Professor Vito Ferro
Professor

Vito Ferro

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 69598

Background

Carbohydrate chemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery

Vito Ferro is a Professor in the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences. His research interests are in the area of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, and drug design and development.

Availability

Professor Vito Ferro is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Organic chemistry

Research interests

  • Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics

    Carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases including cancer, inflammation, viral infections and lysosomal storage diseases such as Sanfilippo syndrome.

Research impacts

Vito Ferro completed his PhD at the University of WA. Following postdoctoral fellowships at the Carsberg Laboratory (Denmark) and the University of British Columbia (Canada) he spent 12 years with the Australian biotechnology company Progen Pharmaceuticals, serving in various positions including Director of Drug Discovery. He was a key player in the development of two of the only four heparanase inhibitors to have reached clinical trials: muparfostat (PI-88), and pixatimod (PG545). Following a brief period at Queensland University of Technology as a Principal Research Fellow he moved to his current position at the University of Queensland in 2010. His research interests are in carbohydrate and medicinal chemistry with a particular focus on glycosaminoglycans, especially heparan sulfate, and their mimetics as potential drugs for a range of diseases. He is also a member of the Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre (AID), has published >110 papers and has multiple granted patents.

Search Professor Vito Ferro’s works on UQ eSpace

141 works between 1988 and 2025
All (141) Journal Article (128) Book Chapter (4) Conference Publication (5) Other Outputs (4)

41 - 60 of 141 works

2020

Journal Article

Synthesis of cholesterol glycoconjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

Nguyen, Huong, Pan, Yuchen, Nahain, Abdullah Al, Clarke, Daniel, McMillan, Nigel A. and Ferro, Vito (2020). Synthesis of cholesterol glycoconjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery. Trends in Carbohydrate Research, 12 (3), 1-9.

Synthesis of cholesterol glycoconjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

2019

Journal Article

Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545

Modhiran, Naphak, Gandhi, Neha S., Wimmer, Norbert, Cheung, Stacey, Stacey, Katryn, Young, Paul R., Ferro, Vito and Watterson, Daniel (2019). Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545. Antiviral Research, 168, 121-127. doi: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2019.05.004

Dual targeting of dengue virus virions and NS1 protein with the heparan sulfate mimic PG545

2019

Journal Article

PG545 treatment reduces RRV-induced elevations of AST, ALT with secondary lymphoid organ alterations in C57BL/6 mice

Supramaniam, Aroon, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Rudd, Penny A., Webster, Julie, Ferro, Vito and Herrero, Lara J. (2019). PG545 treatment reduces RRV-induced elevations of AST, ALT with secondary lymphoid organ alterations in C57BL/6 mice. PLoS ONE, 14 (6) e0217998, e0217998. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217998

PG545 treatment reduces RRV-induced elevations of AST, ALT with secondary lymphoid organ alterations in C57BL/6 mice

2019

Journal Article

In vitro enzymatic digestibility of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan nanoparticles in lysozyme solution and their applicability in pulmonary drug delivery

Islam, Nazrul, Wang, Hui, Maqbool, Faheem and Ferro, Vito (2019). In vitro enzymatic digestibility of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan nanoparticles in lysozyme solution and their applicability in pulmonary drug delivery. Molecules, 24 (7) 1271, 1271. doi: 10.3390/molecules24071271

In vitro enzymatic digestibility of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked chitosan nanoparticles in lysozyme solution and their applicability in pulmonary drug delivery

2019

Journal Article

Cross-species analysis of glycosaminoglycan binding proteins reveals some animal models are “more equal” than others

Boittier, Eric, Gandhi, Neha, Ferro, Vito and Coombe, Deirdre (2019). Cross-species analysis of glycosaminoglycan binding proteins reveals some animal models are “more equal” than others. Molecules, 24 (5) 924, 924. doi: 10.3390/molecules24050924

Cross-species analysis of glycosaminoglycan binding proteins reveals some animal models are “more equal” than others

2018

Journal Article

Synthesis and mass spectrometric analysis of disaccharides from methanolysis of heparan sulfate

