Staff profile

Dr Snezana Kustrin

Associate Professor

Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering

School of Pharmacy and Applied Science
Department of Pharmacy
La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science

Bendigo

 

Qualifications

B.Pharm; M.Sci; Ph.D.

Area of study

Medicinal Chemistry

Brief profile

 Assoc/Prof Agatonovic-Kustrin received her PhD in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Analysis in 1993, Master of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry (1988) and Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (1984).

She has over 20 years experience and background in teaching pharmacy students at different pharmacy discipline worldwide. She was involved in teaching subjects ranging from Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutics and Clinical Pharmacokinetics to her research specialty in Solid state analysis, Molecular modelling, Artificial neural networks and Artificial Intelligence and Structure activity relationships. She has been involved in the development of the major pharmacy curriculum components of the Bachelor of Pharmacy and postgraduate courses (Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Analysis) and has made significant contributions to the success of the on-shore and off-shore Pharmacy programs at University of South Australia and University of Western Australia.

Although Assoc Prof Kustrin has had a very solid teaching load in the past (80%), she has an excellent research record evident in more than 80 publications, two books and four book chapters. She was a co-author of “In silico tools in ADMET: Models for Human Bioavailability”, a book chapter from a “Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry” II published by Elsevier in 2006. The content comprises the most up-to-date, authoritative and comprehensive reference text on contemporary medicinal chemistry and drug research, covering major therapeutic classes and targets, research strategy and organisation, high-throughput technologies, computer-assisted design, ADME and selected case histories. She has recently been invited to write a chapter on “Structural characteristics of bioactive marine natural products for Marine Biomaterials: Characterization, Isolation and Application,” that will be published in “Marine Biomaterials: Isolation, Characterization and Applications” this year. A/prof Kustrin has pioneered innovative research ideas in Drug analysis, Drug quality control, Formulation and application of Artificial intelligence in pharmacy. 

Recent publications

Chapters in books

1.    J. Tuner and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, In silico tools in ADMET: Models for Human Bioavailability, Comprehensive Medicinal Chemistry II, Elsevier 2006

2.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and J. Tuner, Estrogen receptor subtype ligand selectivity: molecular structural characteristics in "Estrogens: Production, Functions and Applications." Nova Science Publishers, Inc. NY., 2009

3.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and D.W. Morton, Molecular descriptors and chemicals in breast milk in “Computational Methods for Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology”CRC Press/Taylor and Francis Group, 2013  

4.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, D. Morton, C. Kettle, Structural characteristics of bioactive marine natural products for Marine Biomaterials: Characterization, Isolation and Application.” In “Marine Biomaterials: Isolation, Characterization and Applications”, to be published in 2013

Refereed Journal Articles

1.        Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin, David W. Morton, Ragini Singh, Hybrid neural networks as tools for predicting the phase behavior of colloidal systems,  Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects (in print).

2.        S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Christine M. Loescher, Ragini Singh, Quantification of phenylpropanoids in commercial Echinacea products using TLC with video densitometry as detection technique and ANN for data modeling, Phytochemical Analysis (in print)

3.        Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin  and David W. Morton, The Use of UV-Visible Reflectance Spectroscopy as an Objective Tool to Evaluate Pearl Quality, Mar. Drugs 2012, 10, 1459-1475.

4.        Kailash C. Petkar, Sandip S. Chavhan, S.Agatonovic-Kustrin, Krutika K. Sawant,  Nanostructured materials in Drug and Gene Delivery: A Review of the State of the Art , Critical Reviews™ in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 28(2), 101–170 (2011).

5.        Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin, David W. Morton, Matthew S. Worthington, Beverley D. Glass. Modeling the Effect of Selected Cyclodextrins on Nifedipine Solubility, Current Drug Discovery Technologies, 8 (2). pp. 146-154 (2011).

6.        Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin, Marliese Alexander, David W. Morton and Joseph V. Turner, Pesticides as Estrogen Disruptors: QSAR for Selective ERa and ERβ Binding of Pesticides, Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening, 2011, 14(2), 85-92.

