1. Marijana Hranjec, Kristina Starčević, Branimir Zamola, Stjepan Mutak, Marko Đerek, Grace Karminski-Zamola, New Amidino-benzimidazolyl Derivatives of Tylosin and Desmycosin. Journal of Antibiotics 55 (2002) 308-314. 

2.  Dejan Agić, Marijana Hranjec, Nina Jajčanin, Kristina Starčević, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Marija Abramić, Novel amidino-substituted benzimidazoles: Synthesis of compounds and inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase III. Bioorg. Chem. 35 (2007) 153-169. 

3.   Marijana Hranjec, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis of Novel Benzimidazolyl-substituted Acrylonitrilesand Amidino-substituted Benzimidazo[1,2-a]Quinolines.  Molecules 12 (2007) 1817-1828.

4. Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Spectroscopic characterization, crystal structure determination and interaction with DNA of novel cyano substituted benzimidazole derivative. Struct. Chem. 18 (2007) 943-949.

5. Marijana Hranjec, Marijeta Kralj, Ivo Piantanida, Mirela Sedić, Lidija Šuman, Krešimir Pavelić, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Novel cyano- and amidino-substituted derivatives of styryl-2-benzimidazoles and benzimidazo[1, 2-a]quinolines. Synthesis, photochemical synthesis, DNA binding, and antitumor evaluation, part 3. J. Med. Chem. 50 (2007) 5696-5711. 

6. Kristina Starčević, Marijana Hranjec, Dejana Carić, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of new furyl-phenyl-acrylates and naphthofurans and their interaction with ct-DNA. Monatshefte für Chemie-Chemical Monthly 139 (2008) 975-983. 

7. Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović, Marinela Marinović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis, Spectroscopic properties and crystal structure determination of 2-(2-pyridin-4-yl-vinyl)-1H-benzimidazole derivatives. Struct. Chem. 19 (2008)  353-359. 

8. Marijana Hranjec, Kristina Starčević, Ivo Piantanida, Marijeta Kralj, Marko  Marjanović, Merima Hasani, Gunnar Westman, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis, antitumor evaluation and DNA binding studies of novel amidino- benzimidazolyl substituted derivatives of furyl-phenyl and thienyl-phenyl-acrylates, naphthofurans and naphthothiophenes. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 43 (2008) 2877-2890. 

9. Mirela Sedic, Miroslav Poznic, Peter Gehrig, Mike Scott, Ralph Schlapbach, Marijana Hranjec, Grace Karminski Zamola, Kresimir Pavelić, Sandra Kraljević Pavelić, Differential anti-proliferative mechanisms of novel derivative of N-amidino-substituted benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline in colon cancer cells depending upon their functional p53 status. Mol. Canc. Ther. 7 (2008) 2121-2132. 

10. Marijana Hranjec, Ivo Piantanida, Marijeta Kralj, Lidija Šuman, Krešimir Pavelić, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Novel amidino-substituted thienyl- and furyl-vinyl-benzimidazole derivatives and their photochemical conversion into corresponding diaza-cyclopenta[c]fluorenes. Synthesis, interactions with DNA and RNA and antitumor evaluation. Part 4. J. Med. Chem. 51 (2008) 4899-4910.

11. Sandra Kraljević Pavelić, Siniša Bratulić, Karlo Hock, Davor Jurišić, Marijana Hranjec, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Biserka Žinić, Maro Bujak, Krešimir Pavelić, Screening of potential prodrugs on cells derived from Dupuytren’ s Disease patients. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 63 (2009) 577-585.

12. Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Crystal structure and synthesis of benzimidazole substituted acrylonitriles and benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines.  Struct. Chem. 20 (2009) 91-99.

13. Katja Ester, Marijana Hranjec, Ivo Piantanida, Irena Ćaleta, Jarak Ivana, Krešimir Pavelić, Marijeta Kralj, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Novel Derivatives of Pyridyl-Benzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamides and Benzo[b]thieno[2, 3- c]naphthyridin-2-ones: Minor Structural Variations Provoke Major Differences of Antitumor Action Mechanisms.  J. Med. Chem. 52 (2009)  2482-2492.

14. Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović, Marko Marjanović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Benzimidazole derivatives related to 2,3-acrylonitriles, benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines and fluorenes: Synthesis, Antitumor Evaluation in vitro and Crystal Structure Determination. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 45 (2010) 2405-2417.

15. Nataša Perin, Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović Grace Karminski-Zamola,  Novel aminated benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines as potential fluorescent probes for DNA detection: microwave-assisted synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and crystal structure determination. Dyes and Pigments 91 (2011) 79-88.

