- Alzheimer’s protein revealed - CSIRO scientists and collaborators have made major inroads in cracking a structure of the protein thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease.
- Compounds to combat cold sores - New compounds to fight the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, have been made by researchers from Italy. The compounds' antiviral activity could be enhanced further by encapsulating them in a cyclodextrin nanocarrier that acts as a delivery system.
- Plankton inspires creation of stealth armour for slow release microscopic drug vehicles - The ability of some forms of plankton and bacteria to build an extra natural layer of nanoparticle-like armour has inspired chemists at the University of Warwick to devise a startlingly simple way to give drug bearing polymer vesicles (microscopic polymer based sacs of liquid) their own armoured protection.
- Scientists synthesize long-sought-after anticancer agent - A team of Yale University scientists has synthesized for the first time a chemical compound called lomaiviticin aglycon, leading to the development of a new class of molecules that appear to target and destroy cancer stem cells.
- Communication pathways within proteins may yield new drug targets to stop superbugs - A School of Science at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis biophysicist has developed a new method to identify communication pathways connecting distant regions within proteins.
Robert Slinn refluxes the chemistry news and extracts a goodly yield for Reactive Reports in his regular column: Slinn Pickings.
