Research

Dr. Best's research generally involves the design and synthesis of molecules that can be implemented for studies or applications pertaining to biological systems.

One aspect of this involves the study of cell-surface recognition events. Here, carbohydrates and lipids presented on the cell-surface act as binding sites for a range of species including proteins, pathogens, and viruses. Due to the involvement of these compounds in crucial cellular events, it is necessary to understand these interactions to provide approaches for therapeutic intervention. Synthetic organic chemistry provides access to well-defined analogs of these epitopes that can be used to develop a microscopic understanding of these recognition events.

The group is also interested in the development of chemical sensors for the detection of therapeutically relevant biomolecules. The traditional approach in this realm involves the design of a supramolecular receptor that can selectively bind a given analyte, allowing for quantification. We are implementing novel strategies that allow for efficient development of high affinity sensors. Such structures can be applied to the detection of target analytes for the purpose of clinical diagnosis.

The research in the group entails the combination of traditional synthetic organic chemistry to obtain the target compounds, biochemistry techniques to study protein interactions, and analytical approaches for binding characterization. We interact with a range of collaborators to achieve these goals. While students generally focus on the areas that best fit their interests, they also obtain an interdisciplinary training, providing them with a wide range of skills and preparing them to be successful in whatever arena there ambitions may take them.