He, Qi Qi, Trim, Paul J., Snel, Marten F., Hopwood, John J. and Ferro, Vito (2018). Synthesis and mass spectrometric analysis of disaccharides from methanolysis of heparan sulfate. Organic & Biomolecular Chemistry, 16 (45), 8791-8803. doi: 10.1039/c8ob02225a

Synthesis and mass spectrometric analysis of disaccharides from methanolysis of heparan sulfate

2018

Journal Article

The development of assays for heparanase enzymatic activity: towards a gold standard

Chhabra, Mohit and Ferro, Vito (2018). The development of assays for heparanase enzymatic activity: towards a gold standard. Molecules, 23 (11) 23112971, 2971. doi: 10.3390/molecules23112971

The development of assays for heparanase enzymatic activity: towards a gold standard

2018

Journal Article

Applications of ion mobility-mass spectrometry in carbohydrate chemistry and glycobiology

Mu, Yuqing, Schulz, Benjamin L. and Ferro, Vito (2018). Applications of ion mobility-mass spectrometry in carbohydrate chemistry and glycobiology. Molecules, 23 (10) 2557, 2557. doi: 10.3390/molecules23102557

Applications of ion mobility-mass spectrometry in carbohydrate chemistry and glycobiology

2018

Journal Article

Structural and conformational studies of the heparan sulfate mimetic PI-88

Elli, Stefano, Stancanelli, Eduardo, Handley, Paul N, Carroll, Anthony, Urso, Elena, Guerrini, Marco and Ferro, Vito (2018). Structural and conformational studies of the heparan sulfate mimetic PI-88. Glycobiology, 28 (10), 731-740. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwy068

Structural and conformational studies of the heparan sulfate mimetic PI-88

2018

Journal Article

Glycosylations of simple acceptors with 2-O-acyl L-idose or L-iduronic acid donors reveal only a minor role for neighbouring-group participation

Mohamed, Shifaza, He, Qi Qi, Lepage, Romain J., Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Ferro, Vito (2018). Glycosylations of simple acceptors with 2-O-acyl L-idose or L-iduronic acid donors reveal only a minor role for neighbouring-group participation. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2018 (19), 2214-2227. doi: 10.1002/ejoc.201800318

Glycosylations of simple acceptors with 2-O-acyl L-idose or L-iduronic acid donors reveal only a minor role for neighbouring-group participation

2018

Journal Article

Heparin mimetics with anticoagulant activity

Nahain, Abdullah Al, Ignjatovic, Vera, Monagle, Paul, Tsanaktsidis, John and Ferro, Vito (2018). Heparin mimetics with anticoagulant activity. Medicinal Research Reviews, 38 (5), 1582-1613. doi: 10.1002/med.21489

Heparin mimetics with anticoagulant activity

2018

Journal Article

Prophylactic anti-heparanase activity by PG545 is anti-viraland protects against Ross River virus disease in mice

Supramaniam, Aroon, Lui, Xiang, Ferro, Vito and Herrero, Lara (2018). Prophylactic anti-heparanase activity by PG545 is anti-viraland protects against Ross River virus disease in mice. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 62 (4) e01959-17, e01959-17. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01959-17

Prophylactic anti-heparanase activity by PG545 is anti-viraland protects against Ross River virus disease in mice

2017

Journal Article

New structural insights into the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y2448 phosphomannan

Handley, Paul N., Carroll, Anthony and Ferro, Vito (2017). New structural insights into the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y2448 phosphomannan. Carbohydrate Research, 446-447, 68-75. doi: 10.1016/j.carres.2017.05.008

New structural insights into the oligosaccharide phosphate fraction of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y2448 phosphomannan

2017

Journal Article

Carbohydrate–N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes: synthesis, catalysis and biological studies

Zhao, Weihao, Ferro, Vito and Baker, Murray V. (2017). Carbohydrate–N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes: synthesis, catalysis and biological studies. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 339, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2017.03.005

Carbohydrate–N-heterocyclic carbene metal complexes: synthesis, catalysis and biological studies

2017

Journal Article

Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics

Ferro, Vito (2017). Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics. Molecules, 22 (1) 20, 20. doi: 10.3390/molecules22010020

