M Carmen Galan studies how to improve medical diagnostics and treatments, particularly in cancer care. Their research involves creating special molecules that can attach to radioactive elements, enabling the detection of tumors while also delivering therapeutic radiation to destroy cancer cells. This dual approach aims to make cancer treatment more efficient by using a single molecule that is not only effective in imaging but also in therapy, enhancing patient outcomes.
Key findings
Developed a new method for creating diphosphine bioconjugates with over 95% success in attaching radioactive technetium-99m and rhenium-188 to glucose-based compounds.
Demonstrated that the newly created molecules travel quickly through the bloodstream in mice, ensuring timely diagnostics and treatment.
Showed that the compounds are safely cleared through the kidneys, indicating they are stable in the body and can be used in clinical settings without causing harm.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Galan study cancer treatment?
Yes, Dr. Galan focuses on developing methods for both diagnosing and treating cancer using innovative medical tracers.
What types of molecules does Dr. Galan research?
Dr. Galan researches glucose-based compounds that can be attached to radioactive elements for medical imaging and therapy.
Is Dr. Galan's work relevant to patients with tumors?
Yes, the research is directly relevant to patients with tumors as it aims to improve the effectiveness of both diagnosis and treatment.
Publications in plain English
Hypervalent chalcogenonium organocatalysis for the direct stereoselective synthesis of deoxyglycosides from hemiacetals.
2026
Chemical science
Johns J, Mahanti M, Hansen T, Galan MC
Plain English This study explored a new way to create deoxyglycosides, which are important compounds used in various biological processes. Researchers found that using a specific type of catalyst (1,2-oxaselenonium salts) made the reaction more efficient and selective, producing results as high as 52% yield for a complex tetrasaccharide. This advancement is significant because it provides a stable and effective method for synthesizing important sugars without the drawbacks of traditional catalysts.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and pharmaceutical companies working on sugar-based drugs and therapies.
Red-light-activated and thermally-stable amido-dithienylethenes for the reversible control of G-quadruplex binding and anticancer activity.
2026
Bioorganic chemistry
Allen NM, Bezzant S, Oliveira ASF, Ramos-Soriano J, Galan MC
Plain English Researchers studied a new compound that can be activated by red light to target specific DNA structures associated with cancer cells. They found that this compound binds to these cancer-related DNA sequences 2 to 7 times better when it’s in its active form and is five times more effective at killing cancer cells than in its inactive form, while being safe for healthy cells. This is important because it opens up new possibilities for more precise cancer treatments with fewer side effects.
Who this helps: This benefits cancer patients by potentially improving treatment options.
An organometallic approach to sub-2 nm thiolate-protected Au nanoclusters with enhanced catalytic and therapeutic properties.
2025
Nanoscale advances
Del-Campo I, Sorroche A, Allen N, Ghirardello M, Corzana F +3 more
Plain English This study focused on creating tiny gold particles, less than 2 nanometers wide, that are protected by thiolate compounds. Researchers found a quick and simple way to make these particles, which showed strong abilities to reduce harmful pollutants and to generate heat and reactive molecules when exposed to laser light. Importantly, the gold particles were more toxic to cancer cells than to healthy cells, making them potentially useful for cancer treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients with cancer, as it may lead to more effective therapies.
Expedient synthesis of mucin-type oligosaccharide analogues using alkynyl glycosyl carbonate donors.
2025
Carbohydrate research
Rao BV, Johns J, Galan MC
Plain English This research focused on creating different sugar molecules called mucin-type oligosaccharides, which are important for studying biological functions. The scientists developed a new method that efficiently combines smaller sugar units into larger ones, achieving high success rates with minimal extra steps. This is significant because it allows for quicker and easier access to these complex molecules, which can enhance our understanding of their roles in the body.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers studying diseases and biological processes related to mucin-type sugars.
Cu(I)-Catalyzed Stereoselective Glycosylation of "Electron-Deficient" Glycals.
2025
The Journal of organic chemistry
Mahanti M, Saunders CM, Walker N, Fey N, Galan MC
Plain English The research studied a new, efficient method for creating specific sugar molecules called glycosides using a copper catalyst. The team found that when using certain types of sugar compounds (2-nitro glycals), they could produce high yields of particular glycosides: nitrogalactals mostly resulted in α-glycosides, while nitroglucals produced β-glycosides. This is important because these glycosides can be useful in various biological and medical applications, indicating a better way to synthesize complex sugars needed for drugs and therapies.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and pharmaceutical developers working on new medications.
