The Chemistry and Medicine Intersection: A Deep Dive
The Chemistry and Medicine Intersection
Introduction
The chemistry and medicine intersection is a fascinating field, a confluence of two disciplines that have shaped our understanding of health and disease. Chemistry, with its focus on the composition, structure, and properties of substances, provides the foundation for understanding the complex biochemical reactions and processes that underlie human health and disease. Medicine, on the other hand, applies this knowledge to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases. Together, they form the backbone of modern healthcare, driving innovations that save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
In this exploration, we’ll delve into the intricate relationship between chemistry and medicine. We’ll look at how the principles of chemistry are applied in medicine to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases. From the molecular mechanisms of disease to the development of new drugs, the role of chemistry in medicine is vast and varied. It’s a journey that will take us to the frontiers of scientific knowledge, where new discoveries are being made every day.
So, let’s embark on this journey together, exploring the fascinating world where chemistry meets medicine. Whether you’re a student, a healthcare professional, or simply someone with a keen interest in science, I hope this exploration will enrich your understanding and ignite your curiosity.
Fenton Chemistry in Medicine
Fenton chemistry is a fascinating area of study that has significant implications for medicine. Named after the British chemist Henry John Horstman Fenton, it involves reactions that produce hydroxyl radicals. These radicals are highly reactive and can cause significant damage to cells. They can react with almost all types of biomolecules, including DNA, proteins, and lipids, leading to various forms of cellular damage and death.
In the field of medicine, understanding Fenton chemistry is crucial as it plays a role in various pathological conditions. For instance, it’s implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The hydroxyl radicals produced in Fenton reactions can cause oxidative stress, a condition characterized by an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to counteract their harmful effects.
Despite the potential harm, Fenton chemistry is not all doom and gloom. It also has therapeutic applications. For example, Fenton reactions are used in cancer treatment to produce free radicals that can kill cancer cells. This is a prime example of how a deep understanding of chemistry can lead to innovative medical treatments.
Aluminum Chemistry in Biology
Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and is often found in our environment. It can enter the body through various sources, including food, water, and even the air we breathe. Despite its prevalence, aluminum is not considered essential for life. In fact, in large amounts, it can be harmful.
The chemistry of aluminum in biological systems is complex. In the body, aluminum can interact with various biological molecules, affecting their function. For instance, it can bind to proteins, altering their structure and function. It can also interfere with the signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and differentiation.
One area of concern is the potential link between aluminum and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Some studies suggest that aluminum can accumulate in the brain and contribute to the formation of plaques that are characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease. However, the exact role of aluminum in Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases is still a topic of ongoing research.
Chitosan Applications in Medicine
Chitosan, a natural polymer derived from chitin, has a wide range of applications in medicine due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability. It’s used in wound healing, drug delivery systems, and tissue engineering, among other applications. Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from chitin, one of the most abundant and renewable materials on Earth. Chitin is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods such as crustaceans, e.g., crabs, lobsters and shrimps, and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fish and lissamphibians.
Chitosan and its derivatives have practical applications in various fields, including the food industry, agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, cosmetology, textile and paper industries, and in chemistry. In recent years, chitosan has also received much attention in dentistry, ophthalmology, biomedicine and bioimaging, hygiene and personal care, veterinary medicine, packaging industry, agrochemistry, aquaculture, functional textiles and cosmetotextiles, catalysis, chromatography, beverage industry, photography, wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering, and biotechnology. Nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals are actually growing markets, and therapeutic and biomedical products should be the next markets in the development of chitosan.
Chitosan is a biodegradable natural polymer with many advantages such as nontoxicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. It can be applied in many fields, especially in medicine. As a delivery carrier, it has great potential and cannot be compared with other polymers. Chitosan is extremely difficult to solubilize in water, but it can be solubilized in acidic solution. Its insolubility in water is a major limitation for its use in medical applications[^2^]. Chitosan derivatives can be obtained by chemical modification using such techniques as acylation, alkylation, sulfation, hydroxylation, quaternization, esterification, graft copolymerization, and etherification[^2^]. Modified chitosan has chemical properties superior to unmodified chitosan.
Cardiac Troponin in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Cardiac troponin is a protein found in heart muscle cells that is released into the blood when there is damage to the heart. It’s a key marker in the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome, a term used to describe conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart. The role of cardiac troponin as a diagnostic biomarker of myocardial injury in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is well established. Since the initial 1st-generation assays, 5th-generation high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays have been developed, and are now widely used.
The measurement of cardiac troponin levels has become a standard part of the diagnostic process for acute coronary syndrome. It’s one of the first tests performed when a patient presents with symptoms of a heart attack. The results of this test can guide the treatment strategy, helping to determine whether the patient needs immediate intervention to restore blood flow to the heart.
