International Research Chemistry Awards

  What are Nanomotors? Nanomotors , which are also referred to as nanorobots, can move autonomously by producing kinetic energy for themselves from various types of ambient energy via energy conversion. Thus far, nanomotors with various operating modes, including bubble propulsion, magnetic field propulsion, self- electrophoresis , self-diffusiophoresis, self-acoustophoresis, self-thermophoresis have been conceived and manufactured. Nanomotors have shown remarkable promise in healthcare applications, ecological cleanup, and microscale synthesis due to their tiny size (usually from 100 nm to 1 μm) and self-propelling characteristics. Current Limitations of Nanomotors While several propulsive systems for actuating nanomotors have been presented, and the swift advancement of nanomotors has permitted the extension of studies into many innovative sectors, the majority of the nanomotors generated so far demonstrate just a singular operating mechanism. Hybridized nanomotors , on the o...

  A group of researchers at the University of Tokyo have spent years testing the limits of chemical bonds . And now, after years of work, they’ve finally explored an idea originally proposed in 1931: a chemical bond formed using just a single electron. This, of course, poses quite a conundrum, as many believe single-electron chemical bonds can’t exist. That’s because all of the current known covalent bonds—where atoms connect by sharing their electrons—must contain two, four, six, or eight electrons . However, in 1931, Linus Pauling theorized that a covalent bond could exist with atoms sharing a single electron. However, creating a new single-electron chemical bond isn’t easy. To find out if it is possible, researchers started with a covalent bond that already exists with two electrons. They then removed one of those electrons by using a chemical reaction. They used a large hydrocarbon with long bonds between its carbon atoms to help ensure the energy cost would be too great for a...

  IUCN and its Members are initiating development of a policy on the implications of synthetic biology in nature conservation. Recent technological advancements in synthetic biology create both significant risks and significant opportunities for nature conservation, as well as challenges in creating a meaningful and coherent policy to guide its potential applications. IUCN is therefore following a rigorous process to engage its Member organisations and experts in the development of the IUCN policy. Risks and opportunities of using synthetic biology in nature conservation The Convention on Biological Diversity defines synthetic biology as “a further development and new dimension of modern biotechnology that combines science, technology and engineering to facilitate and accelerate the understanding, design, redesign, manufacture and/or modification of genetic materials, living organisms and biological systems”. This is important for nature conservation. On the one hand, synthet...

  The 1980s saw the introduction of the first biotherapeutic – recombinant human insulin for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). This drug replaced bovine and porcine as sources for this hormone as it had a higher purity, specificity, and efficacy. It was also a more cost-effective source of treatment. Since then, biotherapeutics have demonstrated high specificity and effectiveness compared to their small, chemical counterparts of the pharmaceutical industry, resulting in a dramatic increase in total annual revenue from $4.4 billion in 1990 to more than $275 billion today. The National Institute of Health defines biomarkers as “characteristics that can be objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacological responses to a therapeutic intervention.” The majority of biomarkers that have been identified to date are small biological molecules and, based on the concentration of these substances, clinical ...

  Autoimmune diseases are widespread and notoriously difficult to treat. In part, this is because why the immune system attacks its own tissues in patients with these conditions remains poorly understood. In a study recently published in Cell, researchers from Osaka University have revealed that the body's own proteins with unusual structure trigger immune cells to unleash a wave of inflammation that leads to autoimmunity. Autoimmune diseases develop when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues instead of fighting off foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses . However, it has long been a mystery why this happens, as the immune system has many checks and balances to make sure that it only reacts to 'non-self' triggers. "T cells have been thought to discriminate between small fragments of protein derived from self and non-self proteins presented on the major histocompatibility complex II (MHC-II), and 'trained' not to respond self-antige...

  Intersecting science and society, forensics and toxicology are prevalent in multiple aspects of life. Forensics, in short, is the application of science to solve a crime. It is often coupled with toxicology – a branch of forensics that deals with the study of toxic substances and drugs in a legal investigation.1,2 However, forensics is not solely associated with illegal substances and is classed as a multidisciplinary science that combines different natural and life sciences to make discoveries and draw accurate conclusions. A great example of forensics’ multidisciplinary nature is forensic anthropology – a branch of forensics that focuses on anatomy and biology to establish a deceased individual’s defining characteristics.3 At Pittcon, forensics and toxicology is one of the eight educational tracks. Pittcon brings together leading minds in research and industry to foster collaboration and innovation in these two key areas important to public health and social justice. In pa...

  The meticulous , careful study of minute compounds in both simple and complex mixtures has traditionally relied on conventional mass spectrometry (MS) ; however, MS technology can be bulky and present a substantial learning curve for new operators. Miniature mass spectrometers, however, have provided an alternative, especially for biomedical applications. Physicians using portable MS instruments can obtain rapid disease-specific results, such as during surgery, allowing for quicker and more high-quality patient care. Research on miniature mass spectrometers have made way for more efficient miniaturized MS tools, some of which will be presented at this year’s Pittcon Conference, March 5-9, Chicago. Benchtop MS instruments have been condensed and made practical for use at the bedside, and some miniature mass spectrometers have been developed for handheld use in the clinical and laboratory setting. Driving the further development of miniature MS has useful applicability in other ...

  Researchers have found that a previously underestimated aspect of our cells has a significant impact by completing a gap in electrochemical processes. Historically, biological chemistry research has primarily concentrated on the most apparent components driving life’s processes. Proteins folding, genetic activity, and electrical signaling pathways have been the main areas of focus, as they offer the clearest targets for identifying abnormalities that cause disease. Recent research, however, has pointed to a different type of cellular structure that may play an equally important role. Called biological condensates, these structures exist because of differences in density, like oil droplets floating in water, and form compartments inside of cells without needing the physical boundary of a membrane. Previous studies have shown that these blobs can separate or trap together certain proteins and molecules , either hindering or promoting their activity. They have also revealed th...

  Bioanalytical chemistry is the branch of analytical chemistry dedicated to the separation, detection, identification and quantification of biological molecules . It has many similarities to analytical chemistry, using familiar chromatography and mass spectroscopy techniques. However, since biomolecules have been specially designed to function in physiologic conditions, the changes in pH, temperature or ionic strength that arise during many conventional analyses can disrupt molecular interactions and cause structural changes to proteins and nucleic acids. Existing analytical techniques have thus been tailored to protect sensitive biomolecules and new techniques developed, some of which take advantage of the unique properties of biomolecules, such as immunoassay. The technical program at Pittcon will include many sessions that explore the latest developments in bioanalytical chemistry , and how these impact medical research and clinical practice. For example, it will descri...