The story of spectroelectrochemistry continues…
It took a year, but here it is1 – the second paper by Magda in collaboration with Professor Álvaro Colina’s research group! The sheer amount of data and the depth of analysis required a lot of time and effort, but it was absolutely worth it.
In the first paper, the team investigated the molecule TDMQ20, a compound with potential activity against Alzheimer’s disease. TDMQ20 is thought to act by removing Cu(II) ions from neurotoxic Cu(II)–beta-amyloid complexes in the brain.
In the latest study, the researchers examined the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical (SEC) properties of the Cu(II)–TDMQ20 complex. The results revealed that Cu(II) ions bound to TDMQ20 can undergo both oxidation to Cu(III) and reduction to Cu(I) – although, fortunately, the latter process is inefficient and occurs only at low potentials.
Why is this important and exciting? Because there are very few studies using SEC to investigate the redox stability of drug candidates, especially those that chelate copper ions. Yet this is a crucial topic, given the growing interest in copper-binding ligands as potential therapeutics not only for Alzheimer’s disease, but also for Parkinson’s disease.
Moreover, unlike traditional analytical techniques, the entire SEC experiment can be performed in a tiny droplet of just 30 microlitres. Isn’t that amazing?
Of course, Magda is deeply grateful for the opportunity to spend time in Burgos and work with such a wonderful team.
Stay tuned — the story of Magda and TDMQ20 is not over yet!
- M. Perez-Estebanez, F. Olmo-Alonso, N. Baran, M. Jönsson-Niedziółka, M. Wiloch
Spectroelectrochemical studies of TDMQ20: A potential drug against Alzheimer’s disease – Part 2 – Cu-complexes, Bioelectrochem. 168, 109115 (2026). (link – OA)(Preprint on ChemRxiv).
