Dr Muhammad Saeed Joined LUMS in 2014 as an Associate Professor. He established the Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry (BMC) group in The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. Originally trained as synthetic organic chemist, he has extensive postdoctoral research experience at the interface of chemistry and biology. He is interested to address the modern challenges in biological sciences and medicinal chemistry by using the tools of organic chemistry. More specifically, he pursues rational antiviral and anticancer drug designing and discovery by using modern day techniques of computational modeling, protein dynamics and simulations, supported by the conventional wet-chemistry of organic synthesis and high-throughput screening of synthetic compounds and natural products.

Dr Saeed received his PhD degree in organic chemistry from Eberhard-Karls University of Tuebingen, Germany under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Dr (hc mult) Wolfgang Voelter, after accomplishing total syntheses of several natural products and medicinal analogs using the chirality and topology of abundant carbohydrates. After PhD, he joined the research group of Prof. Ercole Cavalieri, DSc at the Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA, where he participated as chemical biologist in mechanistic investigation of cancer initiation by estrogens and related carcinogenic compounds. Before joining LUMS, he has also spent some time in the Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, where he worked as a visiting assistant professor as well as conducted research as postdoctoral scholar with Prof. Amnon Kohen, DSc in the area of development of radiopharmaceuticals as positron emission tomography (PET) tracers. He has published around 50 research articles in reputed international journals, such as J. Biol. Chem., Int. J. Cancer, Free Rad. Biol. Med. Chem. Res. Toxicol., and Tetrahedron Lett. His is currently investigating proteases of different viruses (COVID-19, dengue, HCV) as drug targets for designing efficient direct-acting antivirals (DAAs).

Click here to view Dr. Saeed’s research group webpage
 

Title Publication Author Year
Determination of bandgap of period 3, 4, and 5 transition metal dopants on zinc oxide using an artificial neural network based approach Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems Saeed M.H., Kosar N., Hassan S.-U., Nadeem S., Mohammed M.A., Abd Ghani M.K., Abdulkareem K.H., 2023
Repurposing of investigational cancer drugs: Early phase discovery of dengue virus NS2B/NS3 protease inhibitors Archiv der Pharmazie Saleem H.N., Kousar S., Jiskani A.H., Sohail I., Faisal A., Saeed M., 2023
Cellulose-based adsorbent materials for water remediation: Harnessing their potential in heavy metals and dyes removal Journal of Cleaner Production Aslam A.A., Hassan S.U., Saeed M.H., Kokab O., Ali Z., Nazir M.S., Siddiqi W., Aslam A.A., 2023
Investigating catalytic oxidative desulfurization of model fuel using hollow PW<inf>12</inf>/TiO<inf>2</inf>@MgCO<inf>3</inf> and performance optimization via box-behnken design Chemosphere Hassan S.U., Khalid H., Shafique S., Farid M.A., Saeed M.H., Ali Z., Nazir M.S., Hussain M., Park Y.-K., 2023
Development of hamming and hausdorff distance metrics for cubic intuitionistic fuzzy hypersoft set in cement storage quality control: Development and evaluation PLoS ONE Saeed M., Saeed M.H., Khalid M., Mekawy I., 2023
The photocatalytic and antibacterial potential of highly efficient S-scheme binary S-gC<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf>@Co-zinc ferrite nanocomposite Optical Materials Hassan S.S., Javed M., Akhtar M.N., Qamar M.A., Ahmed N., Saeed M., Aroosh K., Khan S., Asif S., 2023
