Professor Paul Bernhardt
Professor

Paul Bernhardt

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54266

Background

After completing my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Newcastle, I held a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Basel (Switzerland) from 1990-2. I returned to Australia in 1993 to take up an Australian Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Australian National University (Canberra) from 1993-4. I joined The University of Queensland in 1994.

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Inorganic chemistry Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Newcastle

Research interests

  • Protein Electrochemistry

    This research involves incorporating redox active enzymes with electrochemical systems such that the enzyme functions natively whilst in communication with an electrode (rather than with a natural electron transfer partner). We are currently investigating a number of systems, most from the molybdenum enzyme family that catalyse oxygen transfer reactions of both organic and inorganic substrates.

  • Copper Complexes as Atom Transfer Radical Catalysts

    Atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) is one of the most widely used 'controlled' radical polymerisation techniques and has resulted in polymers with well defined molecular weights and architectures. Our work is focused on complexes that catalyse this process by generating organic radicals from the simple reaction between a Cu(I) complex and an alkyl halide initiator. We can probe this atom transfer reaction with cyclic voltammetry and we have gained new insight to this interesting and fundamentally important reaction. This has now progressed to developing electrocatalytic synthetic methods for C-C bond formation reactions in collaboration with Prof. Craig Williams (SCMB).

Research impacts

My research interests include all aspects of coordination chemistry; particularly its relevance to the areas of electrochemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, spectroscopy and catalysis.

In recent years some of the areas in which we have been, and continue to be, actively involved include:

  • Enzyme electrochemistry (collaborations with several UQ and international groups).
  • Invesitigation of copper complexes that are active in atom transfer radical polymerisation catalysis
  • Transition metal-mediated organic oxidation and reduction reactions

Search Professor Paul Bernhardt’s works on UQ eSpace

557 works between 1987 and 2026
All (557) Journal Article (523) Other Outputs (1) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (3)

161 - 180 of 557 works

2016

Journal Article

Identification, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the major human metabolite of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950

Salla, Manohar, Butler, Mark S., Pelingon, Ruby, Kaeslin, Geraldine, Croker, Daniel E., Reid, Janet C., Baek, Jong-Min, Bernhardt, Paul V., Gillam, Elizabeth M. J., Cooper, Matthew A. and Robertson, Avril A. B. (2016). Identification, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the major human metabolite of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 7 (12), 1034-1038. doi: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.6b00198

Identification, synthesis, and biological evaluation of the major human metabolite of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950

2016

Journal Article

Structure-activity relationships of di-2-pyridylketone, 2-benzoylpyridine, and 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones for overcoming Pgp-mediated drug resistance

Stacy, Alexandra E., Palanimuthu, Duraippandi, Bernhardt, Paul V., Kalinowski, Danuta S., Jansson, Patric J. and Richardson, Des R. (2016). Structure-activity relationships of di-2-pyridylketone, 2-benzoylpyridine, and 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones for overcoming Pgp-mediated drug resistance. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59 (18), 8601-8620. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b01050

Structure-activity relationships of di-2-pyridylketone, 2-benzoylpyridine, and 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones for overcoming Pgp-mediated drug resistance

2016

Journal Article

Heteronuclear NMR spectroscopic investigations of gallium complexes of substituted thiosemicarbazones including x-ray crystal structure, a new halogen exchange strategy, and 18F radiolabelling

Venkatachalam, T. K., Pierens, G. K., Bernhardt, Paul. V., Stimson, D. H. R., Bhalla, R., Lambert, L. and Reutens, D. C. (2016). Heteronuclear NMR spectroscopic investigations of gallium complexes of substituted thiosemicarbazones including x-ray crystal structure, a new halogen exchange strategy, and 18F radiolabelling. Australian Journal of Chemistry, 69 (9), 1033-1048. doi: 10.1071/CH16044

Heteronuclear NMR spectroscopic investigations of gallium complexes of substituted thiosemicarbazones including x-ray crystal structure, a new halogen exchange strategy, and 18F radiolabelling

2016

Journal Article

The heme-based oxygen sensor Rhizobium etli FixL: influence of auxiliary ligands on heme redox potential and implications on the enzyme activity

Honorio-Felício, Nathalie, Carepo, Marta S. P., de F. Paulo, Tércio, de França Lopes, Luiz Gonzaga, Sousa, Eduardo H. S., Diógenes, Izaura C. N. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2016). The heme-based oxygen sensor Rhizobium etli FixL: influence of auxiliary ligands on heme redox potential and implications on the enzyme activity. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 164, 34-41. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.08.009