7.        Noldy Gustaf F. Mamangkey, Snezana Agatonovic and Paul C. Southgate, Assessing Pearl Quality Using Reflectance UV-Vis Spectroscopy: Does the Same Donor Produce Consistent Pearl Quality? Marine Drugs 2010, 8, 2517-2525.

8.        Karolidis, D.A.; Agatonovic-Kustrin, S.; Morton, D.W.  Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Based Modelling for D1 Like and D2 Like Dopamine Receptor Affinity and Selectivity. Med. Chem. 2010, 6, 259-70.

9.        Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin, Joseph V. Turner, Paul Davies, Structure-activity relationships for serotonin transporter and dopamine receptor selectivity, Medicinal Chemistry, 2009, 5, 271-278.

10.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, B. D. Glass, M. Mangan, J. Smithson, Analysing the Crystal Purity of Mebendazole Raw Material and its stability in suspension formulation by DRA-UV-Spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and ANN Spectral Modelling, International Journal of Pharmaceutics 361, 245–250 (2008).

11.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and J.V. Turner Molecular structural characteristics in estrogen receptor modulators as determinants of estrogen receptor selectivity, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 8(9), 943-951, 2008

12.    Snezana Agatonovic-Kustrin, Joseph V. Turner, Beverley D. Glass, Quantitative structure-retention-pharmacokinetic relationship studies, Drug Metabolism Letters, Volume 2(2), 130-137, 2008.

13.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, J. V. Turner, B. D. Glass, Molecular Structural Characteristics as Determinants of Estrogen Receptor Selectivity, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 48, 369–375 (2008).

14.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, N. Markovic, M. Ginic-Markovic, M.Mangan, B. D. Glass,  Compatibility Studies between Mannitol and Omeprazole Sodium Isomers, Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 48 (2008) 356–360

15.    S.Agatonovic- Kustrin, N. Ibrahim, D. Williams, B. D. Glass,  Influence of  Sulphobutylether-ß-Cyclodextrin on the Stability of  S- and R- Omeprazole, Current Drug Discovery Technology,  4(3), 192-197, 2007.

16.    Turner JV, Agatonovic-Kustrin S, Glass BD. Molecular aspects of phytoestrogen selective binding at estrogen receptors. J Pharm Sci. 96, 1-5, 2007

17.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and J.V. Turner, Artificial Neural Network Modeling of Phytoestrogen Binding to Estrogen Receptors, Letters in Drug Design & Discovery, 3, 436-442, 2006.

18.    B.D. Glass, S.Agatonovic-Kustrin, Y-J Chen,   M.H. Wisch, Optimisation of a stability-indicating HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of Rifampicin, Isoniazid and Pyrazinamide in a fixed-dose combination using Artificial Neural Networks, Journal of Chromatographic Science, Vol. 45, 1-7 (2007).

19.    M. Zecevic, B. Jocic, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and Lj. Zivanovic, Validation of an HPLC method for the simultaneous determination of eletriptan and UK 120.413, Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society, 71 (11) 1195–1205 (2006).

20.    S.Agatonovic-Kustrin, B.D.Glass, M.E. Brown, E.Mopp. Quality evaluation of generic mebendazole by DRIFT Spectrometry and ANN spectral modeling, Archives de Pharmacie, 56(1), 16-34, 2006.

21.    N. Markovic, S. Agotonovic- Kustrin, B. Glass and C. A. Prestidge, Physical and Thermal Characterisation of Chiral Omeprazole Sodium Salts, J. Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 42(1), 25-31,2006.

22.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Book Review: Name Reactions in Heterocyclic Chemistry, Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 10(31) 1055 (2005).

23.    B. D.Glass, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. H. Wisch, ANN design of a Fixed-Dose Combination for the treatment HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis in Paediatric Patients, Current Drug Discovery Technologies, 2, 195-201 (2005).

24.    T. Erica Yen, A. Evans, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Prediction of drug absorption based on Immobilized Artificial membrane (IAM) chromatography separation and calculated molecular descriptors, J.Pharm. Biomed. Analysis 38 (2005) 472-478.

25.    J. V. Turner, D. J. Maddalena, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Bioavailability Prediction based on Molecular Structure for a Diverse Series of Drugs, Pharm. Res., 21(1): 68-82(15) (2004).

