The spin trapping behaviour of the two galactosylated nitrones LAMPBN and TA1PBN, both of which are able to target cells through recognition by cell membrane lectins, were widely investigated on a variety of free radicals in aqueous media. The ESR spectra of the more amphiphilic nitrone, TA1PBN, were interpreted in the light of the LAMPBN trapping results. The spin adducts of nitrone TA1PBN, which may be better distributed inside the cell, were surrounded by two distinct environments due to the tensioactive organisation of the trap and gave two different ESR signals for each radical trapped.