16. Marijana Hranjec, Kristina Starčević, Sandra Kraljević Pavelić, Pero Lučin, Krešimir Pavelić and Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and antiproliferative evaluation  in vitro of novel Schiff bases related to benzimidazoles.  Eur. J. Med. Chem. 46 (2011) 2274-2279.

17. Marijana Hranjec, Borka Lučić, Ivana Ratkaj, Sandra Kraljević Pavelić, Ivo Piantanida, Krešimir Pavelić and Grace Karminski-Zamola, Novel Imidazo[4, 5-b]Pyridine and Triaza-Benzo[c]Fluorene Derivatives: Synthesis, Antiproliferative Activity and DNA Binding Studies. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 46 (2011) 2748-2758.
18. Nataša Perin, Lidija Uzelac, Ivo Piantanida, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Marijeta Kralj, Marijana Hranjec, Novel biologically active nitro and amino substituted benzimidazo[1, 2-a]quinolines. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 19 (2011) 6329-6339.

19. Marijana Hranjec, Gordana Pavlović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis, crystal structure determination and antiproliferative activity of novel 2-amino-4-aryl-4, 10-dihydro[1,3,5]triazino[1,2-a]benzimidazoles. J. Mol. Struct. 1007 (2011) 242-251.

20. Marijana Hranjec, Ema Horak Martina Tireli, Gordana Pavlović, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Synthesis, crystal structure and spectroscopic study of novel benzimidazoles and benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines as potential chemosensors for different cations. Dyes and pigments. 95 (2012) 644-656. 

21. Marijana Hranjec, Irena Sović, Ivana Ratkaj, Gordana Pavlović, Nataša Ilić, Linda Valjalo, Krešimir Pavelić, Sandra Kraljević Pavelić, Grace Karminski-Zamola, Antiproliferative potency of novel benzofuran-2-carboxamides on tumour cell lines: Cell death mechanisms and determination of crystal structure. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 59 (2013) 111-119.

22. Perin, Nataša; Nhili, Raja; Ester, Katja; Laine, William; Karminski-Zamola, Grace; Kralj, Marijeta; David-Cordonnier, Marie-Helene; Hranjec, Marijana*. Synthesis, antiproliferative activity and DNA binding properties of novel 5-aminobenzimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-6-carbonitriles. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 80 (2014) 218-227.

23. de Souza, I.O.; Schrekker, Clarissa M.L.; Lopes, William; Orru, Romano V.A.; Hranjec, Marijana; Perin, Nataša; Machado, Michel; Oliveira, Luís F.; Donato, Ricardo K.; Stefani, Valter et al. Bifunctional Fluorescent Benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinolines for Candida spp. Biofilm Detection and Biocidal Activity. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B, Biology 163 (2016) 319-326.

24. Perin, Nataša; Bobanović, Kristina; Zlatar, Ivo; Jelić, Dubravko; Kelava, Vanja; Koštrun, Sanja; Gabelica Marković, Vesna; Brajša, Karmen; Hranjec, Marijana*. Antiproliferative activity of amino substituted benzo[b]thieno[2,3-b]pyrido[1,2-a]benzimidazoles explored by 2D and 3D cell culture system. . Eur. J. Med. Chem. 125 (2017) 722-735.

25. Perin, Nataša; Hok, Lucija; Beč, Anja; Persoons, Leentje; Vanstreels, Els; Daelemans, Dirk; Vianello, Robert; Hranjec, Marijana*. N-substituted benzimidazole acrylonitriles as in vitro tubulin polymerization inhibitors: Synthesis, biological activity and computational analysis. . Eur. J. Med. Chem. 211 (2021) 113003, 14.

26. Lončar, Borka; Perin, Nataša; Mioč, Marija; Boček, Ida; Grgić, Lea; Kralj, Marijeta; Tomić, Sanja; Radić Stojković, Marijana; Hranjec, Marijana*. Novel amino substituted tetracyclic imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives: Design, synthesis, antiproliferative activity and DNA/RNA binding study. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 217 (2021) 113342-113342.

27. Boček, Ida; Hok, Lucija; Persoons, Leentje; Daelemans, Dirk; Vianello, Robert; Hranjec, Marijana*. Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derived tubulin polymerization inhibitors: Design, synthesis, biological activity in vitro and computational analysis. Bioorg, Chem. 127 (2022) 106032, 13.

28. Beč, Anja; Mioč, Marija; Bertoša, Branimir; Kos, Marija; Debogović, Patricia; Kralj, Marijeta; Starčević, Kristina; Hranjec, Marijana*. Design, synthesis, biological evaluation and QSAR analysis of novel N-substituted benzimidazole derived carboxamides. J. Enz. Inhib. Med. Chem. 37 (2022) 1327-1339.