Improved ESI-MS Sensitivity via an Imidazolium Tag (DAPMI-ITag) for Precise Sialic Acid Detection in Human Serum and CMAH-Null Mouse Tissues.
2025
Analytical chemistry
Zhang YY, Hu ZX, Zhang SY, Liu L, Galan MC +2 more
Plain English This study focused on improving the detection of sialic acids, important molecules involved in many biological processes, by using a new tagging method called DAPMI-ITag. The researchers found that this method allows for the detection of sialic acids in very small amounts, with a sensitivity down to low femtomole levels. They identified different types of sialic acids in human blood and mouse tissues, highlighting that trace amounts of a specific type, Neu5Gc, may come from diet since it cannot be made in certain genetically modified mice or humans.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and doctors by providing better tools to study sialic acids and their relevance in diseases.
Carbon Dots as an Emergent Class of Sustainable Antifungal Agents.
2025
ACS nano
Ghirardello M, Ramos-Soriano J, Galan MC
Plain English This study explored the use of carbon dots, a type of tiny material made from carbon, as a new way to treat fungal infections and improve food safety. Researchers found that carbon dots are stable, easy to make, and can be adjusted for different uses, making them effective in fighting fungi. They highlight these materials' potential to address issues like fungal resistance, which is a growing problem in healthcare and food safety.
Who this helps: This helps patients with fungal infections and the food industry.
Bridged Azobenzene Exhibits Fully Reversible Photocontrolled Binding to a G‑Quadruplex DNA/Duplex Junction.
2025
JACS Au
Ramos-Soriano J, Jiang YJ, Deng B, O Hagan MP, Rao AG +5 more
Plain English This study explored how a light-sensitive compound can bind to specific DNA structures, particularly those related to HIV. The researchers found that this compound binds more than 50 times better to a significant HIV-related DNA structure compared to its other form and that they can control this binding using different colors of light. This is important because it opens up new ways to target and potentially treat HIV by controlling DNA interactions with light.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and doctors working on HIV treatments.
Correction to "Microfluidics-Based Ionic Catch and Release Oligosaccharide Synthesis (ICROS-Microflow) to Expedite Glycosylation Chemistry".
2025
JACS Au
Zhang YY, Ghirardello M, Williams R, Diaz AS, Rojo J +3 more
Plain English This paper addresses errors in a previous study about a method called ICROS-Microflow, which helps create complex sugars more quickly. The corrected details emphasize how this technique can speed up the process of synthesizing these sugars. Efficient sugar synthesis is important because it can enhance the development of new drugs and therapies.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and pharmaceutical companies working on new treatments.
Extending Thioflavin T Fluorescence Probe to 2-Ethenyl-benzothiazole Derivatives: Drug-like Quadruplex Ligands with Potent Antitrypanosomatid Activity.
2025
ACS infectious diseases
Gonçalves RCR, Peñalver P, Allen NM, Belmonte-Reche E, García-Pérez B +6 more
Plain English This study examined new compounds based on a known fluorescent probe, Thioflavin T (ThT), to see if they could effectively fight certain parasites. Researchers created various new versions of this compound and found that some of them were very effective, with one compound showing incredible strength, killing parasites at just 0.019 nanomoles and being 79,206 times more selective towards the parasites than human cells. This matters because these new compounds could offer better treatment options for parasitic infections compared to existing drugs.
Who this helps: This helps patients suffering from parasitic infections, especially those who do not respond well to current treatments.
Identification of a distinct sialic acid (KDN) and a KDN-specific aldolase in Pacific oyster.
2025
Glycoconjugate journal
Hu ZX, Zhang JY, van Ede J, Zhang YY, Li YQ +5 more
Plain English This research studied a type of sugar called KDN found in the muscle tissue of Pacific oysters. The scientists discovered KDN in oysters at a concentration of 1.2 nanomoles per 100 milligrams. They also identified a specific enzyme in oysters that helps break down KDN, showing how mollusks process this sugar differently than vertebrates.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers studying mollusks and their unique biological processes.
Hypervalent Iodine Compounds in Carbohydrate Chemistry: Glycosylation, Functionalization and Oxidation.