26.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, B. D. Glass, M. H Wisch, Strategy for surfactant selection in order to achieve a thermodynamically stable microemulsion formulation for oral administration, Current Drug Descovery Technology 1(2): 165 –173 (2004).

27.    S. Agatonovic- Kustrin, B.D. Glass, M. E. Brown and M. K. Rotich, Modelling the thermal behaviour of carboxylic acid derivatives with Cyclodextrins in the solid state, Journal of Thermal Analysis and calorimetry, 77(2): 391-402 (2004).

28.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, B.D.Glass, M.H. Wisch, P. Hayball, Microemulsion Delivery of a Fixed-Dose Combination for the Treatment HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis in Paediatric Patients, Archives de Pharmacie, 5 : 629- 641 (2004).

29.    J. V. Turner, D. J. Maddalena, D. J. Cutler, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Multiple pharmacokinetic parameter prediction for a series of cephalosporins, J. Pharm. Sci., 92(3): 552-559 (2003).

30.    J.V. Turner, B. D.  Glass, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Prediction of drug bioavailability based on molecular structure, Analytica Chimica Acta 485: 89-102 (2003).

31.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, A. Evans, R.G. Alany, Prediction of corneal permeability using artificial neural networks, Die Pharmazie, 58: 725-729 (2003).

32.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, B. D. Glass, M. H Wisch ,  R. G. Alany, Prediction of a stable microemulsion formulation for the oral delivery of a combination of anti-tubercular drugs using ANN methodology, Pharm. Res. 20(11): 1760-1765 (2003).

33.    S. Y. Tham, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Application of the Artificial Neural Network in quantitative structure-gradient elution retention relationship of phenylthiocarbamyl amino acids derivatives, J.Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 28 (3-4) 581 – 590 (2002).

34.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, L. H. Ling, S. Y. Tham, R. G. Alany, Molecular descriptors that influence the amount of drugs transfer into human breast milk. J. Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 29 (1-2): 103-119 (2002).

35.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, R. Beresford, A. Pauzi M. Yusof, ANN modeling of the penetration across a polydimethylsiloxane membrane from theoretically derived molecular descriptors, J. Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 26(2):241-254 (2001).

36.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, R. G. Alany, Role of genetic algorithms and artificial neural networks in predicting the phase behaviour of colloidal delivery systems, Pharmac. Research, 18(7):1049-1055. (2001).

37.    M. Zecevic, Lj.Zivanovi, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, D. Minic, The use of a response surface methodology on HPLC analysis of methyldopa amiloride and hydrocholrothiazide in tablets, J. Pharm. Biom. Anal Vol 24(5-6):  1019-1025 (2001).

38.    S.Agatonovic-Kustrin, R. Beresford, A. Pauzi M. Yusof, Theoretically derived molecular descriptors important in human intestinal absorption, J. Pharm. Biom. Anal. Analysis 25(2): 227 – 237 (2001).

39.    S.Agatonovic-Kustrin, R. Alany, Application of DRIFT spectroscopy combined with ANNs in analysing enantiomeric purity of Terbutaline Sulfate bulk drug, Analytica Chimica Acta,  449(1-2),   157-165 (2001).

40.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, T. Rades, V. Wu, D. Saville, I. G. Tucker, Determination of polymorphic forms of Ranitidine-HCI by DRIFTS and XRPD, J. Pharm. Biom. Analysis, 25(5-6) :741-750 (2001).

41.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. Zecevic, L. Zivanovic and I.G. Tucker, Structure-Retention Relationships of Diuretics in Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography, Biomedical Chromatography, 14:1-3 (2000).

42.    R. Alany, T. Rades, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin , N.M. Davies , I. G. Tucker, Effects of Alcohols and Diols on the Phase Behaviour of Quaternary Systems, Int. J. Pharmaceutics 196(2); 141-145 (2000).

43.    M. Zecevic, Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, D. Ivanovic, M. Maksimovic, Statistical optimization of a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide in tablets, J.Pharm. Biomed. Analysis, 22(1): 1-6 (2000).

