A., Marzo, I., & Gimeno, M.C. (2018). Ylide ligands as building blocks for bioactive group 11 metal complexes. Chemistry - A European Journal, 24 (45), 11693-11702. http://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201801600

Johnson, A., & Gimeno, M.C. (2017). Synthesis of propargyl-functionalized NHC gold complexes. Organometallics, 36 (7), 1278-1286. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.7b00012

Smirnova, E.S., Munoz Molina, J.M., Johnson, A., Bandeira, N.A.G., Bo, C., & Echavarren, A.M. (2016). ChemInform Abstract: Polynuclear Gold [Au^I]₄, [Au^I]₈, and Bimetallic [Au^I₄Ag^I] Complexes: C—H Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds and Homogeneous Carbonylation of Amines. ChemInform, 47 (43). http://doi.org/10.1002/chin.201643090

Johnson, A., & Gimeno, M.C. (2016). An efficient and sustainable synthesis of NHC gold complexes. Chemical communications (Cambridge, England), 52 (62), 9664-9667. http://doi.org/10.1039/c6cc05190a

Smirnova, E.S., Muñoz Molina, J.M., Johnson, A., Bandeira, N.A.G., Bo, C., & Echavarren, A.M. (2016). Polynuclear Gold [AuI]4, [AuI]8, and Bimetallic [AuI 4AgI] Complexes: C−H Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds and Homogeneous Carbonylation of Amines. Angewandte Chemie, 128 (26), 7613-7617. http://doi.org/10.1002/ange.201603200

Smirnova, E.S., Muñoz Molina, J.M., Johnson, A., Bandeira, N.A.G., Bo, C., & Echavarren, A.M. (2016). Polynuclear Gold [Au(I) ]4 , [Au(I) ]8 , and Bimetallic [Au(I) 4 Ag(I) ] Complexes: C-H Functionalization of Carbonyl Compounds and Homogeneous Carbonylation of Amines. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl, 55 (26), 7487-7491. http://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201603200

Johnson, A., Laguna, A., & Gimeno, M.C. (2014). Axially chiral allenyl gold complexes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 136 (37), 12812-12815. http://doi.org/10.1021/ja5055675

Martín-Lasanta, A., Álvarez de Cienfuegos, L., Johnson, A., Miguel, D., Mota, A.J., Orte, A., ... Cuerva, J.M. (n.d.). Novel ortho-OPE metallofoldamers: binding-induced folding promoted by nucleating Ag(i)–alkyne interactions. Chem. Sci, 5 (12), 4582-4591. http://doi.org/10.1039/c4sc01988a

Alice Johnson