Bio


Dr. Minh Nguyen joined the Prof. Jeffrey Glenn laboratory as a postdoctoral scholar in August 2022. His aspiration is to merge chemistry and biology to drive advancements in drug discovery by emphasizing molecular, structural, and chemical approaches. Minh currently focuses on the development of novel antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and other RNA viruses of pandemic potential. Minh earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania under the direction of Prof. Amos B. Smith, III, where his doctoral work centered on the convergent total synthesis of two marine natural products nahuoic acids Cii and Dii.

Honors & Awards


  • Graduate Fellowship, Vietnam Education Foundation (VEF) (2016)

Professional Education


  • PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Chemistry (2022)
  • BSc, Ho Chi Minh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam, Pharmacy (2015)

Stanford Advisors


Lab Affiliations


All Publications


  • Thick Data Analytics (TDA): An Iterative and Inductive Framework for Algorithmic Improvement The American Statistician Nguyen, M., Eulalio, T., Marafino, B. J., Rose, C., Chen, J. H., Baiocchi, M. 2024
  • Generation of Dithianyl and Dioxolanyl Radicals Using Photoredox Catalysis: Application in the Total Synthesis of the Danshenspiroketallactones via Radical Relay Chemistry ORGANIC LETTERS Deng, Y., Nguyen, M. D., Zou, Y., Houk, K. N., Smith, A. B. 2019; 21 (6): 1708-1712

    Abstract

    Visible-light-induced generation of dithianyl and dioxolanyl radicals via selective hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) has been achieved. This radical relay tactic enables remote C(sp3)-H functionalization to permit rapid access to polyol and spiroketal segments, and in turn has been exploited as a key synthetic construct in the total synthesis of the danshenspiroketallactones. The conformational stability of the danshenspiroketallactones has also been defined via experiments and DFT calculations.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.orglett.9b00271

    View details for Web of Science ID 000461843900034

    View details for PubMedID 30807194

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6518407

  • Synthesis of Novel Chalcones as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL Thanh-Dao Tran, Thi-Cam-Vi Nguyen, Ngoc-Son Nguyen, Dai-Minh Nguyen, Thi-Thu-Ha Nguyen, Minh-Tri Le, Khac-Minh Thai 2016; 6 (7)

    View details for DOI 10.3390/app6070198

    View details for Web of Science ID 000381492300015

  • Synthesis and Selective Cytotoxic Activities on Rhabdomyosarcoma and Noncancerous Cells of Some Heterocyclic Chalcones MOLECULES Tuong-Ha Do, Dai-Minh Nguyen, Van-Dat Truong, Thi-Hong-Tuoi Do, Minh-Tri Le, Thanh-Quan Pham, Khac-Minh Thai, Thanh-Dao Tran 2016; 21 (3): 329

    Abstract

    Chemically diverse heterocyclic chalcones were prepared and evaluated for cytotoxicity, aiming to push forward potency and selectivity. They were tested against rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and noncancerous cell line (LLC-PK1). The influence of heteroaryl patterns on rings A and B was studied. Heterocycle functionalities on both rings, such as phenothiazine, thiophene, furan and pyridine were evaluated. Notably, the introduction of three methoxy groups at positions 3, 4, 5 on ring B appears to be critical for cytotoxicity. The best compound, with potent and selective cytotoxicity (IC50 = 12.51 μM in comparison with the value 10.84 μM of paclitaxel), contains a phenothiazine moiety on ring A and a thiophene heterocycle on ring B. Most of the potential compounds only show weak cytoxicity on the noncancerous cell line LLC-PK1.

    View details for DOI 10.3390/molecules21030329

    View details for Web of Science ID 000373802200035

    View details for PubMedID 27005608

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6273843