Prof. Elena Formoso

Profesora Agregada
📍 Farmazia Fakultatea Gazteiz
📞 34945013062

Main Research Interest

  • Investigation of aluminum in biological systems
  • Anticancer drug design
  • Study of conformational changes of proteins
  • Study of enzymatic reactions
  • Study of nanoclusters

Scientific Career

  • 12/09/2018-today: Associate Professor, Physical Chemistry Department at the University of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country.
  • 02/01/2017-11/09/2018: Postdoctoral fellow in the Theoretical Chemistry Group, Donostia, Basque Country.
  • 02/01/2014-01/01/2017: Postdoctoral fellow in the Theoretical Chemistry Group at the Donostia International Physics Center, Donostia, Basque Country.
  • 02/01/2011-01/31/2014: Postdoctoral fellow at the Università della Svizzera Italiana and ETH Zürich, Lugano, Switzerland.
  • 07/01/2010-01/31/2011: Postdoctoral fellow in the Theoretical Chemistry Group at the University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Basque Country.
  • 06/25/2010: PhD in the Theoretical Chemistry Group at the University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Basque Country

    (Advisor: Xabier Lopez)
  • 2009-06/30/2010: Researcher position in the Theoretical Chemistry Group at the University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Basque Country.
  • 2005-2009: PhD position (FPI fellowship) in the Theoretical Chemistry Group at the University of the Basque Country, Donostia, Basque Country.
24.

Rodriguez, Alba; Formoso, Elena; Knudsen, Birgitta R.; Tesauro, Cinzia; Fuertes, Maria; Alonso, Concepcion

Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Theoretical Study of Indenoquinolinylphosphine Oxide Derivatives as Topoisomerase 1 Inhibitors and Antiproliferative Agents Journal Article

ChemMedChem, 2026, 21(5)

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

23.

Verdugo, Marta Costa; Sierri, Giulia; Hernandez-Fernandez, Laura; Formoso, Elena; Miranda, José I.; Sica, Francesco Saverio; Orrego, Alejandro H.; González, Alba; Rezabal, Elixabete; Re, Francesca; Salassa, Luca

Choline–geranate (CAGE) ionic liquids potentiate the anticancer activity of platinum-based drugs Journal Article

Chem. Commun., 2025, 61(65), 12167--12170

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

1.

Azpitarte, Oksana; Zudaire, Ane; Uranga, Jon; Lopez, Xabier; Salassa, Luca; Formoso, Elena; Rezabal, Elixabete

One‐ and Two‐Electron Reductions in MiniSOG and their Implication in Catalysis** Journal Article

ChemPhysChem, 2023, 24(15)

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

22.

Gurruchaga-Pereda, J.; Martinez-Martinez, V.; Formoso, E.; Azpitarte, O.; Rezabal, E.; Lopez, X.; Cortajarena, A. L.; Salassa, L.

Enhancing the Photocatalytic Conversion of Pt(IV) Substrates by Flavoprotein Engineering Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2021, 12(19), 4504-4508

Links | BibTeX

21.

Zubeltzu, J.; Formoso, E.; Rezabal, E.

Lignin solvation by ionic liquids: The role of cation Journal Article

Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2020, 303

Links | BibTeX

20.

Grande-Aztatzi, R.; Formoso, E.; Mujika, J. I.; Sancho, D.; Lopez, X.

Theoretical characterization of Al(III) binding to KSPVPKSPVEEKG: Insights into the propensity of aluminum to interact with key sequences for neurofilament formation Journal Article

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2020, 210

Links | BibTeX

19.

Grabowski, Slawomir J.; Casanova, David; Formoso, Elena; Ugalde, Jesus M.

Tetravalent Oxygen and Sulphur Centres Mediated by Carborane Superacid: Theoretical Analysis Journal Article

CHEMPHYSCHEM, 2019, 20(19), 2443-2450

Links | BibTeX

18.

Aizpurua, J.; Martin, L.; Formoso, E.; Gonzalez, A.; Irusta, L.

One pot stimuli-responsive linear waterborne polyurethanes via Diels-Alder reaction Journal Article

Progress in Organic Coatings, 2019, 130, 31-43

Links | BibTeX

17.

Formoso, E.; Grande-Aztatzi, R.; Lopez, X.

Does phosphorylation increase the binding affinity of aluminum? A computational study on the aluminum interaction with serine and O-phosphoserine Journal Article

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2019, 192, 33-44

Links | BibTeX

16.