2024
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Mahanti M, Bhaskar Pal K, Wallentin CJ, Galan MC
Plain English This article looks at how special iodine compounds, called hypervalent iodine compounds (HICs), are used in the creation of carbohydrates, which are important building blocks for many substances. The findings show that these compounds are effective for tasks like glycosylation and oxidation while being safer for the environment compared to traditional heavy metals. This matters because using HICs can lead to greener chemical processes in carbohydrate chemistry.
Who this helps: This helps chemists and researchers working in sustainable chemistry.
DNA G-quadruplexes in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi as potential therapeutic targets for Chagas disease: Dithienylethene ligands as effective antiparasitic agents.
2024
European journal of medicinal chemistry
Pérez-Soto M, Ramos-Soriano J, Peñalver P, Belmonte-Reche E, O'Hagan MP +6 more
Plain English This study looked at Chagas disease, which affects over 7 million people due to a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. The researchers found specific DNA structures in the parasite's genome that could be targeted for new treatments and developed 14 new compounds that were effective against the parasite. Notably, two of these compounds were about 40 times more effective than the current drug Benznidazole, showing much higher safety levels.
Who this helps: Patients suffering from Chagas disease who need better treatment options.
High sensitivity profiling of N-glycans from mouse serum using fluorescent imidazolium tags by HILIC electrospray ionisation spectrometry.
2024
Carbohydrate polymers
Zhang YY, Zhang SY, Hu ZX, Voglmeir J, Liu L +2 more
Plain English Researchers developed new tagging methods to better analyze specific sugar molecules (N-glycans) in mouse blood, which are important for understanding conditions like cancer. They created three tags, with one (4'GITag) improving detection sensitivity from high femtomole to sub-femtomole levels, allowing the identification of 24 different N-glycans, including some linked to disease, without complicated processes. This advancement is significant as it could lead to better disease diagnosis and the development of new treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients and doctors by improving disease monitoring and targeted therapies.
Synthesis and screening of a library of Lewisdeoxyfluoro-analogues reveals differential recognition by glycan-binding partners.
2024
Nature communications
Hollingsworth K, Di Maio A, Richards SJ, Vendeville JB, Wheatley DE +24 more
Plain English This study explored how modified sugars, called Lewisdeoxyfluoro-analogues, interact with different proteins in the body. Researchers created a library of 150 unique sugar variations and found that some sugars stuck more strongly to certain proteins while others did not, indicating that changing their chemical structure can change how well they bind. These findings are important because they can improve the accuracy of diagnostic tests, especially for detecting bacterial toxins.
Who this helps: This helps patients by enhancing the reliability of diagnostic tools.
Probing the binding and antiparasitic efficacy of azobenzene G-quadruplex ligands to investigate G4 ligand design.
2024
Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Ramos-Soriano J, Holbrow-Wilshaw M, Hunt E, Jiang YJ, Peñalver P +2 more
Plain English This study looked at a new type of drug that targets a specific part of DNA related to parasites. The researchers found that this drug was very effective, with an antiparasitic strength that was 2,285 times more selective than other treatments. Understanding how small changes in the drug’s structure affect its ability to bind and fight parasites is important for developing better medications.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with parasitic infections and doctors treating these conditions.
Microfluidics-Based Ionic Catch and Release Oligosaccharide Synthesis (ICROS-Microflow) to Expedite Glycosylation Chemistry.
2024
JACS Au
Zhang YY, Ghirardello M, Williams R, Diaz AS, Rojo J +3 more
Plain English The study focused on a new method for creating specific sugar molecules (glycosides) using a process that speeds things up by not needing time-consuming purification steps. Researchers successfully made different sugar targets, including an α-(1,6)-trimannoside, all within a single day. This is important because it simplifies the process of producing these sugars, making it faster and more efficient for future research and applications.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and scientists who need to produce glycosides for studies or therapies.
Walke G, Santi C, Haydon C, Joshi P, Takebayashi Y +5 more
Plain English This study looked at special sugar molecules that can help target harmful bacteria without affecting healthy cells. Researchers created a new type of sugar probe called C2-linked arabinose, which showed strong binding to specific bacteria and was better at doing this than other sugar probes. The findings are important because they could lead to new ways to stop bacterial infections, particularly by preventing the formation of harmful biofilms that bacteria create to protect themselves.
Who this helps: This benefits patients and doctors by providing potential new treatments for bacterial infections.
Stability of Human Telomeric G-Quadruplexes Complexed with Photosensitive Ligands and Irradiated with Visible Light.
