Inbasekar C

Project 1: Glycation as a driver of ovarian cancer progression and metastasis

In this work, we developed a turn-on fluorescent sensor for real-time detection of MGO in biological systems.

Using time-lapse microscopy, this probe enables us to study the real-time dynamics and heterogeneity of MGO levels within ovarian cancer cells.

The probe was also used to track and characterise the novel high MGO and low glucose ovarian cancer cell populations, and their role in metastasis.

Project 2: Dicarbonyl quenching by tannic acid protects the matrix and restores organ and organismal homeostasis

In the present work, we investigated the impact of dicarbonyl stress on extracellular matrix biology and tissue architecture, using Hydra, murine mesenteries, endogenous cell-derived matrices, collagen, and basement membrane models.

Our studies revealed how dicarbonyl stress (MGO) remodels ECM architecture and perturbs tissue homeostasis.

We also demonstrated that small-molecule (MGO quencher) pretreatment can mitigate MGO-induced dicarbonyl stress, restore ECM integrity, and maintain functional balance.

Project 3: Effect of dicarbonyl stress on glucose trafficking

In this work, we used fluorescent probes to measure how MGO kinetics affect glucose trafficking and uptake in the insulinoma cell lines.

• Synthesised green crosslinkers and polymers to enhance collagen stabilization