Exploring chromone sulfonamides and sulfonylhydrazones as highly selective ectonucleotidase inhibitors: Synthesis, biological evaluation and in silico study Bioorganic Chemistry Younus H.A., Saeed M., Mahmood A., Jadoon M.S.K., Hameed A., Asari A., Mohamad H., Pelletier J., Sevigny J., Iqbal J., al-Rashida M., 2023
Plasma-based ozonolysis of lignin waste materials for the production of value-added chemicals Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery Muazzam R., Hafeez A., Uroos M., Saeed M., Rehman F., Muhammad N., 2023
Photocatalytic degradation of industrial dye using hybrid filler impregnated poly-sulfone membrane and optimizing the catalytic performance using Box-Behnken design Chemosphere Hassan S.U., Shafique S., Palvasha B.A., Saeed M.H., Raza Naqvi S.A., Nadeem S., Irfan S., Akhter T., Khan A.L., Nazir M.S., Hussain M., Park Y.-K., 2023
Identification of novel inhibitors against VP40 protein of Marburg virus by integrating molecular modeling and dynamics approaches Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Saeed M., Alamri M.A., Rashid M.A.R., Javed M.R., Azeem F., Bashir Z., Alanzi A.R., Muhseen Z.T., Almusallam S.Y., Hussain K., 2023
Validation of a Cost-Effective RP-HPLC Method for Quantitative Investigation of Daclatasvir Dihydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulations Journal of Chemistry Sarfraz S., Saeed M., Javed M., Hussain N., Iqbal S., Amin S., Bahadur A., Jawhari A.H., Althobiti R.A., Alzahrani E., Farouk A.-E., Aljazzar S.O., Elkaeed E.B., 2023
Part-II: an update of Schiff bases synthesis and applications in medicinal chemistry-a patent review (2016-2023) Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents Younus H.A., Saleem F., Hameed A., Al-Rashida M., Al-Qawasmeh R.A., El-Naggar M., Rana S., Saeed M., Khan K.M., 2023
Endophytic bacteria of Fagonia indica Burm. F revealed to harbour rich secondary antibacterial metabolites PLoS ONE Rahman L., Mukhtar A., Ahmad S., Rahman L., Ali M., Saeed M., Shinwari Z.K., 2022
Synthesis, X-Ray crystallography and HF/DFT analysis of N(diethylcarbamothioyl) furan-2-carboxamide, analyzed by experimental and theoretical methods Journal of Molecular Structure Saeed A., Ashraf S., Shabir G., Hokelek T., Florke U., Mukhtar A., Saeed M., 2022
Novel Carboxylic Acid-Capped Silver Nanoparticles as Antimicrobial and Colorimetric Sensing Agents Molecules Irfan M.I., Amjad F., Abbas A., Ur Rehman M.F., Kanwal F., Saeed M., Ullah S., Lu C., 2022
Synthetic flavonoids as potential antiviral agents against SARS-CoV-2 main protease Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics Batool F., Mughal E.U., Zia K., Sadiq A., Naeem N., Javid A., Ul-Haq Z., Saeed M., 2022
Postharvest shelf life enhancement of peach fruit treated with glucose oxidase immobilized on ZnO nanoparticles Food Chemistry Batool R., Kazmi S.A.R., Khurshid S., Saeed M., Ali S., Adnan A., Altaf F., Hameed A., Batool F., Fatima N., 2022
Minocycline-derived silver nanoparticles for assessment of their antidiabetic potential against alloxan-induced diabetic mice Pharmaceutics Kazmi S.A.R., Qureshi M.Z., Sadia, Alhewairini S.S., Ali S., Khurshid S., Saeed M., Mumtaz S., Mughal T.A., 2021
Catalytic C???O bond cleavage in a ??-O-4 lignin model through intermolecular hydrogen transfer Inorganica Chimica Acta Ahsan Usman M., Naeem M., Saeed M., Zaheer M., 2021
Schiff-Based Metal Complexes of Lamotrigine: Design, Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation ACS Omega Najm S., Naureen H., Sultana K., Anwar F., Khan M.M., Nadeem H., Saeed M., 2021
