Dr. Tugba Ertan-Bolelli

Education

• B.S., Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, 2002
• M.S., Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, 2005
• Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, 2012

Dr. Tugba Ertan-Bolelli earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in the Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department at Ankara University. She served as a Research Assistant in the same department for over ten years and later assumed the role of an Associate Professor. During her tenure, she authored more than 40 papers and was part of the translation of two chemistry books into Turkish. Over the last three years, she pursued postdoctoral research at Mercer University College of Pharmacy.

Dr. Bolelli is passionate about teaching; she has experienced theoretical and practical courses including organic chemistry, drug design methods, and laboratory experiments for more than 15 years. Her research philosophy also leads to her teaching philosophy where curiosity playing a significant role in both areas. She believes that instead of just explaining the topic theoretically, supporting it with practical applications makes it easier for students to understand and stimulate interest. Since many students plan to pursue careers as health professionals or as industrial scientists in the biomedical or pharmaceutical fields, illustrating concepts with specific drugs usually excites students.

Courses Taught

• General Chemistry I and II (Lecture and Laboratory)
• Organic Chemistry I and II (Lecture and Laboratory)

Research and professional interests

Dr. Ertan-Bolelli has strong experiences using the concepts and tools of ligand-based and structure-based drug design methods and chemical database searching. The interrelationship between molecular structure and biological function has long fascinated her. Most of her research interests include the organic, medicinal, and computational chemistry fields. Currently, she is involved in six collaborative research projects, focusing on two main components: identifying lead compounds through molecular modeling studies and designing new compounds with promising biological activity; then, synthesizing and testing these compounds for biological activities. Notable research areas include the design of new compounds targeting NLRP3, KMO, NOX4, SARS-CoV-2, GSTP1-1, and Topo-II.

She has extensive hands-on experience in organic synthesis, particularly in heterocyclic chemistry. Additionally, she possesses in-depth knowledge and practical expertise in various techniques for synthesizing, purifying, and spectroscopically characterizing novel compounds, including NMR, LC-MS, IR, etc.

Recent Publications

• T. Ertan-Bolelli, Kayhan Bolelli, S.D. Elçi, F.B. Belen-Apak. Promising Drug Fondaparinux for the Treatment of COVID-19: an In Silico Analysis of Low Molecular Weight Heparin, Direct Oral Anticoagulant, and Antiplatelet Drug Interactions with Host Protease Furin. Cardiovasc. Drugs. Ther. 19;1-8, (2022).
• E. Karatas, E. Foto, T. Ertan-Bolelli, G. Yalcin-Ozkat, S. Yilmaz, S. Ataei, F. Zilifdar, I. Yildiz. Discovery of 5-(or 6)-benzoxazoles and oxazolo[4,5-b]pyridines as novel candidate antitumor agents targeting hTopo IIα. Bioorganic Chemistry 112, 104913, (2021).
• K. Bolelli, T. Ertan Bolelli, O. Unsalan, C. Altunayar Unsalan. Fenoterol and dobutamine as SARS-CoV-2 main protease inhibitors: A virtual screening study. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1228, 129449, (2021).
• Y.S. Mary, T. Ertan-Bolelli, R. Thomas, A. R. Krishnan, K. Bolelli, E.N. Kasap, T. Onkol, I. Yildiz. Quantum Mechanical Studies of Three Aromatic Halogen-Substituted Bioactive Sulfonamidobenzoxazole Compounds with Potential Light-Harvesting Properties. Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds 41 (7), 1563–1579, (2021).
• C. Acar, G. Yalcin, T. Ertan Bolelli, F. Kaynak Onurdag, S. Okten, F. Sener, I. Yildiz. Synthesis and molecular docking studies of some novel antimicrobial benzamides. Bioorganic Chemistry, 94, 103368, (2020).
• N.K. Proctor , T. Ertan-Bolelli, K. Bolelli, E.W. Taylor , N.H.L. Chiu and J. P. Bowen. Towards a Better Understanding of Computational Models for Predicting DNA Methylation Effects at the Molecular Level. Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry, 20, 901-909, (2020).
• T. Ertan-Bolelli, K. Bolelli, Y. Musdal, I. Yildiz, E. Aki-Yalcin, B. Mannervik, I. Yalcin, “Design and Synthesis of 2-Substituted-5-(4-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonamido)benzoxazole Derivatives as Human GST P1-1 Inhibitors”, Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine, and Biotechnology, 46(3), 510-517 (2018).
• M. Incerti, L. Crascì, P. Vicini, E. Aki, I. Yalcin, T. Ertan-Bolelli, V. Cardile, A.C. Eleonora Graziano, A. Panico, “4-Thiazolidinone Derivatives as MMP Inhibitors in Tissue Damage: Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Docking Studies”, Molecules, 23(2), 415(1-18) (2018).
• T. Ozkan, Y. Hekmatshoar, T. Ertan-Bolelli, A.N. Hidayat, M. Beksac, E. Aki-Yalcin, I. Yalcin, A. Sunguroglu, “Determination of the Apoptotic Effect and Molecular Docking of Benzamide Derivative XT5 in K562 Cells”, Anticancer Agents Med Chem, 18, 1521-1530 (2018).

Contact Dr. Bolelli

678.547.6021
ertan_t@mercer.edu