New versatile method for the manufacture of artificial anti-cancer molecules - minutes
Researchers have developed a simple and versatile method for the manufacture of artificial anti-cancer molecules mimic the properties of one of the natural defense systems of the body.
chemists, led by Professor Peter Scott at the University of Warwick, UK, have been able to produce molecules that have a structure similar to that of peptides that are produced naturally in the body to fight cancer and infections.
Posted in Nature Chemistry , the molecules produced in research have proven effective against colon cancer cells in laboratory tests, together with Roger Phillips at the Institute for Cancer Therapeutics, Bradford, UK.
artificial peptides were previously too difficult and expensive to manufacture in large quantities, but the new process only takes a few minutes and does not require expensive equipment. In addition, traditional peptides that are administered as drugs are quickly neutralized by biochemical defenses of the body before they can do their job.
One form of chemical self-assembly complex, the new method developed at Warwick addresses these problems by being both practical and production of very stable molecules. The new peptide mimetics, called triplex, have a helical 3D similar to natural peptides.
"The chemistry involved is like throwing Lego blocks in a bag, giving them a jolt, and find you made a model of the Death Star," says Professor Scott. "The design of achieving that takes some thought power and computer, but once you have worked out the method can be used to make a lot of complex molecular objects."
The description of the self-assembly process behind the artificial peptides Pr Scott says: "When the organic chemicals involved, an amino-alcohol derivative and a picoline are mixed with chloride iron in a solvent such as water or methanol, they form strong bonds and are designed to fold naturally set in minutes form a helix. It is thermodynamically downhill. assembly instructions are encoded in chemical products them- same. "
" once the solvent is removed, we are left with the peptide mimics the form of crystals, "said Professor Scott. "There is no complicated separations to do, and unlike a Lego model kit there are no bits left mysterious. In practical terms, the chemistry is pretty standard. The beauty is that these large molecules together. Nature uses this kind of self together to make complex asymmetric molecules like proteins all the time, but do it artificially a major challenge. "
while the peptide mimics created by the processes been successful in laboratory tests on the colon cancer cells, they still need to research before they can be used in clinical trials on patients. Nevertheless, they are made of simple building blocks and the first team trials have shown that they have a very low toxicity to bacteria. "This is very unusual and promising selectivity" says Professor Scott.
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