Dr. Michel Hanania, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technology, and Engineering at Bethlehem University, is making significant strides in the fight against cancer through the synthesis of novel compounds with targeted therapeutic potential. His co-authored research, published in BMC Chemistry and the Journal of Molecular Structure, introduces new classes of bioactive molecules that may serve as promising leads in anticancer drug development.
In the study published in BMC Chemistry, Dr. Hanania and his research team created 11 new chemical compounds using a simple method that combines several ingredients in one step. These compounds were tested in the lab against breast cancer, colon cancer, and skin cancer cells.
Two of the new compounds stood out. One was especially effective against colon cancer cells, killing them at very low doses while being much gentler on healthy cells. Another compound showed strong results against skin cancer cells and was also safer for normal, healthy cells.
These early results are exciting because they suggest that these compounds could one day be turned into medicines that kill cancer without causing serious harm to the rest of the body.
In the second study, published in the Journal of Molecular Structure, Dr. Hanania and his team continued their search by designing new molecules and testing how their shape, structure, and energy levels affected their performance against cancer cells.
Here too, several new compounds showed strong anti-cancer effects, especially against breast cancer and colon cancer. By carefully analyzing the 3D structure of these molecules, the researchers were able to explain why certain designs worked better than others—an important step for creating safer, more powerful cancer drugs.
While these discoveries are still in the research stage, they offer hope for better cancer treatments in the future. What makes them especially exciting is that they were developed by scientists in Palestine, working in collaboration with international experts.
Dr. Hanania’s work is a shining example of how research at Bethlehem University is contributing to global efforts in science and healthcare.
Read full articles here:
Journal of Molecular Structure:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002228602501227X?via%3Dihub
BMC Chemistry:
https://bmcchem.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13065-025-01412-6