Developing RAMAN-based methodology to investigate cell glycosylation signatures

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Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting 1% of the global population, but we still lack methods to predict disease phenotype or responses to drugs. Recent results obtained in our lab identify cell glycosylation as a potential target to overcome this scientific impasse. All living cells are covered by a distinct layer of glycans [or sugars]. We know that a tight connection exists between the dysregulation of glycan expression and the onset of chronic inflammation, but the details of this process are still unclear, mostly due to the lack of suitable analytical methods. We plan to explore the adoption of Raman spectroscopy as an innovative label-free approach to explore the glycocalyx. This tool will shine a new light on the field of glycomics, enabling new scientific discoveries not only to provide more effective ways to investigate pathophysiological changes in cell glycosylation, but also to understand new aspects of cell biology to bridge inflammatory responses, structural glycobiology and mechanical properties of cells both in health and disease. Moreover, thanks to the collaboration with an industrial leader in Raman instrumentation, Horiba, we will address the potential of the approach to translate towards the clinic, designing a Raman-powered diagnostic device for inflammatory states.