2023
International journal of molecular sciences
Libera V, Ripanti F, Petrillo C, Sacchetti F, Ramos-Soriano J +4 more
Plain English This study looked at a specific structure in human DNA called G-quadruplexes (G4s), which can form from guanine-rich sequences. Researchers tested two special compounds that react to visible light to see how they interacted with these G4s. They found that the two compounds affected the stability of the G4 structures differently, revealing complex changes in how the G4s unfold when exposed to light.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers developing new cancer treatments and therapies based on DNA manipulation.
Multicolor Photoluminescent Carbon Dots à La Carte for Biomedical Applications.
2023
ACS applied materials & interfaces
Garcia-Millan T, Ramos-Soriano J, Ghirardello M, Liu X, Santi CM +9 more
Plain English This research focused on creating new types of fluorescent carbon dots, which are tiny particles that can help doctors detect diseases more easily. The scientists developed a method to produce these carbon dots with a brightness level, called fluorescence quantum yield, of up to 0.67, allowing them to emit different colors of light depending on how they are excited. This is important because it improves the accuracy of medical tests, such as identifying cancer cells in brain tissue.
Who this helps: This helps patients by providing doctors with better tools for diagnosing conditions like brain cancer.
Reverse thiophosphorylase activity of a glycoside phosphorylase in the synthesis of an unnatural Manβ1,4GlcNAc library.
2023
Chemical science
Keenan T, Hatton NE, Porter J, Vendeville JB, Wheatley DE +8 more
Plain English This research focused on creating a new type of sugar molecule called Manβ1,4GlcNAc, which is important for immune system functions and could be useful in cancer treatments. The scientists developed a method using an enzyme that helped them produce several new variations of this sugar more effectively, especially when they added fluorine to the mix. Their work could help simplify the process of making these important sugar molecules, improving options for future therapies.
Who this helps: This helps patients needing immunotherapy and researchers developing new treatments.
Diphosphine Bioconjugates via Pt(0)-Catalyzed Hydrophosphination. A Versatile Chelator Platform for Technetium-99m and Rhenium-188 Radiolabeling of Biomolecules.
2023
Inorganic chemistry
Nuttall RE, Pham TT, Chadwick AC, Hungnes IN, Firth G +5 more
Plain English Researchers developed a new chemical method to attach glucose molecules to special compounds that can grab onto radioactive atoms (technetium and rhenium), making it possible to create medical tracers that both diagnose diseases and treat them simultaneously. They successfully attached these radioactive atoms to glucose-based compounds with very high efficiency (over 95% success rate), and tests in mice showed the resulting molecules traveled quickly through the bloodstream and were safely cleared through the kidneys while remaining stable in the body. This breakthrough could allow doctors to use a single type of molecule for both detecting tumors with imaging scans and destroying cancer cells with radiation therapy.
Recent Advances on Multivalent Carbon Nanoform-Based Glycoconjugates.
2022
Current medicinal chemistry
Ramos-Soriano J, Ghirardello M, Galan MC
Plain English This paper looks into how certain carbon structures, like fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, can help in studying carbohydrate interactions that play a role in diseases. Researchers found that these carbon nanoforms can effectively mimic how carbohydrates interact in biological processes. This is important because understanding these interactions can lead to new insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and doctors developing new therapies for diseases.
Fast Identification and Quantification of Uropathogenicthrough Cluster Analysis.
2022
ACS biomaterials science & engineering
Vendeville JB, Kyriakides MJ, Takebayashi Y, Rama S, Preece J +11 more
Plain English This study created a quick test that can identify and count specific bacteria that cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in just 15 minutes. The test can accurately detect various strains of uropathogenic bacteria in very low amounts, as low as 10 bacteria per milliliter in urine. This is important because it helps doctors quickly diagnose UTIs and prescribe the right antibiotics, avoiding unnecessary treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients with urinary tract infections and their doctors by providing faster and more accurate diagnosis.
Synthesis of 2-deoxy mucin-type O-glycan analogues as biological probes.
2022
Carbohydrate research
Johnson SE, Galan MC
Plain English This study focused on creating new versions of specific sugar molecules called mucin-type O-glycans, which are important for understanding various biological processes. The researchers successfully made four new types of these sugar molecules using a specialized method, resulting in products with high quality and precision. This matters because these new sugar probes will help scientists learn more about how these molecules work in the body, potentially leading to advances in medical research.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and scientists studying biological processes and diseases.
Reengineering of cancer cell surface charges can modulate cell migration.
