Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
TABLE 10.2
Classifi cation of Inorganic Drugs
Active complexes
• Cr, Co, Rh (neuromuscular blockers)
• Pt, Ru (anticancer drugs)
• Gd (NMR probes)
• Co (vitamin B12)
• Al, Zr (antiperspirant)
• Ba (x-ray contrast)
• Sn (jaundice)
• Bi (antiulcer and antibacterial agents)
Active metals
• Li (manic-depressive psychosis)
• F (tooth paste)
• Ag, Hg (antimicrobial compounds)
•
99m
Tc,
111
In (radiodiagnostics)
• Au (rheumatoid arthritis)
Active ligands
Delivered by a metal ion
• Ca, Mg, Al (antacid compounds)
• Fe (antihypertensive)
• Ti, Au (anticancer)
Delivered to a metal ion
• Bleomycin (Fe)
• Penicillamine (Cu)
• Desferrioxamine (Fe, Al)
• Bisphosphonates (Ca)
Source:
Sadler, P.J.,
Adv. Inorg. Chem
., 36, 1, 1991.
10.3 THE HUMAN BODY AND BIOINORGANIC CHEMISTRY
Since the human body functions by uptake, accumulation, transport, and storage of chemical
compounds (cf. Table 10.1) the arbitrary differentiation between “organic” and “inorganic” matter
is irrelevant and is only a historical relic. The double helix structure of DNA, for instance, could
not be stabilized without the presence of mono- and divalent cations that compensate for the
electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged phosphate groups. Electric nerve impulses as
well as more complex trigger mechanisms are initiated by rapid bursts of ions across membranes,
particularly Na
+
, K
+
, and Ca
2+
ions. Degradation of organic molecules requires acid and base
catalysis, which at physiological pH could not take place without the presence of either Lewis
acids like zinc(II) or Lewis bases that could be inorganic anions. Electron transfer is essential
for all energy conversion processes, and here redox active transition metals like iron and copper
become indispensable.
It is evident that fundamental biological processes proceed in reactions that often involve
inorganic substances in central roles. Thus, inorganic chemistry holds a huge potential for
developing new pharmaceuticals that requires a thorough knowledge of interactions between
metal ions and organic molecules; a i eld also known as coordination chemistry. Stability and
kinetics of metal ions complexes will therefore be a central subject in this chapter describing
inorganic drugs.