44.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin and R. Beresford, Basic concept of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modelling and its application in Pharmaceutical Research, J. Pharm. Biom. Anal. 22 (5): 717 -- 727 (2000).

45.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, V. Wu, T.Rades, D. Saville, and I. G.Tucker. Ranitidine Hydrochloride X-ray Assay Using Neural Networks, J. Pharm. Biom. Anal. 22: 985 - 992 (2000).

46.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. Razzak, Determination of enantiomeric composition of ibuprofen in solid state mixtures of the two by DRIFT spectroscopy, Analytica Chimica Acta 417: 31-39 (2000). 

47.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, G. Tucker, M. Zecevic, L.J. Zivanovic. Prediction of drug transfer into human milk based on molecular structure descriptors Analytica Chimica Acta  418(2): 181-195 (2000).

48.    R.G. Alany, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, T. Rades, and I. G.Tucker. Use of artificial neural network to predict quaternary phase systems from limited experimental data. J. Pharm. Biamed. Anal. 19: 443-452 (1999).

49.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, I.G. Tucker, and D. Schmierer. Solid state assay of Ranitidine Hydrochloride as a bulk drug and as active ingredient in tablets using DRIFT spectroscopy with ANNs. Pharm. Res. 16(9): 1479-1484 (1999).

50.    M. Zecevic, Lj. Zivanovic. D. Minic and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Application of multifactorial optimisation in the HPLC analysis of pharmaceutical preparations, Arhiv za farmaciju (Yugoslavia) 1: 17-22 (1999).

51.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, V. Wu, T. Rades, D. Saville, and I.G. Tucker. Powder diffractometric assay of two polymorphic forms of ranitidine hydrochloride, Int. J. Pharmaceutics 184(1): 107 - 114 (1999).

52.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. Zecevic, Lj. Zivanovic. Use of ANN modeling in structure-retention relationships of diuretics in RP -HPLC, J. Pharm. Biamed. Anal, 21: 95-103 (1999).

53.    G. Sertsou, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, T. Rades, The use of DRIFTS to analyse binary mixtures of two polymorphic forms of ranitidine-HCl using only one specific peak, The Internet Journal of Vibrational Spectroscopy, 3 (5) : 5 (1999)

54.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, R. Beresford, Genetic Neural Network Model in Prediction of the Human Intestinal Absorption from the Theoretically Derived Molecular Descriptors, in: Emerging Knowledge and Connectionist-Based Information Systems, Proceedings of the ICONIP/ANZIIS/ANNES’99 International Workshop, “Future Direction for Intelligent Systems and Information Sciences, 162-165 (1999)

55.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. Zecevic, Lj. Zivanovic, and I.G. Tucker, I.G., Application of artificial neural networks in HPLC method development. J. Pharm. Biamed. Anal. 17(1): 69-76 (1998).

56.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, M. Zecevic, Lj. Zivanovic, and I. G. Tucker. Application of neural networks for response surface modeling in HPLC optimization. Anayitica Chimica Acta 364(1-3): 265-273 (1998).

57.    M. Zecevic, Lj.Zivanovic and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Spectrophotometric study of the levodopa -iron(III) complex and its application for assay levodopa in pure and dosage forms. Arhiv za farmaciju (Yugoslavia) 6: 868-869 (1998).     

58.    M. Zecevic, Lj.  Zivanovic D. Minic and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Quantitative spectrophotometric assay of the methyldopa as its Pd(II) complex in water and dosage forms. Arhiv za farmaciju (Yugoslavia) 6: 870-871 (1998).                    

59.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, D. Radulovic, and M. Vasiljevic. Spectrophotometric study of diclofenac-Fe(III) complex. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 16(1): 147-153 (1997).

60.    Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, and M. Maksimovic. Statistical optimization of a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of amiloride and methyclothiazide, J. Pharm. Biamed. Anal. 14(8-10): 1245-1250 (1996).

61.    Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonotic-Kustrin, M. Vasiljevic, and I. Nemcova. Comparison of the high-performance and thin-layer chromatographic methods for the assay of lidocain. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 14(8-10): 1229-1232 (1996).

