Scientists can now use cancer radiation to 'glue' molecules together inside a living cell.
April 15, 2026
Original Paper
2-Alkyl Furans Undergo Radiolytic Crosslinking
ChemRxiv · chemrxiv.15001871/v1
The Takeaway
We usually think of ionizing radiation as something that destroys and breaks apart biological structures. But researchers have found a way to use it as a precision tool to trigger 'covalent bonding'—basically using radiation as a glue. By using specific chemical tags, they can target radiation to create permanent links between small molecules and proteins in a cell. This allows scientists to map out exactly how drugs interact with the body in real-time. It turns out that the same force we use to kill cancer cells can also be used as a delicate 'surgical instrument' for biological research. We're turning a destructive force into a creative one.
From the abstract
Induced covalent bond formation, or crosslinking, is a powerful strategy for interrogating and modulating biological systems. Current strategies rely largely on photochemical processes, which generally restrict their use to cellular or other optically accessible settings. Broadening the chemistry underlying the crosslinking-initiating event could extend these approaches to more complex biological systems. Ionizing radiation - a cornerstone of cancer therapy – is an attractive but unexplored trig