Milan D. D. Kostić

Dr. Milan D. D. Kostić


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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15 July 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
KDKatarina Dunjic
Katarina Dunjic
MDMomir Dunjic
Momir Dunjic
MJMarina Gazdic Jankovic
Marina Gazdic Jankovic
MKMarina Miletic Kovacevic
Marina Miletic Kovacevic
Nikolina KastratovicNikolina Kastratovic
Nikolina Kastratovic
STStefano Turini
Stefano Turini
Background: Malignant melanoma is characterized by molecular heterogeneity, adap-tive signaling, and limited durability of therapeutic responses. This exploratory study examined a chemically characterized dual-oil formulation composed of cold-pressed Prunus dulcis oil and Pinus sylvestris needle essential oil as an integrated life-science model linking formulation chemistry, comparator-context molecular docking, and cel-lular viability. Methods: GC-MS/FAME profiling defined the principal formula-tion-associated markers. Docking was used to prioritize structurally plausible interac-tions across a melanoma-relevant target panel, while Neutral Red Uptake assays quan-tified 24-h viability in B16F10 melanoma cells and MRC-5 fibroblasts. Spearman rank analysis was applied to the concentration–viability series to test monotonic biological coherence; a direct component-level docking-to-cellular correlation was prospectively evaluated for estimability. Results: The combined formulation yielded estimated IC50 values of 1.42% in B16F10 cells and 4.85% in MRC-5 cells (selectivity index, 3.41). Across the complete concentration range, the relationship was non-monotonic (B16F10: ρs = −0.429, p = 0.289; MRC-5: ρs = −0.381, p = 0.352), whereas the descending high-dose branch (≥0.37% v/v) showed strong inverse rank associations (B16F10: ρs = −1.000, p < 0.001; MRC-5: ρs = −0.900, p = 0.037). A statistically valid direct in silico–in vitro Spear-man coefficient could not be calculated because compound-resolved cellular pheno-types were unavailable for the six docked chemical markers. Conclusions: The data support a biologically coherent, concentration-dependent cytotoxic phenotype within the descending exposure range and define a rigorous framework for future com-pound-matched computational–experimental validation. The study should be inter-preted as hypothesis-generating rather than as evidence of cellular target engagement or therapeutic efficacy.

22 May 2026 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
KDKatarina Dunjic
Katarina Dunjic
MDMomir Dunjic
Momir Dunjic
MJMarina Gazdic Jankovic
Marina Gazdic Jankovic
MKMarina Miletic Kovacevic
Marina Miletic Kovacevic
Nikolina KastratovicNikolina Kastratovic
Nikolina Kastratovic
STStefano Turini
Stefano Turini
Background: Malignant melanoma remains a biologically aggressive cancer in which pathway redundancy and adaptive signaling can complicate durable therapeutic control. The working hypothesis is based on the following testable question: whether an archived dual-oil formulation composed of cold-pressed Prunus dulcis oil and Pinus sylvestris oil, in which α-pinene is the major component, generated a measurable NRU viability phenotype in B16F10 melanoma cells that justified subsequent standardized chemical, mechanistic, and statistical follow-up. Methods: Comparator-context docking observations were generated across a melanoma-relevant target panel, and the computational layer was used only to organize qualitative pocket-context hypotheses. The archived NRU dataset was then descriptively evaluated in B16F10 melanoma cells and MRC-5 fibroblasts. Results: The NRU data indicate an observable concentration-associated reduction in B16F10 viability for the combined formulation; and IC50/selectivity-index values were estimated from fitted dose-response curves; however, the absence of complete replicate-level raw metadata and confidence intervals requires cautious exploratory interpretation. Conclusions: The results support the cautious interpretation that a dual-oil P. dulcis and P. sylvestris formulation may serve as a pilot, hypothesis-generating anti-melanoma exploratory platform. The principal value of the study is to define the minimum experimental program required for future validation, including GC-MS batch standardization, orthogonal viability assays, replicated dose-response modeling, biochemical target assays, pathway readouts, and in vivo evaluation where justified. GC-MS/FAME profiling is incorporated as a chemical-standardization anchor for the dual-oil system. GC/MS analysis was performed to characterize the chemical profiles of cold-pressed P. dulcis oil and P. sylvestris needle essential oil, supporting chemical standardization of the dual-oil system.

11 August 2026 in Life
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
KDKatarina Dunjic
Katarina Dunjic
MDMomir Dunjic
Momir Dunjic
MJMarina Gazdic Jankovic
Marina Gazdic Jankovic
MKMarina Miletic Kovacevic
Marina Miletic Kovacevic
Nikolina KastratovicNikolina Kastratovic
Nikolina Kastratovic
STStefano Turini
Stefano Turini
Background: Previous studies have examined bioactive constituents of Prunus dulcis oil, Pinus sylvestris essential oil, and related phytochemical matrices separately; however, their combined chemical profile, comparator-context molecular-docking landscape, and comparative cellular response in melanoma and non-malignant fibroblast models remain insufficiently characterized. Methods: The analyzed study samples were profiled by GC/MS and GC/FID-based fatty-acid methyl ester analysis. An archived molecular-docking dataset was used to summarize structurally plausible interactions of six formulation-associated markers with eight melanoma-relevant or melanoma-adjacent targets and to present representative three-dimensional complexes. Because complete protocol metadata and co-crystallized-ligand redocking records were unavailable, the computational findings were interpreted descriptively. Neutral-red uptake assays assessed the 24 h viability of B16F10 melanoma cells and MRC-5 fibroblasts after exposure to each oil, the dual-oil formulation, or cisplatin. Four-parameter logistic models provided estimated IC50 values, and exact two-sided permutation tests were used for Spearman rank analyses. Results: The dual-oil formulation yielded estimated IC50 values of 1.42% v/v in B16F10 cells and 4.85% v/v in MRC-5 cells, corresponding to an apparent selectivity index of 3.41. The complete eight-concentration series was non-monotonic and showed no significant rank association (B16F10: ρs = −0.4286, exact p = 0.2992; MRC-5: ρs = −0.3810, exact p = 0.3599). In a post hoc analysis of the descending branch (≥0.37% v/v), the association was perfect in B16F10 cells (ρs = −1.0000, exact p = 0.0167) but did not reach significance in MRC-5 cells (ρs = −0.9000, exact p = 0.0833). The docking matrix identified target-dependent numerical prioritization patterns; however, small score differences were not interpreted as evidence of stronger binding or cellular target engagement. Conclusions: The findings define an exploratory chemical–computational–cellular framework and a preliminary formulation-level viability phenotype. They do not establish synergy, apoptosis, pathway modulation, therapeutic efficacy, or clinical safety. Independent multi-batch chemical confirmation, a fully documented and redocking-validated computational protocol, expanded melanoma and normal-skin cell panels, orthogonal functional assays, longer exposure periods, mechanistic validation, and subsequent in vivo studies are required.