2022
Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Ghirardello M, Shyam R, Galan MC
Plain English This study looked at how changing the electrical charges on the surface of cancer cells can influence their movement. Researchers found that by reducing the negative charges caused by certain sugars in these cells, they were able to decrease how much the cancer cells moved, which could help keep them from spreading. This is important because controlling cancer cell migration can lead to better treatment strategies for cancer patients.
Who this helps: This helps cancer patients by potentially improving treatment outcomes.
Carbon dot-based fluorescent antibody nanoprobes as brain tumour glioblastoma diagnostics.
2022
Nanoscale advances
Ghirardello M, Shyam R, Liu X, Garcia-Millan T, Sittel I +3 more
Plain English This study focused on creating a new tool for detecting brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma, by using special fluorescent materials called carbon dots to tag antibodies. The researchers developed a cost-effective method for attaching these carbon dots to antibodies so they can effectively highlight cancer cells in tissue samples. This new technique shows great promise, as it can help identify tumors more accurately and can be adapted for other types of proteins and antibodies.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with brain cancer and the doctors diagnosing and treating them.
Small variations in reaction conditions tune carbon dot fluorescence.
2022
Nanoscale
Garcia-Millan T, Swift TA, Morgan DJ, Harniman RL, Masheder B +4 more
Plain English This study looked at how slight changes in the way carbon dots (tiny particles that can emit light) are made can affect their brightness and color. By adjusting the ingredients used to create these particles under microwave heat, the researchers found that even minor tweaks resulted in different fluorescent behaviors, which are useful for various applications. Specifically, they found that these carbon dots responded differently to acidic and basic conditions, which could be important for designing materials used in sensors or imaging technologies.
Who this helps: This research benefits material scientists and engineers working on advanced imaging and sensor technologies.
Measuring the refractive index and sub-nanometre surface functionalisation of nanoparticles in suspension.
2022
Nanoscale
Mulkerns NMC, Hoffmann WH, Ramos-Soriano J, de la Cruz N, Garcia-Millan T +5 more
Plain English This study looked at a new way to measure how much of a coating is on tiny particles called nanoparticles. The researchers developed a simple method to assess this by measuring how light bends when passing through nanoparticles in a liquid. They found that their measurements matched well with previous results, showing that this method can quickly and effectively identify differences in the coatings on these particles.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and industries working with nanoparticles in medical and biological fields.
Structure-activity relationship studies on divalent naphthalene diimide G quadruplex ligands with anticancer and antiparasitic activity.
2022
Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry
Pérez-Soto M, Peñalver P, Street STG, Weenink D, O'Hagan MP +5 more
Plain English Researchers studied a group of compounds called naphthalene diimides (NDIs) to see how changes in their structure affect their ability to fight cancer and parasites. They created new versions of an existing compound and found that one of them, a dimorpholino NDI, was particularly effective, killing parasitic cells at very low concentrations (0.17 micromolar) and being 40 times more selective against healthy human cells. This is important because it can lead to new treatments for parasitic infections that are safer for patients.
Who this helps: This helps patients suffering from parasitic diseases.
Recent applications of ionic liquid-based tags in glycoscience.
2022
Carbohydrate research
Ghirardello M, Zhang YY, Voglmeir J, Galan MC
Plain English This study examined how adding special liquid compounds called ionic liquids to sugars (glycans) can help scientists detect these sugars more easily in various samples, including biological ones where the available amount is very small. The researchers found that this method significantly enhances the sensitivity of detection techniques, which is crucial for monitoring cancer markers in live cells. This improved detection could help with understanding cancer better and potentially improving outcomes for patients.
Who this helps: This benefits patients and doctors involved in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
AuCl-Catalyzed Hemiacetal Activation for the Stereoselective Synthesis of 2-Deoxy Trehalose Derivatives.
2022
Organic letters
Jeanneret R, Walz C, van Meerbeek M, Coppock S, Galan MC
Plain English This study focused on developing a new method to create specific sugar compounds called 2-deoxy trehalose derivatives. Researchers found that by using a catalyst known as AuCl, they could efficiently produce these sugar analogues with high precision. This is important because these compounds can have various applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and companies working in pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
Carbon-based glyco-nanoplatforms: towards the next generation of glycan-based multivalent probes.
