Professor：Makoto Oba

 

We are a chemistry laboratory based in a medical school, where we take full advantage of this unique interdisciplinary environment. Our research focuses on the design and synthesis of novel compounds rooted in organic and synthetic chemistry. We evaluated their functions through life science and fundamental medical science approaches using cell- and animal-based studies, and ultimately aim to develop innovative technologies for research, disease prevention, and therapy.

1. Takemoto, H.*, Umeno, T., Oba, M., Poly(amino acid)-based design principle for pH-responsive tumor delivery. OpenNano 2026, 29, 100301.
2. Ide, D., Yokoo, H.*, Mizutani, S., Inoue, Y., Okamoto, H., Tsukamoto, T., Demizu, Y., Shimura, Y., Oba, M., Kuroda, J.* Synthesis and evaluation of a potential RSK2 degrader in human multiple myeloma cell lines. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2026, 74(3), 240-246.
3. Ibuki, S., Danno, H., Shino, T., Waku, T., Kawaguchi., Kambe, T., Masaoka, S., Umeno, T., Oba, M.*, Takemoto, H*, Pyrophosphate as a phosphate donor for the design of stable and pH-responsive calcium nanoparticles for biomacromolecule encapsulation. Langmuir 2025, 41, 30845-30853.
4. Umeno, T.*, Takemoto, H., Oba, M.*, Plasmid DNA delivery using arginine-rich cell-penetrating L/D-peptides containing α-aminoisobutyric acids. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2025, 23, 5191-5196.
5. Oba, M.*, Development of cell-penetrating peptides and their application to DDS. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2025, 73(7), 574-580.
6. Saimoto, Y., Kusakabe, D., Morimoto, K., Matsuoka, Y., Kozakura, E., Kato, N, Tsunematsu, K., Umeno, T., Kiyotani, T., Matsumoto, S., Tsuji, M., Hirayama, T., Nagasawa, H., Uchida, K., Karasawa, S., Jutanom, M., Yamada, K.* Lysosomal lipid peroxidation contributes to ferroptosis induction via lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 3554.
7. Chintrakulchai, W., Awaad, A., Kobayashi, M., Yanagida, K., Tiu, C. L., Toyoda, M., Muguruma, K., Honda, Y., Takemoto, H., Nishiyama, N.*, Miura, Y.* Polyzwitterion-based pH-responsive shell of polymeric micelle: Evaluation of physicochemical properties and in vivo functionalities. Biomacromolecules 2025, 26(12), 8508-8521.
8. Ibuki, S., Umeno, T., Oba, M.*, Takemoto, H.* Rearrangement in diamine-based polyzwitterion side chains for the modulated pH responsiveness regardless of their comparable pKa values. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2025, 46(15), 2500156.
9. Oba, M.*, Nonaka, H., Umeno, T., Kato, T., Doi, M., Ueda, A., Tanaka, M.* Redox-responsive side chain structural changes in a seven-membered cyclic ,-disubstituted -amino acid with a disulfide bond enable reversible conformational changes in peptides. ChemPlusChem 2025, 90(4), e202400772.
10. Umeno, T.*, Tanaka, M., Fujihara, M., Iizuka, N., Matsumoto, S., Usui, K., Karasawa, S.* Advanced pH indicators consisting of BODIPY and coumarin fluorophores with a guanidinyl structure capable of methanol recognition. Asian J. Org. Chem. 2025, 14, e202400605.
11. Imayoshi, A.*, Yokoo, H., Kawaguchi, M., Tsubaki, K., Oba, M.* Visualization of plasmid DNA deliver system by complementary fluorescence labeling of arginine-rich peptides. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2024, 72(10), 856-861.
12. Naka, M., Umeno, T., Shibuya, M., Yamaberi, Y., Ueda, A., Tanaka, M., Takemoto, H., Oba, M.* Intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA using amphipathic helical cell-penetrating peptides containing dipropylglycine. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2024, 72(5), 512-517.
13. Yokoo, H.*; Dirisala, A.; Uchida, S.; Oba, M.* Oligosarcosine conjugation of arginine-rich peptide improves the intracellular delivery of peptide/pDNA complexes. ACS Biomater. Sci. Eng. 2024, 10(2), 890-896.
14. Zhu, C.; Takemoto, H.; Higuchi, Y.*; Yamashita, F. Programmed immobilization of living cells using independent click pairs. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2024, 699, 149556.
15. Oba, M.*; Nakajima, S.; Misao, K.; Yokoo, H.; Tanaka, M. Effect of helicity and hydrophobicity on cell-penetrating ability of arginine-rich peptides. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2023, 91, 117409.
16. Oba, M.*; Shibuya, M.; Yamaberi, Y.; Yokoo, H.; Uchida, S.; Ueda, A.; Tanaka, M.* An amphipathic structure of a dipropylglycine-containing helical peptide with sufficient length enables safe and effective intracellular siRNA delivery. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 2023, 71(3), 250-256.
17. Umeno, T.*; Fujihara, M.; Matsumoto, S.; Iizuka, N.; Usui, K.; Karasawa, S.* Quantitative and nondestructive colorimetric amine detection method for the solid-phase peptide synthesis as an alternative to the Kaiser test. Anal. Chem. 2023, 95, 15803-15809.
18. Umeno, T.*; Muroi, L.; Kayama, Y.; Usui, K.; Hamada, K.; Mizutani, A.; Karasawa, S.* Naphthyridine-based electron push−pull-type amine-reactive fluorescent probe for sensing amines and proteins in aqueous media. Bioconjugate Chem. 2023, 34, 1439-1446.
19. Yokoo, H.; Misawa, T.; Kato, T.; Tanaka, M.; Demizu, Y.*; Oba, M.* Development of delivery carriers for plasmid DNA by conjugation of a helical template to oligoarginine. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2022, 72, 116997.
20. Takemoto, H.*; Awaad, A.; Iizuka, M; Ogi, K.; Mochida, Y.; Ranneh, A. H.; Toyoda, M.; Matsui, M.; Nomoto, T.; Honda, Y.; Hayashi, K.; Tomoda, K.; Ohtake, T.; Miura, Y.; Nishiyama, N.* Changeable net charge on nanoparticles facilitates intratumor accumulation and penetration. J. Control. Release 2022, 346, 392-404.
21. Umeno, T.*; Seto, R.; Matsumoto, S.; Fujihara, M.; Karasawa, S.* Basic fluorescent protonation-type pH probe sensitive to small DpKa of methanol and ethanol. Anal. Chem. 2022, 94, 10400-10407.