Glycosaminoglycans and their mimetics

2016

Journal Article

Recent advances in chitosan-based nanoparticulate pulmonary drug delivery

Islam, Nazrul and Ferro, Vito (2016). Recent advances in chitosan-based nanoparticulate pulmonary drug delivery. Nanoscale, 8 (30), 14341-14358. doi: 10.1039/c6nr03256g

Recent advances in chitosan-based nanoparticulate pulmonary drug delivery

2016

Journal Article

Effects of chemical conjugation of L‑leucine to chitosan on dispersibility and controlled release of drug from a nanoparticulate dry powder inhaler formulation

Muhsin, Mohammad D. A., George, Graeme, Beagley, Kenneth, Ferro, Vito, Wang, Hui and Islam, Nazrul (2016). Effects of chemical conjugation of L‑leucine to chitosan on dispersibility and controlled release of drug from a nanoparticulate dry powder inhaler formulation. Molecular Pharmaceutics, 13 (5), 1455-1466. doi: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.5b00859

Effects of chemical conjugation of L‑leucine to chitosan on dispersibility and controlled release of drug from a nanoparticulate dry powder inhaler formulation

2016

Journal Article

The stereoselectivities of tributyltin hydride-mediated reductions of 5-bromo-D-glucuronides to L-iduronides are dependent on the anomeric substituent: syntheses and DFT calculations

Mohamed, Shifaza, Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Ferro, Vito (2016). The stereoselectivities of tributyltin hydride-mediated reductions of 5-bromo-D-glucuronides to L-iduronides are dependent on the anomeric substituent: syntheses and DFT calculations. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry, 14 (10), 2950-2960. doi: 10.1039/C6OB00283H

The stereoselectivities of tributyltin hydride-mediated reductions of 5-bromo-D-glucuronides to L-iduronides are dependent on the anomeric substituent: syntheses and DFT calculations

2016

Journal Article

Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

Nguyen, Huong, Katavic, Peter, Bashah, Nur Atikah Halim and Ferro, Vito (2016). Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery. ChemistrySelect, 1 (1), 31-35. doi: 10.1002/slct.201600007

Synthesis of mannose-cholesterol conjugates for targeted liposomal drug delivery

2016

Journal Article

Meet our editorial board member

Ferro, Vito (2016). Meet our editorial board member. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 23 (1), 1. doi: 10.2174/092986732301151230160254

Meet our editorial board member

Current funding

  • 2020 - 2025
    Sanfilippo IIIB Syndrome Research
    Research Donation Generic
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Opening Up Access to L-Sugars through a Synergy of Experiment and Theory
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Small molecule drug therapy for MPS IIIA (Sanfilippo Children's Foundation grant administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Development of pharmacological chaperones for MPS IIIB
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation Incubator Grant
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Towards pharmacological chaperone therapy for MPS II
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Small molecule drug therapy for MPS IIIA
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Pharmacological chaperones for MPS IIIA
    Sanfilippo Children's Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Heparan sulfate mimetics: versatile tools for chemical biology
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2016
    Improving Anticancer Activity of Gold Compounds
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Development of Pharmacological Chaperone Therapy for MPS II.
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Targeting Tumour Angiogenesis in Breast Cancer by Altering MicroRNA Signalling (NHMRC project led by Deakin University)
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Small molecule chaperones for enzyme enhancement therapy for MPS II
    National MPS Society
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Synthesis of novel inhibitors of heparan sulfate-degrading enzymes as potential anticancer therapeutics
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Expression, purification and characterization of recombinant human heparanase
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Vito Ferro is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of new chemical tools for probing glycosaminoglycan-dependent cellular processes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of L-sugars via radical chemistry

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis and applications of glycosaminoglycan mimetics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of novel probes and inhibitors of carbohydrate-binding proteins

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor James De Voss

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Synthesis of inhibitors and probes for heparan sulfate degrading enzymes

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Development of new computational techniques for carbohydrate and agricultural chemistry

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Krenske

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Anthony Verderosa, Professor Mark Blaskovich

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Antibiotic Conjugates: Joining Together to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Mark Blaskovich

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Vito Ferro directly for media enquiries about:

  • Carbohydrate chemistry
  • heparan sulfate
  • heparin
  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis
  • Sanfilippo syndrome

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