Torre, Gabriele Dalla; Mujika, Jon I.; Formoso, Elena; Matito, Eduard; Ramos, Maria J.; Lopez, Xabier

Tuning the affinity of catechols and salicylic acids towards Al(III): characterization of Al-chelator interactions Journal Article

DALTON TRANSACTIONS, 2018, 47(29), 9592-9607

Links | BibTeX

15.

Mujika, J. I.; Torre, G. D.; Formoso, E.; Grande-Aztatzi, R.; Grabowski, S. J.; Exley, C.; Lopez, X.

Aluminum's preferential binding site in proteins: sidechain of amino acids versus backbone interactions Journal Article

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2018, 181, 111-116

Links | BibTeX

14.

Formoso, E.; Asua, J. M.; Matxain, J. M.; Ruiperez, F.

The role of non-covalent interactions in the self-healing mechanism of disulfide-based polymers Journal Article

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2017, 19(28), 18461-18470

Links | BibTeX

13.

Formoso, E.; Lopez, X.

A computational study on interaction of aluminum with D-glucose 6-phosphate for various stoichiometries Journal Article

Rsc Advances, 2017, 7(10), 6064-6079

Links | BibTeX

12.

Grande-Aztatzi, R.; Formoso, E.; Mujika, J. I.; Ugalde, J. M.; Lopez, X.

Phosphorylation promotes Al(III) binding to proteins: GEGEGSGG as a case study Journal Article

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2016, 18(10), 7197-7207

Links | BibTeX

11.

Grande-Aztatzi, R.; Formoso, E.; Mercero, J. M.; Matxain, J. M.; Grabowski, S. J.; Ugalde, J. M.

Structural and optical properties of the naked and passivated Al5Au5 bimetallic nanoclusters Journal Article

Journal of Chemical Physics, 2016, 144(11)

Links | BibTeX

10.

Luque, N.; Mujika, J. I.; Formoso, E.; Lopez, X.

Aluminum interaction with 2,3-diphosphoglyceric acid. A computational studyle Journal Article

Rsc Advances, 2015, 5(78), 63874-63881

Links | BibTeX

9.

Formoso, E.; Mujika, J. I.; Grabowski, S. J.; Lopez, X.

Aluminum and its effect in the equilibrium between folded/unfolded conformation of NADH Journal Article

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2015, 152, 139-146

Links | BibTeX

8.

Formoso, E.; Limongelli, V.; Parrinello, M.

Energetics and Structural Characterization of the large-scale Functional Motion of Adenylate Kinase Journal Article

Scientific Reports, 2015, 5

Links | BibTeX

7.

Formoso, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Lopez, X.; York, D. M.

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Bovine Pancreatic Ribonuclease A-CpA and Transition State-like Complexes Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2010, 114(21), 7371-7382

Links | BibTeX

6.

Matxain, J. M.; Formoso, E.; Mercero, J. M.; Piris, M.; Lopez, X.; Ugalde, J. M.

Magnetic Endohedral Transition-Metal-Doped Semiconduncting-Nanoclusters Journal Article

Chemistry-a European Journal, 2008, 14(28), 8547-8554

Links | BibTeX

5.

Matxain, J. M.; Eriksson, L. A.; Formoso, E.; Piris, M.; Ugalde, J. M.

Endohedral (X@ZniSi)(i=)(0,+/-)(4-16) nanoclusters Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2007, 111(9), 3560-3565

Links | BibTeX

4.

Matxain, J. M.; Piris, M.; Formoso, E.; Mercero, J. M.; Lopez, X.; Ugalde, J. M.

Endohedral stannaspherenes Mn@Sn-12 and its dimer: Ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic? Journal Article

Chemphyschem, 2007, 8(14), 2096-2099

Links | BibTeX

3.

Mercero, J. M.; Formoso, E.; Matxain, J. M.; Eriksson, L. A.; Ugalde, J. M.

Sandwich complexes based on the "All-Metal" Al-4(2-) aromatic ring Journal Article

Chemistry-a European Journal, 2006, 12(17), 4495-4502

Links | BibTeX

2.

Mujika, J. I.; Formoso, E.; Mercero, J. M.; Lopez, X.

Reaction mechanism of the acidic hydrolysis of highly twisted amides: Rate acceleration caused by the twist of the amide bond Journal Article

Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2006, 110(30), 15000-15011

Links | BibTeX