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They are as circular as a wheel and enclose a space with a diameter of about two nanometers. Researchers at Jacobs University Bremen led by Professor of Chemistry Ulrich Kortz want to use such a cavity of a molecule based on molybdenum and oxygen to be able to transport medically active substances into the body in a targeted manner. The three-year basic research project is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with approximately 230,000 euros.
The accurate, sustained and consistent delivery and release of active substances to combat disease is one of the great challenges of medicine. Host-guest chemistry can contribute here significantly. In this process, a host molecule and a guest molecule form a chemical bond.
The carrier system, the host, on which the scientists at Jacobs University are conducting research, is a ring-shaped molecule based on the transition metal molybdenum. The molecular metal-oxygen compound belongs to the class of compounds known as polyoxometalates, which Professor Kortz and his team have been researching for more than three decades. They can be produced in the laboratory using water and various reagents. Some rings already exist, and Professor Kortz's team plans to create others.
From a chemical point of view, the cavity that houses the biomedically relevant guest molecules is relatively large at two nanometers – the equivalent of two millionths of a millimeter. One of the challenges of the research is to achieve a balance between host and guest by modeling the ring appropriately. "The binding of the guest molecule to the host has to be strong enough to hold it temporarily. But, it also has to be loose enough to be able to release the guest," Kortz explained. Supramolecular interactions in particular play a crucial role here. Guests can be various organic molecules with pharmaceutical effects, such as antibiotics or antiarrhythmics. Host molecules in aqueous solution at a physiological pH of 7-8 as well as solid state-based host systems are being investigated.
The research project includes collaborations with scientists from the University of Oldenburg, Spain and Serbia. It is linked to the creation of new scientific positions at Jacobs University.
About Jacobs University Bremen:
Studying in an international community. Obtaining a qualification to work on responsible tasks in a digitized and globalized society. Learning, researching and teaching across academic disciplines and countries. Strengthening people and markets with innovative solutions and advanced training programs. This is what Jacobs University Bremen stands for. Established as a private, English-medium campus university in Germany in 2001, it is continuously achieving top results in national and international university rankings. Its more than 1,600 students come from more than 110 countries with around 80% having relocated to Germany for their studies. Jacobs University’s research projects are funded by the German Research Foundation or the EU Research and Innovation program as well as by globally leading companies.
For more information: www.jacobs-university.de
Contact:
Heiko Lammers | Corporate Communications & Public Relations
h.lammers@jacobs-university.de | Tel.: +49 421 200-4532
Ulrich Kortz
Professor of Chemistry
u.kortz@jacobs-university.de
Tel.: +49 421 200-3235
Chemistry Professor Ulrich Kortz leads the research project on host-guest chemistry at Jacobs Univer ...
Jacobs University
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Chemistry Professor Ulrich Kortz leads the research project on host-guest chemistry at Jacobs Univer ...
Jacobs University
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