However, while the measurement of cardiac troponin is a powerful tool, it’s not without its challenges. The interpretation of cardiac troponin levels can be complex, as they can be elevated in conditions other than acute coronary syndrome. Furthermore, the timing of the test is crucial. Cardiac troponin levels rise within a few hours after the onset of heart damage, but they can remain elevated for up to two weeks, making it a valuable marker for both the diagnosis and the ongoing management of acute coronary syndrome.
Chemistry in Disease Diagnosis
Chemistry plays a vital role in disease diagnosis, particularly in the field of liver disease. Biochemical tests are used to measure the levels of various chemicals and enzymes in the body, which can indicate abnormalities that might suggest disease. For instance, liver function tests (LFTs) are a panel of frequently requested blood tests that may indicate liver disease. However, these tests commonly contain at least one abnormal result, and these abnormalities are rarely investigated to the extent recommended by national guidelines.
The intelligent Liver Function Testing (iLFT) pathway is a novel, automated system designed to improve early diagnosis of liver disease. Initial abnormal LFT results trigger a cascade of reflexive testing to help identify the cause of any liver dysfunction. Algorithms combine these results with demographic and clinical data (such as patient age, body mass index, and alcohol intake) and fibrosis estimates to produce an electronic diagnosis and management plan.
In a study on the application of biochemical tests and machine learning techniques to diagnose and evaluate liver disease, eight biochemical parameters were assessed: serum total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, and alpha-fetoprotein. The study found that all parameters, except alkaline phosphatase, showed an overall discriminatory ability, suggesting their potential use in diagnosing liver disease.
Chemistry in Disease Treatment
Chemistry is also integral to disease treatment, especially in the design and synthesis of drugs. Understanding the chemical structures of drugs allows us to predict how they will interact with the body. For instance, in the treatment of malaria, a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the Plasmodium genus, the rapid rate of nucleic acid synthesis during the intraerythrocytic growth phase makes purine and pyrimidine metabolic pathways promising targets for novel drug development.
Modern transition state analogue drug discovery has resulted in transition state analogues capable of binding to target enzymes with unprecedented affinity and specificity. These agents can provide specific blocks in essential pathways. The combination of tight binding with the high specificity of these logically designed inhibitors results in low toxicity and minor side effects. These features reduce two of the major problems with the current antimalarials.
Inhibition of the purine salvage pathway with transition state analogue (TSA) inhibitors of both human and Plasmodium PNP, such as Immucillin-H (Imm-H) and DADMeImm-G, is lethal for P. falciparum in vitro. Coformycin is a picomolar, transition state analogue inhibitor of both human and P. falciparum ADAs; 2′-deoxycoformycin, a related ADA inhibitor, have been reported to have antimalarial potential in primates.
Chemistry in Medical Research
Medical research often involves chemistry, particularly in the development of antiviral agents. For instance, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of such development. Biochemical events critical to the coronavirus replication cycle provide a number of attractive targets for drug development. These include the spike protein for binding to host cell-surface receptors, proteolytic enzymes that are essential for processing polyproteins into mature viruses, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase for RNA replication.
High-throughput screening efforts have led to the identification of diverse lead structures, including natural product-derived molecules. This review highlights past and present drug discovery and medicinal chemistry approaches against SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and COVID-19 targets. The review hopes to stimulate further research and will be a useful guide to the development of effective therapies against COVID-19 and other pathogenic coronaviruses.
The potential danger associated with animal reservoirs for the virus and the chance of re-emergence of epidemic/pandemic CoV-associated infections prompt robust research efforts in order to identify effective antiviral agents. In this context, the medicinal chemistry efforts performed towards novel therapeutic options for both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV could be of great help to identify potential treatments for SARS-CoV-2.
Chemical Impact on Public Health
Chemicals in our environment can have significant impacts on public health. For instance, a study conducted in the PresteaHuni Valley District of Ghana assessed the health risks of artisanal miners exposed to toxic metals in water bodies and sediments. The study found that the mean concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) in water samples were significantly high. These concentrations were used to calculate the cancer and non-cancer health risks from exposure to these metals.
The non-cancer human health risk assessment for small-scale miners working around river Anikoko, expressed in terms of hazard quotients based on central tendency exposure parameters, were as follows: 0.04 (Cd), 1.45 (Pb), 4.60 (Hg), and 1.98 (As). The cancer health risk faced by miners in Dumase exposed to As in River Mansi via oral ingestion of water was 3.1 x 10^-3. These hazard quotient results were above the HQ guidance value of 1.0, and the cancer health risk results were found to be higher than the USEPA guidance value of 1 x 10^-4 to 1 x 10^-6.
These findings call for case-control epidemiological studies to establish the relationship between exposure to the aforementioned toxic chemicals and diseases associated with them. This information can serve as the basis for developing policy interventions to address the issue of mine worker safety in Ghana and other similar contexts. Understanding the chemistry of these substances is crucial for public health efforts to limit exposure and prevent disease.