APPLICATION OF SIMILARITY MEASURE IN PATTERN RECOGNITION OF COVID-19 SPREAD AND ITS EFFECTS IN PAKISTAN Applied and Computational Mathematics Saeed M., Mehmood A., Abdeljawad T., Saeed M.H., Asim M., 2021
Facile synthesis and in vitro activity of n-substituted 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-ones against dengue virus NS2BNS3 protease Pathogens Batool F., Saeed M., Saleem H.N., Kirschner L., Bodem J., 2021
Sulfonylhydrazones: Design, synthesis and investigation of ectonucleotidase (ALP &amp; e5???NT) inhibition activities Bioorganic Chemistry Younus H.A., Hameed A., Mahmood A., Khan M.S., Saeed M., Batool F., Asari A., Mohamad H., Pelletier J., Sevigny J., Iqbal J., al-Rashida M., 2020
Density functional theory study of palladium cluster adsorption on a graphene support RSC Advances Hussain R., Saeed M., Mehboob M.Y., Khan S.U., Usman Khan M., Adnan M., Ahmed M., Iqbal J., Ayub K., 2020
Synthesis and evaluation of novel S-benzyl- and S-alkylphthalimide- oxadiazole -benzenesulfonamide hybrids as inhibitors of dengue virus protease Bioorganic Chemistry Hamdani S.S., Khan B.A., Hameed S., Batool F., Saleem H.N., Mughal E.U., Saeed M., 2020
Erratum: Catechol-O-methyltransferase expression and 2-methoxyestradiol affect microtubule dynamics and modify steroid receptor signaling in leiomyoma cells (PLoS ONE (2013) 8:1 DOI: 10.1371/annotation/8c8c0cae-7f2f-4f37-9807- 2d02b6c14db1) PLoS ONE Salama S.A., Kamel M.W., Botting S., Salih S.M., Borahay M.A., Hamed A.A., Kilic G.S., Saeed M., Williams M.Y., Diaz-Arrastia C.R., 2013
Effect of Tumour Necrosis Factor-Alpha on Estrogen Metabolic Pathways in Breast Cancer Cells Journal of Cancer Kamel M., Shouman S., El-Merzebany M., Kilic G., Veenstra T., Saeed M., Wagih M., Diaz-Arrastia C., Patel D., Salama S., 2012
Mechanism of DNA depurination by carcinogens in relation to cancer initiation IUBMB Life Cavalieri E., Saeed M., Zahid M., Cassada D., Snow D., Miljkovic M., Rogan E., 2012
Formation of dopamine quinone-DNA adducts and their potential role in the etiology of Parkinson's disease IUBMB Life Zahid M., Saeed M., Yang L., Beseler C., Rogan E., Cavalieri E.L., 2011
Formation of diethylstilbestrol-DNA adducts in human breast epithelial cells and inhibition by resveratrol Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Hinrichs B., Zahid M., Saeed M., Ali M.F., Cavalieri E.L., Rogan E.G., 2011
The effect of tamoxifen and raloxifene on estrogen metabolism and endometrial cancer risk Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Williams-Brown M.Y., Salih S.M., Xu X., Veenstra T.D., Saeed M., Theiler S.K., Diaz-Arrastia C.R., Salama S.A., 2011
Resveratrol and N-acetylcysteine block the cancer-initiating step in MCF-10F cells Free Radical Biology and Medicine Zahid M., Saeed M., Beseler C., Rogan E.G., Cavalieri E.L., 2011
N-acetylcysteine blocks formation of cancer-initiating estrogen-DNA adducts in cells Free Radical Biology and Medicine Zahid M., Saeed M., Ali M.F., Rogan E.G., Cavalieri E.L., 2010
Benzene and dopamine catechol quinones could initiate cancer or neurogenic disease Free Radical Biology and Medicine Zahid M., Saeed M., Rogan E.G., Cavalieri E.L., 2010
Catechol-O-methyltransferase expression and 2-methoxyestradiol affect microtubule dynamics and modify steroid receptor signaling in leiomyoma cells PLoS ONE Salama S.A., Kamel M.W., Botting S., Salih S.M., Borahay M.A., Hamed A.A., Kilic G.S., Saeed M., Williams M.Y., Diaz-Arrastia C.R., 2009
NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 Arg139Trp and Pro187Ser polymorphisms imbalance estrogen metabolism towards DNA adduct formation in human mammary epithelial cells Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Singh S., Zahid M., Saeed M., Gaikwad N.W., Meza J.L., Cavalieri E.L., Rogan E.G., Chakravarti D., 2009
