GSK
University of Strathclyde | Pure and Applied Chemistry

A more efficient way to label molecules used in drug research.

When researchers develop a medicine, they need to understand how it moves through the body, where it travels and how it is broken down and how rapidly this all happens. One way to investigate this is to attach a type of "label" known as an isotope to track the labelled compound. Traditional approaches can require several synthetic steps, expensive starting materials and challenging reagents, making the process time-consuming and wasteful.

Ridhima’s research will develop a new photocatalytic method for attaching isotope-labelled methyl groups, small chemical fragments commonly found in medicines, to drug candidates in the final stages of synthesis. The approach uses light to drive chemical reactions under mild conditions, with inexpensive, stable materials. This could overcome the limitations of existing methods, making labelling safer and more practical for complex molecules.

By allowing chemists to label compounds without rebuilding them from scratch, the method could save time and resources while reducing radioactive waste and handling risks. Beyond isotope labelling, it could also offer chemists a more flexible way to modify complex molecules, supporting more efficient and sustainable drug discovery and development.