Il Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022 was awarded to Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and Barry Sharpless for the development of techniques aimed at engineering biological molecules. Americans Carolyn Bertozzi and Barry Sharpless and Dane Morten Meldal equally share the coveted recognition for pioneering so-called 'snap chemistry', inaugurated about 20 years ago by Sharpless. It consists in the possibility of joining the molecules more efficiently and at the same time simpler. A technique that, thanks to Bertozzi, has also been applied to biological molecules. In fact, many applications have been put in place, including those relating to green chemistry and high-precision therapies against tumors.
Carolyn Bertozzi
American Carolyn R. Bertozzi is the only woman to win the 2022 Scientific Nobel Prizes. Born in United States in 1966, a professor at Stanford University, she was awarded with the two colleagues for having developed the technique of 'click chemistry ', snap chemistry and 'bioorthogonal chemistry', a term she coined herself. Expressions that indicate the chemical reactions that take place in living beings without interfering with the biochemical processes that take place within them.
Married to wife and three children, Bertuzzi inherited from his father the passion for chemistry and physics. In fact, of Italian origin, he is a nuclear physicist of the very famous MIT (MIT). Carolyn's father's brothers were also born in Italy and have all conducted extensive research studies. In recent years you have already received the Wolf Prize for chemistry; in 2010 she was the first woman to receive the Lemelson Prize of MIT. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Inventors.
Bioorthogonal chemistry
The scientist invented the research field of bioorthogonal chemistry. This refers to any chemical reaction that occurs inside a living organism without interacting or interfering with the numerous concomitant natural biochemical processes. Since its introduction, bioorthogonal chemistry has made it possible to study biomolecules in real time, in living systems without creating cell toxicity problems. This process made it possible to obtain anticancer drugs currently undergoing clinical trials. Furthermore, again with bioorthogonal chemistry, it is possible to insert substances into the compounds that conduct electricity, capture sunlight, protect against ultraviolet radiation and are also a defense against bacteria.
(On the cover Carolyn Bertozzi / photo Stanford University)