29. Racané Livio; Zlatić Katarina; Cindrić Maja; Mehić Emina; Karminski-Zamola, Grace; Taylor C,. Martin; Kelly M., John; Malić Raić, Silvana; Stojković Radić, Marijana; Kralj, Marijeta; Hranjec, Marijana*.. Synthesis and Biological Activity of 2-Benzo[b]thienyl and 2-Bithienyl Amidino-Substituted Benzothiazole and Benzimidazole Derivatives. ChemMedChem 18 (2023) e202300261. 

30. Boček Pavlinac, Ida; Zlatić, Katarina; Persoons, Leentje; Daelemans, Dirk; Banjanac, Mihailo; Radovanović, Vedrana; Butković, Kristina; Kralj, Marijeta; Hranjec, Marijana*. Biological Activity of Amidino-Substituted Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines. Molecules 28 (2023) 1-16.

31. Boček Pavlinac, Ida; Persoons, Leentje; Daelemans, Dirk; Starčević, Kristina; Vianello, Robert; Hranjec, Marijana*. Novel acrylonitrile derived imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines as antioxidants and potent antiproliferative agents for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. International journal of biological macromolecules 266 (2024) 131239, 16. 

32. Beč, Anja; Persoons, Leentje; Daelemans, Dirk; Starčević, Kristina; Vianello, Robert; Hranjec, Marijana*. Biological activity and computational analysis of novel acrylonitrile derived benzazoles as potent antiproliferative agents for pancreatic adenocarcinoma with antioxidative properties.  Bioorganic chemistry 147 (2024) 107326, 16.

33. Perin, Nataša; Lončar, Borka; Kadić, Matej; Kralj, Marijeta; Starčević, Kristina; Carvalho, Rui A.; Jarak, Ivana; Hranjec, Marijana*. Design, synthesis, antitumor activity and NMR-based metabolomics of novel amino substituted tetracyclic imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine derivatives .ChemMedChem 19 (2024) 17; e202300633, 10.

34. Boček Pavlinac, Ida; Persoons, Leentje; Beč, Anja; Vrban, Lucija; Daelemans, Dirk; Vianello, Robert; Hranjec, Marijana*. Synthesis of novel imino-coumarin and acrylonitrile 2-benzazole hybrids as potent anticancer agents targeting tubulin. Bioorganic chemistry 154 (2025) 107991, 16.

Field of work: Organic synthetic chemistry, synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, synthesis and photochemical synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of heterocyclic compounds (especially benzimidazoles and amidines) that are prepared as substances with potential biological activity, with the aim of their selective or specific interactions with biomacromolecules, mainly DNA and RNA . Spectroscopic examination of the interaction of new biologically active molecules in solution with DNA/RNA. Spectroscopic characterization of compounds using UV/Vis and fluorimetric spectroscopy for the purpose of possible application of newly prepared compounds as sensors for the detection of pH or metal cations in solutions; examination of the antioxidant potential of benzazole by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods.

2011-2014 - Principal investigator: Novel heterocycles as antitumor and antiviral („smart“) drugs (125-0982464-1356), Croatian Research Grant from Ministry of science, education and sport

2011–2012 - Principal investigator: Synthesis, photochemical synthesis, DNA binding, antitumor activity and QSAR analyses of novel condensed quinolones and quniolines, Croatian-French Research Grant from Cogito Partnership

2014-2018 - Team member: Synthesis and cytostatic evaluations of novel nitrogen heterocycles library (5596), Research Grant - CSF

2015-2019 - Team member: Design and Synthesis of Novel Nitrogen-Containing Heterocyclic Fluorophores and Fluorescent Nanomaterials for pH and Metal.Ion Sensing (3386), Croatian Research Grant - CSF

2018-2023 - Principal Investigator: Exploring the antioxidative potential of benzazole scaffold in the design of novel antitumor agents (4379), Research Grant - Croatian Science Foundation (CSF)

2021-2025 - Team member: Design, Synthesis and Computaional Analysis of Novel Optical Chemical pH Sensing (8090), Croatian Research Grant from CSF

2024-2027 - Principal Investigator: Synthesis of new benzazole heterocycles as potential antitumor and antibacterial agents (IP-2024-05-7208 BenzHetPot), CSF

1.9.2001 - 1.9. 2008 -  scientific novice

1.9.2008 - 27.12.2012. -  assistant profesor

27.12.2012 - 27.2.2018. - associate profesor

27.2.2018 - 17.4.2023 - full professor

from 18.4.2023 till today - full professor tenured