2022
Chemical Society reviews
Ramos-Soriano J, Ghirardello M, Galan MC
Plain English This study looked at new materials called carbon-based glyco-nanoplatforms, which can help researchers understand how sugars on cell surfaces interact with proteins. The findings showed that these carbon materials can mimic natural sugar presentations effectively, making them useful for studying important processes in diseases like cancer and infections. This matters because better understanding of these interactions can lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for various illnesses.
Who this helps: Patients and healthcare providers.
Imide Condensation as a Strategy for the Synthesis of Core-Diversified G-Quadruplex Ligands with Anticancer and Antiparasitic Activity*.
2021
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Street STG, Peñalver P, O'Hagan MP, Hollingworth GJ, Morales JC +1 more
Plain English This study looked at new chemical compounds that can bind to a specific structure in DNA called G-quadruplexes, which could be useful in treating cancer and parasitic infections. Researchers tested nine different compounds and found that one, called compound 3, was particularly effective, stabilizing G-quadruplex DNA 40 times better than regular DNA and inhibiting a parasite responsible for sleeping sickness. This matters because it highlights a potential new way to develop treatments that are more effective and selective for certain diseases.
Who this helps: This helps patients dealing with cancer and parasitic infections.
A Vibration-Induced-Emission-Based Fluorescent Chemosensor for the Selective and Visual Recognition of Glucose.
2021
Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)
Ramos-Soriano J, Benitez-Benitez SJ, Davis AP, Galan MC
Plain English This study focused on creating a new sensor that can detect glucose in biological fluids like blood by using a special fluorescent compound. The researchers developed a sensor that can tell glucose apart from other similar sugars, showing clear color changes when glucose is present. They found that this sensor can create measurable changes in its fluorescence, allowing for accurate detection, which could potentially simplify glucose monitoring.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with diabetes who need to monitor their blood sugar levels.
Benefits of Chemical Sugar Modifications Introduced by Click Chemistry for Glycoproteomic Analyses.
2021
Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry
Calle B, Bineva-Todd G, Marchesi A, Flynn H, Ghirardello M +6 more
Plain English This study focused on improving the analysis of complex sugar modifications, called O-glycosylation, which are important for many body functions but have been difficult to study due to limitations in existing methods. The researchers developed new chemical sugar modifications that made it easier to analyze these sugars using mass spectrometry, leading to better results. Their findings showed that these modifications could enhance charge density and predictability during analysis, which could significantly improve our understanding of O-glycosylation in biological systems.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and clinicians studying diseases related to O-glycosylation.
A promiscuous glycosyltransferase generates poly-β-1,4-glucan derivatives that facilitate mass spectrometry-based detection of cellulolytic enzymes.
2021
Organic & biomolecular chemistry
Bulmer GS, Mattey AP, Parmeggiani F, Williams R, Ledru H +8 more
Plain English This study looked at a special enzyme called glycosyltransferase, which can create complex sugar molecules from glucose. The researchers found that they could use this enzyme to produce sugar chains that help detect specific enzymes that break down cellulose, a major component of plant cell walls. This is important because it enhances the ability to study how these enzymes work, potentially improving research in biochemistry and agriculture.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and scientists studying plant biology and enzyme functions.
Imidazolium labelling permits the sensitive mass-spectrometric detection of-glycosides directly from serum.
2021
Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Zhang YY, Ghirardello M, Wang T, Lu AM, Liu L +2 more
Plain English This study focused on a new chemical compound called GITag that helps detect specific sugars in blood samples more effectively. The researchers found that using GITag allows for easier and more accurate testing of these sugars in human serum without needing extra steps to prepare the sample. This is important because it simplifies the testing process and could lead to faster diagnosis and better monitoring of certain diseases.
Who this helps: This benefits patients needing sugar level testing, such as those with diabetes or other metabolic conditions.
Carbon Dots as an Emergent Class of Antimicrobial Agents.
2021
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
Ghirardello M, Ramos-Soriano J, Galan MC
Plain English This study focuses on carbon dots (CDs), a new type of material that shows promise as an antimicrobial agent to fight bacterial infections. Researchers found that CDs can effectively detect and kill various bacteria, thanks to their unique properties like being stable, dissolvable in water, and safe for living tissues. This matters because they offer a faster and potentially safer alternative to traditional methods, helping to address the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Who this helps: This helps patients dealing with antibiotic-resistant infections and healthcare providers looking for effective treatment options.
Glioma Stem-Like Cells and Metabolism: Potential for Novel Therapeutic Strategies.