The heme-based oxygen sensor Rhizobium etli FixL: influence of auxiliary ligands on heme redox potential and implications on the enzyme activity

2016

Journal Article

Fungal biotransformation of tetracycline antibiotics

Shang, Zhuo, Salim, Angela A., Khalil, Zeinab, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2016). Fungal biotransformation of tetracycline antibiotics. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 81 (15), 6186-6194. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.6b01272

Fungal biotransformation of tetracycline antibiotics

2016

Journal Article

Zinc(II)–thiosemicarbazone complexes are localized to the lysosomal compartment where they transmetallate with copper ions to induce cytotoxicity

Stacy, Alexandra E., Palanimuthu, Duraippandi, Bernhardt, Paul V., Kalinowski, Danuta S., Jansson, Patric J. and Richardson, Des R. (2016). Zinc(II)–thiosemicarbazone complexes are localized to the lysosomal compartment where they transmetallate with copper ions to induce cytotoxicity. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59 (10), 4965-4984. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.6b00238

Zinc(II)–thiosemicarbazone complexes are localized to the lysosomal compartment where they transmetallate with copper ions to induce cytotoxicity

2016

Journal Article

Effects of mutations in active site heme ligands on the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of SoxAX cytochromes

Kilmartin, James R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Dhouib, Rabeb, Hanson, Graeme R., Riley, Mark J. and Kappler, Ulrike (2016). Effects of mutations in active site heme ligands on the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of SoxAX cytochromes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 309-318. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.04.015

Effects of mutations in active site heme ligands on the spectroscopic and catalytic properties of SoxAX cytochromes

2016

Journal Article

Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of semicarbazones and their copper complexes

Venkatachalam, Taracad K., Bernhardt, Paul V., Noble, Chris J., Fletcher, Nicholas, Pierens, Gregory K., Thurecht, Kris J. and Reutens, David C. (2016). Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of semicarbazones and their copper complexes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 295-308. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.04.006

Synthesis, characterization and biological activities of semicarbazones and their copper complexes

2016

Journal Article

Direct electrochemistry of nitrate reductase from the fungus Neurospora crassa

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Ringel, Phillip, Kruse, Tobias and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2016). Direct electrochemistry of nitrate reductase from the fungus Neurospora crassa. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Bioenergetics, 1857 (9), 1506-1513. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.04.001

Direct electrochemistry of nitrate reductase from the fungus Neurospora crassa

2016

Journal Article

Organic–inorganic bismuth (III)-based material: A lead-free, air-stable and solution-processable light-absorber beyond organolead perovskites

Lyu, Miaoqiang, Yun, Jung-Ho, Cai, Molang, Jiao, Yalong, Bernhardt, Paul V., Zhang, Meng, Wang, Qiong, Du, Aijun, Wang, Hongxia, Liu, Gang and Wang, Lianzhou (2016). Organic–inorganic bismuth (III)-based material: A lead-free, air-stable and solution-processable light-absorber beyond organolead perovskites. Nano Research, 9 (3), 692-702. doi: 10.1007/s12274-015-0948-y

Organic–inorganic bismuth (III)-based material: A lead-free, air-stable and solution-processable light-absorber beyond organolead perovskites

2016

Journal Article

Frontispiece: Validating Eaton's Hypothesis: Cubane as a Benzene Bioisostere

Chalmers, Benjamin A., Xing, Hui, Houston, Sevan, Clark, Charlotte, Ghassabian, Sussan, Kuo, Andy, Cao, Benjamin, Reitsma, Andrea, Murray, Cody-Ellen P., Stok, Jeanette E., Boyle, Glen M., Pierce, Carly J., Littler, Stuart W., Winkler, David A., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pasay, Cielo, De Voss, James J., McCarthy, James, Parsons, Peter G., Walter, Gimme H., Smith, Maree T., Cooper, Helen M., Nilsson, Susan K., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2016). Frontispiece: Validating Eaton's Hypothesis: Cubane as a Benzene Bioisostere. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 55 (11), 8359-8359. doi: 10.1002/anie.201681161

Frontispiece: Validating Eaton's Hypothesis: Cubane as a Benzene Bioisostere

2016

Journal Article

Anoxic metabolism and biochemical production in Pseudomonas putida F1 driven by a bioelectrochemical system

