The elements of life and medicines

Abstract

Which elements are essential for human life? Here we make an element-by-element journey through the periodic table and attempt to assess whether elements are essential or not, and if they are, whether there is a relevant code for them in the human genome. There are many difficulties such as the human biochemistry of several so-called essential elements is not well understood, and it is not clear how we should classify elements that are involved in the destruction of invading microorganisms, or elements which are essential for microorganisms with which we live in symbiosis. In general, genes do not code for the elements themselves, but for specific chemical species, i.e. for the element, its oxidation state, type and number of coordinated ligands, and the coordination geometry. Today, the biological periodic table is in a position somewhat similar to Mendeleev's chemical periodic table of 1869: there are gaps and we need to do more research to fill them. The periodic table also offers potential for novel therapeutic and diagnostic agents, based on not only essential elements, but also non-essential elements, and on radionuclides. Although the potential for inorganic chemistry in medicine was realized more than 2000 years ago, this area of research is still in its infancy. Future advances in the design of inorganic drugs require more knowledge of their mechanism of action, including target sites and metabolism. Temporal speciation of elements in their biological environments at the atomic level is a major challenge, for which new methods are urgently needed.

Biossíntese e caracterização de nanocelulose bacteriana para engenharia de tecidos

“…Curativos contendo prata são frequentemente utilizados em substituição aos antibióticos, devido ao surgimento e aumento de bactérias resistentes aos antibióticos. Nanopartículas de prata também estão sendo avaliadas como agentes antivirais e para a liberação controlada de fármacos [10].…”

“…Uma formulação de sulfadiazina de prata e nitrato de Ce 3+ (conhecida como Flammacerium®) já foi usada no tratamento de feridas por queimadura [10]. Acredita-se que o nitrato de cério exerce um efeito protetor contra a imunossupressão pós-queimadura causada por um complexo de lipoproteínas de elevado peso molecular (3 MDa).…”

Birth Weight in Relation to Maternal Blood Levels of Selected Elements in Slovenian Populations: A Cross-sectional Study

“…Essential elements also have a potential for toxicity and risk assessments for their essential versus toxic effects have been carried out [12,13]. Trace element deficiencies have been reported in about 40% of the world's population, mostly from developing countries.…”

The periodic table: icon and inspiration

“…There are few chemists now who can claim the encyclopaedic breadth of knowledge that Sadler [26] displayed in his inspiring presentation on the elements of life and medicines at this meeting. This narrow focus is particularly sad, because, in the search for new more sustainable chemistry, few research chemists have familiarity with the more arcane chemistry of elements, knowledge which might for example open up new areas of catalysis.…”