Bio

Jovica Badjić received his diploma in Chemistry in 1994 from the University of Belgrade in Serbia. He earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Iowa State University in 2001. From 2001 to 2004, he was a postdoctoral research fellow in the group of Nobel Laureate J. Fraser Stoddart (UCLA). He joined the faculty of The Ohio State University in 2004, was promoted to associate professor in 2010, and to full professor in 2014.

Research Overview

Supramolecular Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry

Accidental and intentional poisonings from drugs, pesticides, and other micropollutants are on the rise across both developed and developing nations, yet only a small number of antidotes exist to counteract these life‑threatening exposures. In response to this urgent global challenge, our research team is passionately dedicated to discovering entirely new types of antidotes based on cleverly designed, bowl‑shaped organic molecules. These molecular baskets (developed by our team at the OSU) are made to selectively encapsulate (or “trap”) toxic substances, reducing their effective concentration in the blood and tissues and thereby reducing their harmful effects. Once captured, the resulting harmless host–guest complexes can be shuttled toward natural clearance pathways via the kidneys or liver, transforming dangerous toxins into disposable cargo. To achieve this, we harness state‑of‑the‑art computational chemistry to design molecular baskets (and related host structures) that are complementary to specific drugs and toxicants, including anticancer agents, opioids, stimulants, organophosphorus nerve agents, and agricultural pesticides. We then develop robust synthetic routes and perform detailed characterization of these organic compounds, with special emphasis on understanding their conformations and self‑assembly behavior in aqueous, biologically relevant environments. In the next stage, we rigorously quantify the noncovalent interactions between our hosts and targeted toxins using an array of techniques, such as ¹H NMR spectroscopy, UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, calorimetry, dynamic light scattering, mass spectrometry, and electron microscopy. Ultimately, we test and refine the ability of these hosts to act as powerful sequestering agents in biological media, with the long‑term vision of creating a new generation of smart, selective antidotes that can save lives.

Graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral students all play an essential role on our team, contributing to discoveries while growing as independent scientists. Their training immerses them in cutting‑edge methods of organic synthesis, giving them hands‑on experience with modern reactions, strategies, and instrumentation. Students also dive into the fascinating world of self‑assembly, learning how organic molecules organize into noncovalent complexes in water using both advanced computational tools and state‑of‑the‑art experimental techniques. Through constant, lively discussions, close mentorship, and a genuinely friendly atmosphere, our group fosters professional growth in supramolecular chemistry, with a strong emphasis on tackling pressing problems in modern medicine.

Publications

R. Z. Pavlović, L. Zhiquan, M. Guney, R. F. Lalisse, R. G. Hopf, J. Gallucci, C. Moore, H. Xie, C. M. Hadad and J. D. Badjić* From Selection to Instruction and Back: Competing Conformational Selection and Induced Fit Pathways in Abiotic Hosts Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 19942. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202107091

X. Han, T. J. Finnegan, L. V. W. Gunawardana, R. Z. Pavlović, C. E. Moore, J. D. Badjić* A Hexapodal Capsule for the Recognition of Anions, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 3874. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jacs.0c12329

M. J. Gunther, R. Z. Pavlović, T. J. Finnegan, X. Wang and J. D. Badjić* Enantioselective Construction of Modular and Asymmetric Baskets Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 25075. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202110849

X. Han, L. V. W. Gunawardana, T. J. Finnegan, X. William and J. D. Badjić* Picking on Carbonate: Kinetic Selectivity in the Encapsulation of Anions Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202116508. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202116518 

L. V. W. Gunawardana, T. J. Finnegan, C. E. Ward, C. E. Moore and J. D. Badjić* Dissipative Formation of Covalent Basket Cages Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202207418. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/anie.202207418

R. Pavlović, L. Zhiquan, T. J. Finnegan, C. A. Waudby, H. Wang, L. V. W. Gunawardana and J. D. Badjić* Closed Aromatic Tubes-Capsularenes Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202211304. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202211304

L. V. W. Gunawardana, C. Ward, H. Wang, J. H. Holbrook, E. R. Sekera, H. Cui, A. B. Hummon, and J. D. Badjic, Crystalline Nanoparticles of Water-Soluble Covalent Basket Cages (CBCs) for Encapsulation of Anticancer Drugs Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2023, 62, e202306722

P. Karmakar, T. J. Finnegan, D. C. Rostam, S. Taneja, S. Ucar, A. L. Hansen, C. E. Moore, C. M. Hadad, K. Pratumyot, J. R. Parquette and J. D. Badjić* Molecular Bowls for Inclusion Complexation of Toxic Anticancer Drug Methotrexate Chem. Sci. 2024, 15, 10155-10163

N. Kumar, T. J. Finnegan, S. Taneja, D. C. Rostam, A. L. Hansen, C. E. Ward, S. Ucar, J. R. Parquette and J. D. Badjić* Dendritic Molecular Baskets for Selective Binding of Toxic Methotrexate Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202420574

N. Kumar, P. Karmakar, M. D. Politeski, A. L. Hansen, C. E. Ward, C. Mortensen, C. M. Hadad, K.  Pratumyot and J. D. Badjić* Dendritic Pillar[6]Arenes with Fixed Planar Chirality for Stereoselective Inclusions in Water: A Case of Facile Differentiation of Cocaine Adulterants, Levamisole and Dexamisole Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202514676