62.    Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonotic-Kustrin, M. Vasiljevic, L. Markovic and I. Nemcova. Spectrophotometric determination of local anestetics as triaralmethane dye ion-pairs in pure and dosage forms. Die Pharmazie 49: 927 (1994).

63.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, and D. Pecanac. Spectrophotometric determination of amiloride as its Cu(II) complex. Die Pharmazie 48(10): 782 (1993).

64.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, and D. Pecanac. Statistical optimization applied to spectrophotometric study of indomethacin - Fe(III) complex, Analytical Letters, 25: 883-897 (1992).

65.    Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonovic, and D. Radulovic. Investigation of Fe(III) chloride as a colour reagent for the spectrophotometric determination of bumetanide in the pure form and  in preparations. Acta Poloniae Pharmaceutica-Drug Research 49(4): 9-12 (1992).

66.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, D. Radulovic, and M. Vasiljevic. Statistical Optimization Applied to Spectrophotometric Study of Tolmetin - Fe(III)complex. Talanta 38(11): 1347-1352 (1991).

67.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, D. Radulovic, and D. Pecanac. Statistical optimization applied to the spectrophotometric study of a tolmetin-copper(II) complex. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2: 919-924 (1991).

 

68.    D. Radulovic, D. Pecanac Lj. Zivanovic, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Investigation and spectrophotometric  determination  of the allprenolol  hydrochloride-iron(II) complex in  bulk drug and in dosage form. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2: 203-206 (1991).

69.    Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, S. Agatonovic, and D. Radulovic. Colorimetric assay of methyldopa bulk  drug and tablets as its Fe(III) complex. Boll. Chim. Farmaceutico-Anno 130-n.5 maggio: 162-165 (1991).

70.    D. Pecanac, D. Radulovic, Lj. Zivanovic, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Investigation of the pindolol-Fe(III) complex and its use in the spectrophotometric determination of pindolol in bulk drug and tablets, J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 9: 861-864 (1991).

71.    Lj. Zivanovic, M. Vasiljevic, D. Radulovic, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Quantitative spectrophotometric assay of levodopa as its Pd(II) complex in water and dosage forms. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 9: 1157-1160  (1991).

72.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj. Zivanovic, D. Radulovic, and M. Vasiljevic. Experimental design Applied to Spectrophotometric Study of Diclofenac Sodium - Copper(II) Complex. Analyst 116: 753-756 (1991).

73.    Lj. Zivanovic, M. Jovanovic, M. Mutavdzic, and S. Agatonovic. Densitometric determination of Monoterpenoids in Melissa Extract, Fitoterapia LXI, No. 1: 82-83 (1990).

74.    Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonovic,  and D. Radulovic.  Spectrophotometric determination of furosemide as its Fe(III) complex in  pharmaceutical preparations. Microchimica Acta I: 49-54 (1990).

75.    D. Radulovic, D. Pecanac, Lj. Zivanovic, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Spectrophotometric Determination of Oxprenolol Hydrochloride as its Fe(III) Complex. Il Farmaco 45(4): 447-453 (1990).

76.    D. Radulovic, D. Pecanac, Lj. Zivanovic, and S. Agatonovic-Kustrin. Investigation of penbutolol-iron(III) complex and its spectrophotometric determination in tablets. J. Pharmac. Biom. Anal. 8: 739-742 (1990).

77.    S. Agatonovic-Kustrin, Lj.  Zivanovic, D. Radulovic, and D. Pecanac. Spectrophotometric determination  of furosemide as  its Pd(II) complex. J. Pharmac. Biomed. Anal. 8: 983-986, (1990).

78.    Lj. Zivanovic, S.  Agatonovic-Kustrin, and D. Radulovic. D.Extractive Spectrophotometric Determination of  Furosemide as its  Fe(III) complex, Di Farmazie 45: 935 (1990).

79.    Lj. Zivanovic, S. Agatonovic and D. Radulovic. Determination of diuretics in pharmaceutical preparations using thin - layer chromatographic densitometry. Pharmazie 44: 64 (1989).

80.    S. Agatonovic, and Lj. Zivanovic. Spectrophotometric study of Polythiazide-Pd(II) complex.J. Pharm. Biom. Anal. 7(12): 1559-1564 (1989).