Lai, Bin, Yu, Shiqin, Bernhardt, Paul V., Rabaey, Korneel, Virdis, Bernadino and Krömer, Jens O. (2016). Anoxic metabolism and biochemical production in Pseudomonas putida F1 driven by a bioelectrochemical system. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 9 (1) 39, 39.1-39.13. doi: 10.1186/s13068-016-0452-y

Anoxic metabolism and biochemical production in Pseudomonas putida F1 driven by a bioelectrochemical system

2016

Journal Article

Validating Eaton's hypothesis: cubane as a benzene bioisostere

Chalmers, Benjamin A., Xing, Hui, Houston, Sevan, Clark, Charlotte, Ghassabian, Sussan, Kuo, Andy, Cao, Benjamin, Reitsma, Andrea, Murray, Cody-Ellen P., Stok, Jeanette E., Boyle, Glen M., Pierce, Carly J., Littler, Stuart W., Winkler, David A., Bernhardt, Paul V., Pasay, Cielo, De Voss, James J., McCarthy, James, Parsons, Peter G., Walter, Gimme H., Smith, Maree T., Cooper, Helen M., Nilsson, Susan K., Tsanaktsidis, John, Savage, G. Paul and Williams, Craig M. (2016). Validating Eaton's hypothesis: cubane as a benzene bioisostere. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 55 (11), 3580-3585. doi: 10.1002/anie.201510675

Validating Eaton's hypothesis: cubane as a benzene bioisostere

2016

Journal Article

SET-LRP of NIPAM in water via in situ reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(0) with NaBH4

Gavrilov, Mikhail, Zerk, Timothy J., Bernhardt, Paul V., Percec, Virgil and Monteiro, Michael J. (2016). SET-LRP of NIPAM in water via in situ reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(0) with NaBH4. Polymer Chemistry, 7 (4), 933-939. doi: 10.1039/c5py01855b

SET-LRP of NIPAM in water via in situ reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(0) with NaBH4

2016

Journal Article

Low potential catalytic voltammetry of human sulfite oxidase

Kalimuthu, Palraj, Belaidi, Abdel A., Schwarz, Guenter and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2016). Low potential catalytic voltammetry of human sulfite oxidase. Electrochimica Acta, 199, 280-289. doi: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.01.181

Low potential catalytic voltammetry of human sulfite oxidase

2016

Journal Article

Novel mechanism of cytotoxicity for the selective selenosemicarbazone, 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-selenosemicarbazone (Ap44mSe): lysosomal membrane permeabilization

Al-Eisawi, Zaynab, Stefani, Christian, Jansson, Patric J., Arvind, Akanksha, Sharpe, Philip C., Basha, Maram T., Iskander, George M., Kumar, Naresh, Kovacevic, Zaklina, Lane, Darius J. R., Sahni, Sumit, Bernhardt, Paul V., Richardson, Des R. and Kalinowski, Danuta S. (2016). Novel mechanism of cytotoxicity for the selective selenosemicarbazone, 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-selenosemicarbazone (Ap44mSe): lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 59 (1), 294-312. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.5b01399

Novel mechanism of cytotoxicity for the selective selenosemicarbazone, 2-acetylpyridine 4,4-dimethyl-3-selenosemicarbazone (Ap44mSe): lysosomal membrane permeabilization

2016

Journal Article

Kinetico-mechanistic studies on methemoglobin generation by biologically active thiosemicarbazone iron(III) complexes

Basha, Maram T., Bordini, Jeane, Richardson, Des R., Martinez, Manuel and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2016). Kinetico-mechanistic studies on methemoglobin generation by biologically active thiosemicarbazone iron(III) complexes. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 326-333. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.12.004

Kinetico-mechanistic studies on methemoglobin generation by biologically active thiosemicarbazone iron(III) complexes

2016

Journal Article

N-Oxides rescue Ru(v) in catalytic Griffith-Ley (TPAP) alcohol oxidations

Zerk, Timothy J., Moore, Peter W., Williams, Craig M. and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2016). N-Oxides rescue Ru(v) in catalytic Griffith-Ley (TPAP) alcohol oxidations. Chemical Communications, 52 (67), 10301-10304. doi: 10.1039/C6CC05440D

N-Oxides rescue Ru(v) in catalytic Griffith-Ley (TPAP) alcohol oxidations

2015

Journal Article

Structural basis of interprotein electron transfer in bacterial sulfite oxidation

