MARIA TOMAS GAMASA

MARIA TOMAS GAMASA is a Ramón y Cajal contract researcher at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), affiliated with the Research Center in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Materials (CIQUS) and the Department of Organic Chemistry. Her work is conducted within the Biological and Supramolecular Chemistry (BCS) research group, focusing on bioorthogonal reactions, organometallic catalysis, and supramolecular systems in biological contexts.

Research Interests: Maria's research centers on integrating bioorganic chemistry with supramolecular design to develop catalytic systems for intracellular chemical reactions. Her projects explore metal-promoted synthetic chemistry and photocatalytic processes in biorelevant environments, such as live cells and tissue models. Key areas include metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoreactors, plasmonic-assisted thermocyclizations, and bioorthogonal synthetic tools for cellular applications.

Article Trends: Her recent work (2020–2025) shows a strong focus on intracellular catalysis, photocatalytic reactions, and nanoreactor design. The 15 most recent publications highlight visible-light activation, transition metal catalysts in biological systems, and metabolic pathway engineering using enzyme–metal hybrid systems. Subfields include biorelevant radical trapping, organelle-specific reactions, and metalloprotein engineering for controlled catalysis within living cells.

Laboratory & Collaborations: Maria is part of the Biological and Supramolecular Chemistry (BCS) group at CIQUS, where she collaborates on interdisciplinary projects involving metal carbenes, photocatalytic systems, and supramolecular assemblies for cellular applications. Her lab investigates nanoreactor diffusion control and remote activation mechanisms for biocompatible chemical processes.