Drug making is indeed a huge industry with ever altering technology. It is one of the few industries whose functioning is of outmost importance to all. It is also a very complicated industry that demands great precision & a very high accuracy. Hence to make major alteration in it at any point would only be a possible after considerable study and research. It is also a well known fact that this industry produces a huge amount of toxic waste at times in the form of heavy metals.
Now researchers at the University of Illinois have come up with a catalyst that could have a major impact in the making of drugs. While jumping to conclusions at a very early stage would not be appropriate, one can only hope that enough research has been done on this catalyst to make sure that it achieves its purpose.
For all those who care very little for your chemistry classes, a catalyst is a substance that enhances the rate of a chemical reaction without actually taking part in it. Hence, it remains the same before and after a reaction and in all reality contributes only to the rate of the reaction & does not influence the end product. For all those whose heads are spinning by now, it is like the dating agency that fixes you up with someone and then gets out of the way. Well, let’s say that it does a better job than most dating agencies.
Now Christina White, a professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois led the research which has come up with ‘an iron-based catalyst could be used to turn promising natural products into effective medications by selectively altering complex molecules to make them more bioactive.’ Now there are plenty of implications of such an invention. This invention means that a lot of reactions can now not only be sped up, but also can use an eco-friendly catalyst. This new bio-molecule is lot less expensive than most heavy metal catalysts presently used. It also reduces a lot of toxic waste.
If everything goes to plan and this molecule is indeed incorporated into the practical aspects of drug production, it could be a great boon to mankind. I will spare you the details of how it helps the simpler attachment of various functional groups to the basic reactant structure to make the product, as it might just not sink in very well. All it does is reduce a lot of pollution and makes life saving drugs and that is all we need to know right now.
Scientific aptitude must always be amalgamated with humanity and sensitivity for the betterment of the world. While I do believe that science sometimes throws facts at our face, which a large majority might not be prepared to handle, it also does a world of good. Christina hopes her bio-molecule can save lots of lives and that is truly nothing but good intent.