Chemistry in Pharmacology
Pharmacology, the study of how drugs interact with the body, is deeply rooted in chemistry. To be effective as a drug, a potent molecule must reach its target in the body in sufficient concentration, and stay there in a bioactive form long enough for the expected biologic events to occur. Drug development involves assessment of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) increasingly earlier in the discovery process, at a stage when considered compounds are numerous but access to the physical samples is limited. In that context, computer models constitute valid alternatives to experiments.
The SwissADME web tool is an example of such a model, providing free access to a pool of fast yet robust predictive models for physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics, drug-likeness and medicinal chemistry friendliness. It allows specialists and non-experts in cheminformatics or computational chemistry to predict key parameters for a collection of molecules to support their drug discovery endeavors.
The tool gives access to five different rule-based filters, with diverse ranges of properties inside of which the molecule is defined as drug-like. These filters often originate from analyses by major pharmaceutical companies aiming to improve the quality of their proprietary chemical collections. The tool also enables the estimation for a chemical to be a substrate of P-gp or an inhibitor of the most important CYP isoenzymes. These models return “Yes” or “No” if the molecule under investigation has a higher probability to be a substrate or non-substrate of P-gp (respectively inhibitor or non-inhibitor of a given CYP).
Chemistry in Medical Technology
Medical technology is a field that is deeply intertwined with chemistry. From the development of diagnostic tests to the creation of new materials for medical devices, chemistry plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of healthcare. It’s the invisible hand that guides the transformation of raw materials into life-saving tools and technologies.
Diagnostic tests, for instance, are a cornerstone of modern medicine. They allow us to detect diseases early, monitor the progress of treatment, and even predict the likelihood of developing certain conditions. Behind the scenes, these tests are powered by a series of chemical reactions. Whether it’s a pregnancy test that detects the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine or a blood glucose test that monitors sugar levels in diabetics, chemistry is the driving force that makes these tests possible.
Similarly, the development of new materials for medical devices is a process steeped in chemistry. Consider the creation of biocompatible materials for implants, for example. These materials need to interact safely with the body’s tissues and biological systems, a requirement that demands a deep understanding of their chemical properties. From the polymers used in heart valves to the metal alloys in hip replacements, chemistry helps us engineer materials that can improve and even save lives. It’s a testament to the transformative power of chemistry in the realm of medical technology.
Recent Advances in the Chemistry and Medicine Intersection
The chemistry and medicine intersection is a rapidly evolving field, with new research and advancements continually expanding our understanding. One such advancement is the development of Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), a targeted protein degradation technique that hijacks the ubiquitin-proteasome system of cells. This technology has made significant progress in the last 20 years, with several candidates now in clinical trials. PROTAC technology is rapidly advancing from employing traditional medicinal chemistry methodologies to integrating state-of-the-art chemical biology technologies, becoming a typical example of interdisciplinary medicine.
Another fascinating development is the synthesis of functionalized quinoline scaffolds and hybrids. Quinoline is a common nitrogen-containing heterocycle known for its pharmacological properties. Recent research has focused on synthesizing functionalized quinoline derivatives, including hybrids that have moieties with predetermined activities bound to the quinoline moiety. These are of interest in synthesizing drug candidates with dual modes of action, overcoming toxicity, and resistance, among other things.
In the field of laboratory hematology, the share of laboratory hematology papers has steadily increased, reaching now 16% of all papers published in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM). It also became evident that blood coagulation and fibrinolysis, erythrocytes, platelets, and instrument and method evaluation constituted the ‘hottest’ topics with regard to the number of publications. With the advent of important newer topics, like new coagulation assays and drugs and cell population data generated by hematology analyzers, laboratory hematology is anticipated to remain a significant discipline in CCLM publications.
Conclusion to The Chemistry and Medicine Intersection
The chemistry and medicine intersection is a complex and fascinating field that has significant implications for our understanding of health and disease. From the role of chemistry in disease diagnosis and treatment to its impact on public health and medical research, the potential of this intersection is vast. As we continue to explore this intricate relationship, we can look forward to new insights and advancements that will undoubtedly revolutionize our approach to health and medicine.
References
- Cardiac biomarkers of acute coronary syndrome: from history to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin
- Application of Biochemical Tests and Machine Learning Techniques to Diagnose and Evaluate Liver Disease
- Recent advances in laboratory hematology reflected by a decade of CCLM publications
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, it is not intended to provide medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for medical advice. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of Mahidol University or any other institution.
Sean Schepers is a third-year Medical Technology student at Mahidol University with a passion for all things health and medicine. His journey into the world of medicine has led him to explore various fields. Sean's blog posts offer a unique perspective, combining his academic insights with personal experiences. When he's not studying or blogging, Sean enjoys keeping up with politics and planning his future career in medicine.
In addition to his studies, Sean serves as the chairman of the Rights, Liberties, and Welfare Committee, a role that reflects his commitment to advocacy and social justice. Beyond his academic pursuits, Sean offers tutoring services in English and Biology, further demonstrating his dedication to education and mentorship. His journey is one of continuous discovery, and he invites others to join him as he explores the dynamic and transformative world of medical technology.