McGrath, Aaron P., Laming, Elise L., Casas Garcia, G. Patricia, Kvansakul, Marc, Guss, J. Mitchell, Trewhella, Jill, Calmes, Benoit, Bernhardt, Paul V.,, Hanson, Graeme R.,, Kappler, Ulrike and Maher, Megan J. (2015). Structural basis of interprotein electron transfer in bacterial sulfite oxidation. eLife, 4 (e09066) e09066, 1-26. doi: 10.7554/eLife.09066

Structural basis of interprotein electron transfer in bacterial sulfite oxidation

2015

Journal Article

Viridicatumtoxins: Expanding on a Rare Tetracycline Antibiotic Scaffold

Shang, Zhuo, Salim, Angela A., Khalil, Zeinab, Quezada, Michelle, Bernhardt, Paul V. and Capon, Robert J. (2015). Viridicatumtoxins: Expanding on a Rare Tetracycline Antibiotic Scaffold. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 80 (24), 12501-12508. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.5b02367

Viridicatumtoxins: Expanding on a Rare Tetracycline Antibiotic Scaffold

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2029
    Rewiring enzymes for direct electrochemistry
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Emergent organocopper complexes as robust catalysts for electrosynthesis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2026
    An Innovative, Non-Hormonal, Pharmacological Strategy that Down-Regulates the Oestrogen, Androgen, Progesterone, and Prolactin Receptors and Inhibits the Triad-of-Death in Breast Cancer (Griffith led)
    Griffith University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    High-Resolution Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    Pharmaceutical Development of Innovative "Trojan Horse" Anti-Cancer Agents that Inhibit Desmoplasia by Reprogramming Signalling (NHMRC Ideas Grant administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Bioelectrochemical interconversion of the building blocks of life
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Pioneering stable copper carbanions for new C-C bond forming paradigms
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Molybdenum enzyme electrochemical communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    To Biochemically Trick P-Glycoprotein (Pgp) to Target Resistance via Lysosomal Pgp (NHMRC Project Grant led by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017
    Advanced X-ray Facility for Structural Elucidation and Photocrystallography
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Enzyme Electrochemical Communication
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    The fate of copper in atom transfer radical reactions
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    A facility for ex-vivo molecular imaging
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Facilities for Integrated Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry Research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Short circuiting redox enzymes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010
    An integrated high -throughput fluorescence imaging facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Spotlighting Biologically Active Fe Chelators within Cells
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Pharmacology of Potential Anti-Tumour Agents: Iron Chelators of the BpT Class (NHMRC project grant administered by the University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Electrochemically Driven Molybdoenzyme Catalysis
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    An X-Ray Diffraction Facility for Molecular Structure Determination
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Examination of the molecular pharmacology of anthracyclines induced via their interaction with iron
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    Mechanistic Studies on Biologically Active Iron Chelators
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2005
    New synthetic routes to the immobilisation of mixed valence transition metal complexes on conducting metal oxides
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Australian Bio-Metals Research Network
    ARC Seed Funding for Research Networks
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Chemical and Biochemical Characterisation of Novel Iron Chelators with Therapeutic Potential
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    Research expenses for visiting Research Fellow (Dr A. Meacham)
    The Royal Society
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2005
    Mechanistic Studies of Dimethylsulfide Dehydrogenase: A Novel Bacterial Molybdoenzyme
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Novel Molecular Electrochronic Devices
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    Single electron reactions of multi-redox centred systems (CREDITS ONLY AWARDED)
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Excited state dynamics of light induced molecular processes.
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000 - 2002
    Mixed-Valence Transition Metal Assemblies
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant
  • 2000
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Self-assembling transition metal arrays
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1999
    Toward discrete dinuclear cyano-bridged coordination compounds
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Macrocyclic receptors for ionic guests
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1998
    Toward supramolecular charge separated molecules
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant
  • 1997 - 1998
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1997
    Toward Proactive Supramolecular Coordination Compounds
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Single electron transfer reactions of multi-redox centre complexes
    Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Structurally organised oligonuclear coordination compounds
    University of Queensland New Staff Research Grant
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Paul Bernhardt is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing novel copper catalysts for carbon-carbon bond forming reactions using electrosynthesis.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Craig Williams, Dr Masnun Naher

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigations of Multicomponent Photoredox Reactions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Evan Moore

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Electrochemical investigations of bacterial molybdenum enzymes

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Ulrike Kappler

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mass-Transfer Control-Enabled Electrochemical Reactions

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr David Cantillo

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Bernhardt directly for media enquiries about:

  • Crystallography
  • Electrochemistry
  • Transition metal chemistry

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