Depurinating naphthalene-DNA adducts in mouse skin related to cancer initiation Free Radical Biology and Medicine Saeed M., Higginbotham S., Gaikwad N., Chakravarti D., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2009
Mechanism of metabolic activation and DNA adduct formation by the human carcinogen diethylstilbestrol: The defining link to natural estrogens International Journal of Cancer Saeed M., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2009
Prevention of estrogen-DNA adduct formation in MCF-10F cells by resveratrol Free Radical Biology and Medicine Zahid M., Gaikwad N.W., Ali M.F., Lu F., Saeed M., Yang L., Rogan E.G., Cavalieri E.L., 2008
Resveratrol prevents estrogen-DNA adduct formation and neoplastic transformation in MCF-10F cells Cancer Prevention Research Lu F., Zahid M., Wang C., Saeed M., Cavalieri E.L., Rogan E.G., 2008
Inhibition of catechol-O-methyltransferase increases estrogen-DNA adduct formation Free Radical Biology and Medicine Zahid M., Saeed M., Lu F., Gaikwad N., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2007
Estrogen metabolism and formation of estrogen-DNA adducts in estradiol-treated MCF-10F cells. The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin induction and catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Lu F., Zahid M., Saeed M., Cavalieri E.L., Rogan E.G., 2007
Formation of depurinating N3Adenine and N7Guanine adducts by MCF-10F cells cultured in the presence of 4-hydroxyestradiol International Journal of Cancer Saeed M., Rogan E., Fernandez S.V., Sheriff F., Russo J., Cavalieri E., 2007
Formation of depurinating N3adenine and N7guanine adducts after reaction of 1,2-naphthoquinone or enzyme-activated 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene with DNA. Implications for the mechanism of tumor initiation by naphthalene Chemico-Biological Interactions Saeed M., Higginbotham S., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2007
The greater reactivity of estradiol-3,4-quinone vs estradiol-2,3-quinone with DNA in the formation of depurinating adducts: Implications for tumor-initiating activity Chemical Research in Toxicology Zahid M., Kohli E., Saeed M., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2006
Development of monoclonal antibodies to 4-hydroxyestrogen-2-N- acetylcysteine conjugates: Immunoaffinity and spectroscopic studies Chemical Research in Toxicology Markushin Y., Kapke P., Saeed M., Zhang H., Dawoud A., Rogan E.G., Cavalieri E.L., Jankowiak R., 2005
Novel spiro-quinone formation from 3???-hydroxydiethylstilbestrol after oxidation with silver oxide Tetrahedron Letters Saeed M., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2005
Synthesis of the catechols of natural and synthetic estrogens by using 2-iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX) as the oxidizing agent Steroids Saeed M., Zahid M., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2005
Slow loss of deoxyribose from the N7deoxyguanosine adducts of estradiol-3,4-quinone and hexestrol-3???,4???-quinone.: Implications for mutagenic activity Steroids Saeed M., Zahid M., Gunselman S.J., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2005
Formation of the depurinating N3adenine and N7guanine adducts by reaction of DNA with hexestrol-3???,4???-quinone or enzyme-activated 3???-hydroxyhexestrol: Implications for a unifying mechanism of tumor initiation by natural and synthetic estrogens Steroids Saeed M., Gunselman S.J., Higginbotham S., Rogan E., Cavalieri E., 2005