Nikolaos Koletsis | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Analytical Chemistry

Mr. Nikolaos Koletsis | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Nikolaos E. Koletsis is a chemist with a Master of Science in Applied Biochemistry from the University of Patras and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Ioannina. His academic and research background is grounded in molecular and cellular biochemistry, with a particular emphasis on cancer biology, extracellular matrix (ECM) dynamics, and the development of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models. During his MSc research at the Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Patras, he investigated the functional properties and differential expression of key ECM components in 3D breast cancer spheroids. His work integrated advanced biochemical techniques including 3D cell culture, gene expression analysis (qPCR), HPLC, ELISA, electrophoresis, and statistical methodologies such as T-test and ANOVA. This project has culminated in both national and international presentations, and a first-author publication in Cells. Koletsis also conducted pioneering undergraduate research at the University of Ioannina, synthesizing novel alkaline earth metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with potential applications in biodiesel catalysis. This work led to the identification of a new magnesium-glycerol complex, a structure reported for the first time in literature. He has co-authored three peer-reviewed journal articles indexed in Scopus, which have collectively received 15 citations, and he currently holds an h-index of 1. His publications appear in respected journals such as Cells, FEBS Journal, and Archives of Medical Science – Atherosclerotic Diseases, reflecting the interdisciplinary and impactful nature of his work. In addition to his lab-based expertise, Koletsis is adept in scientific writing, data analysis, and conference presentations, demonstrating a clear capacity for translating experimental data into meaningful scientific contributions. His career interests lie at the intersection of biomedical research, applied sciences, and translational innovations in cancer and materials chemistry.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

  • Koletsis, N. E., Mangani, S., Franchi, M., Piperigkou, Z., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025). Development, functional characterization, and matrix effectors dynamics in 3D spheroids of triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cells, 14(17), 1351.

  • Anagnostopoulos, S., Baltayiannis, N., Koletsis, N. E., et al. (2025). 3D printing in medicine: Bridging imaging, education, and practice. Archives of Medical Science – Atherosclerotic Diseases, 10(1), 172–188.

  • Mangani, S., Piperigkou, Z., Koletsis, N. E., Ioannou, P., & Karamanos, N. K. (2024). Estrogen receptors and extracellular matrix: The critical interplay in cancer development and progression. FEBS Journal.

  • Piperigkou, Z., Mangani, S., Koletsis, N. E., Koutsakis, C., Mastronikolis, N. S., Franchi, M., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025). Principal mechanisms of extracellular matrix-mediated cell–cell communication in physiological and tumor microenvironments. FEBS Journal.

 

Mokgadi Mphahlele | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Mokgadi Mphahlele | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Tshwane University of Technology | South Africa

Dr. Mokgadi Precious Mphahlele is an emerging South African chemist specializing in natural product chemistry, drug discovery, and analytical techniques. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Johannesburg, where her research focused on isolating and synthesizing bioactive compounds from traditional medicinal plants (Tabernaemontana contorta, Sclerocarya birrea, and Senna italica) for use against resistant bacterial and cancerous cells. Her MSc in Chemistry involved developing a sustained delivery system for Curcuma longa extracts using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. Dr. Mphahlele is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tshwane University of Technology, conducting chemometric analysis and metabolomics on South African medicinal plants. She previously served as a Senior Laboratory Technician at the University of Johannesburg and a Quality Control Lab Assistant at Idwala Industrial Minerals. She has contributed to over ten peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, focusing on phytochemical profiling, structure elucidation, antibacterial and anticancer assays, and natural compound synthesis. Dr. Mphahlele has completed international programs such as the Lancaster University Career Writing Program, and training in Drug Discovery (UC San Diego) and Scientific Writing (Nature Masterclass). Her research interests lie in natural products chemistry, chromatographic method development, molecular networking, and structure–activity relationship (SAR) studies. She is an active member of the Golden Key Honour Society, a Black Women in Science 2024 Fellow, and a reviewer for Taylor & Francis. Dr. Mphahlele’s work bridges traditional knowledge with modern scientific innovation, contributing to sustainable health solutions.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid | Google scholar

Featured Publications

  • “Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Sugar from the Inner Bark of Sclerocarya birrea: Insights into Antibiotic and Anticancer Activity”

  • “Antimicrobial Activity of Triterpenoid and Steroidal Cinnamates from Vitellaria paradoxa”

  • “Crystal structure of Staudtienic acid, a diterpenoid from Staudtia kamerunensis Warb.(Myristicaceae)”

  • “Chemical profiling, bio-guided purification, and cytotoxic effect of two African spices: Hypodaphnis zenkeri Engl. Stapf (Lauraceae) and Staudtia kamerunensis warb (Myristicaceae) on human prostate cancer cell lines”

  • “Antibacterial activity and GC-MS profiling of DCM/MeOH extracts of Tabernaemontana contorta Stapf’s leaves, and stem bark from the central region of Cameroon”