2021
Frontiers in oncology
Harland A, Liu X, Ghirardello M, Galan MC, Perks CM +1 more
Plain English This study looked at glioma stem-like cells (GSCs), which are a type of cell in brain tumors that can resist typical cancer treatments and cause the tumors to grow back. Researchers found that by understanding the unique way these cells use energy and nutrients, new treatment strategies could be developed to target them specifically. This is important because it may lead to more effective therapies for patients with recurrent brain tumors that do not respond to standard treatments.
Who this helps: This helps patients with brain tumors, particularly those whose cancers resist conventional therapies.
Plain English This study looked at using tiny materials called glyconanomaterials to better understand and influence biological processes in the body. Researchers found that these materials can affect how sugars, which play a key role in cell functions, interact with various biological systems. This is important because it could lead to new treatments for diseases related to these sugar interactions.
Who this helps: Patients with diseases that affect sugar processing in the body.
Photoresponsive Control of G-Quadruplex DNA Systems.
2021
JACS Au
Ramos-Soriano J, Galan MC
Plain English This study focuses on G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures, which are important for understanding cancer and other diseases, as well as for creating new technologies. The researchers found that using light to control these G4 structures could allow for more precise applications in medicine and nanotechnology, paving the way for innovative treatments. As G4 structures can be involved in critical biological processes, improving control over them could lead to significant advancements in targeting diseases.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and healthcare professionals looking for new ways to treat cancer and other conditions.
Conformationally Constrained Glycosyl Donors as Tools to Control Glycosylation Outcomes.
2020
The Journal of organic chemistry
Jeanneret RA, Johnson SE, Galan MC
Plain English This study explored ways to improve the creation of complex sugars (oligosaccharides) by using special glycosyl donors designed to control how these reactions happen. Researchers highlighted new techniques that make it easier to predict the type of sugar produced, which is important because different sugars can have different effects in the body.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and pharmaceutical companies working on drug development related to carbohydrates.
Tunable Thiol-Ene Photo-Cross-Linked Chitosan-Based Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications.
2020
ACS applied bio materials
Michel SES, Rogers SE, Briscoe WH, Galan MC
Plain English This study focused on creating special hydrogels made from chitosan that can be adjusted for various medical uses. Researchers found that these hydrogels can change in size based on pH and salt levels, and they support human skin cells well for at least six days. This is important because it means these hydrogels could be useful in medical treatments, such as wound healing or drug delivery.
Who this helps: Patients needing advanced treatments for healing and medication.
Introducing affinity and selectivity into galectin-targeting nanoparticles with fluorinated glycan ligands.
2020
Chemical science
Richards SJ, Keenan T, Vendeville JB, Wheatley DE, Chidwick H +10 more
Plain English This study focused on improving the targeting ability of nanoparticles for galectins, which are proteins important for health and disease. The researchers found that by using specially modified sugars (fluorinated glycans), they could enhance the particles' ability to specifically recognize different galectins, achieving a significant improvement in selectivity. This is important because better targeting can lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for various diseases.
Who this helps: This helps patients who may benefit from more accurate disease diagnostics and targeted therapies.
Enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations correctly predict the diverse activities of a series of stiff-stilbene G-quadruplex DNA ligands.
2020
Chemical science
O'Hagan MP, Haldar S, Morales JC, Mulholland AJ, Galan MC
Plain English This study looked at how certain molecules, called stiff-stilbene ligands, interact with a specific DNA structure known as G-quadruplex (G4), which is important for various biological functions. The researchers used advanced computer simulations to predict how these ligands bind to and change the G4 structure, finding that these simulations closely matched their experimental results, showing that they could accurately predict which ligands would alter G4 shapes and how strongly they bind. This understanding can lead to better designs of drugs and materials that target G4 structures in cells.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and developers focused on creating new therapies and molecular devices.
Cytotoxic (,-1,3,5-triaminocyclohexane)ruthenium(II)-diphosphine complexes; evidence for covalent bindingintercalation with DNA.
2020
Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
Wise DE, Gamble AJ, Arkawazi SW, Walton PH, Galan MC +7 more
Plain English The research looked at new ruthenium compounds that can kill cancer cells by interacting with DNA. The studies showed that these compounds are effective against certain cancer cell lines, showing better results than the commonly used drug cisplatin in some cases. Specifically, they found that these complexes could substitute chloride ions for water, an essential step for their potential use in treating tumors.
Who this helps: This helps cancer patients looking for more effective treatment options.