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Polymer Chemistry
witch doctors to penicillin and laser surgery, science has played a large role in the growth
and development of the medical field. For much of modern medicine, Chemists and
Chemistry have played a large role in designing and creating cures and treatments for
diseases. Ethers, Aspirin, Insulin, and Morphine are all common drugs that people or
hospitals use on a daily basis, and all of these compounds were isolated, extracted, and
Today, Polymer Chemistry has taken the drivers seat of the research and
development of new medical technology. Chemists and Chemical Engineers have created
various medical devices and tools on a microscopic scale. There has also been much
because they could offer many uses within and outside the body during surgery, recovery,
and as clothing. Polymer sensors have many uses in detection. These sensors can be used
to detect specific compounds, which proves to be highly useful since the detection of
world. The field of Medicine is no exception, and with research and development in this
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Macromolecules
Molecules are the fundamental building blocks of life - they create all the various
tools and mechanisms which power and sustain life. They are also quite small, smaller
than you may think - think 10^-6 meters, or, the size of a single human red blood cell,
and even smaller than that. This field of science delving into the microscopic is known as
profound impact on the world. Novel inventions in the forms of improved vaccinations,
microscopic bandages, and complex medicine delivery mechanisms have already been
higher learning in the United States of America have led to the discovery of new methods
have discovered that nano-sized molecules can be effectively used to capture specifically
marked proteins (Xu, 2011). Not only can we now interact with specific molecules in a
safe fashion, we now have the potential to directly attack or impact specific parts of the
body and purify solutions. Why does purity matter? When conducting experiments and
creating medicine, the purer a substance is, the more accurate the result will be. As
researchers need to accurately study the bodys reactions to various stimuli, purity is a
must. Through more pure forms of recombinant protein production, we can achieve
accurate results and more confident data. Since proteins are used constantly by the body
for the continuous construction and destruction of muscles, tissue, and organs, by better
purifying recombinant proteins we can more effectively create medicines and solutions to
health problems and diseases such as muscular dystrophy, Alzheimers, Parkinson's, and
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more. The benefits to a cure for these diseases is mind-blowing. According to the
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's collectively costs the United States over 200 billion dollars
annually. The annual global cost of Alzheimers is over 604 Billion USD, roughly 1% of
the worlds GDP (The Cost of Dementia). Additionally, as the baby boomer generation
slides towards retirement, the burden on the current healthcare system will only grow,
made by several Indian researches working on vaccine delivery methods. The researchers
within the human body. The researchers tested various polymers such as polylactic acid
(PLA) and Polyglycolide acid (PGA) and found that the polymers have had an effect as
impactful as that of a conventional vaccination routine. Out of all the polymers tested,
Polycaprolactone (PCL) had the best results. This was due to the chemical nature of PCL
that made it less degradable and created a less acidic environment, which runs the risk of
lessening the antigenicity of the vaccine, and thus was able to more effectively deliver the
vaccine (Jameela, 1996). We could see changes in the future in how vaccines are
deployed. We could see vaccines delivered orally, through microspheres within food, or
within a drink.
combine to form one polymer and terpolymerization, where three monomers combine
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into one polymer (Peppas, 1994). These creation processes result in products that then
need to be tested for toxicity and allergic response, in addition to other checks. This
ultimately results is a product that is not only effective but also safe for the consumer. As
more and more technologies emerge, action must be taken to more quickly release new
Biomaterials
Todays technologies have pushed man on the brink of unprecedented lifespan.
This development has been directed by biomaterials, which have assisted in aiding the
body in recovering from previously fatal diseases and injuries. A cross disciplinary field,
technology included wooden teeth and glass eyes, a famous example being George
Washingtons ivory teeth and the wooden peg legs in pirate stories of old. In the 20th
century a revolution in the field of plastics and medicine led to the development of
synthetic polymers, stainless steel, PMMA and cellulose acetate (Langer). This
revolution led to the implementation of these materials into the human body, helping
usher in the age of modern medicine. Hip replacement surgery, artificial hearts, dialysis
machines, all of these lifesaving devices would have been impossible had it not been for
the technological developments of the 20th century. There are still however many
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for example, still affect healthy cells, and create highly negative side effects on the
human body. Designing protein arrays could however lead to research breakthroughs. A
field of proteins on a chip, scientists and researchers can test various effects of
compounds on the building blocks of the body, as well as the development of antigen-
The welding of technology and the body has been a movement that has grown
slowly but surely. With the advent of new biomaterial technology that demonstrates a
clear compatibility with the body, it is conceivable that cyborgs are not quite far in the
future. Artificial organ technology has already been developed and used within people for
the past few decades, and with the advent of new implants to replace eyes and lungs,
diseases that affect the body will soon be a trouble of the past (Human). There are also
schematics and thought concepts of implanted sensors within the body which can provide
real time updates to the status of ones health. Such implants would constantly read the
body for disease and could immediately apply treatment should a disease be detected
(Human). This technology would radically change public health, as people would know if
they were asymptomatic carriers of disease. This would greatly improve public health
and would make the transmission of disease from person to person even more difficult, if
not near impossible. The health revolution proposed by this technology is far reaching
and the social benefits we would reap are immense. The many billions of hours lost per
year due to sickness would be avoided and productivity would surely increase.
Novel research has been done on silks from nature. These natural silks, derived
from silkworms, spiders, and other animals have many interesting properties such as
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elasticity and strength which, when combined with the silks resistance to dissolving in
common solvents such as water and blood, give it the potential to be used within the body
(Altman). This potential to be used within the body lends ideas to its use such as a mesh
or platform for other devices to be mounted or implemented in. Other uses as slings or
revolutionize the way we care for our patients. Less invasive and more precise surgery
could lessen recovery time and put people back to work and on the field, a win win
Sometimes, researchers want to examine what exactly happens inside the body
during an experiment. When scientists monitor reactions and tissues within the body, they
frequently use chemical and biological processes which arent very effective (Appel).
This technology however has been usurped by new optical imaging and Fluorescence
Microscopic technology. These new imaging techniques are much less invasive and much
more accurate, which can mean better diagnosis and better healthcare, which is a plus for
all parties involved. There are also research benefits to this technology. The ability to
quantitatively evaluate the structure of scaffolds in bioreactors within tissue will lead to a
speed up in research, another plus to the public health of America and the world (Appel).
There are many new intriguing fields of research done in laboratories around the
United States, all of which have the potential to revolutionize the way we care for our
sick and elderly. If perfected, these developments all have the potential to change the
world.
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Polymer Sensors
There have been many advances in polymer science technology. Polymer sensors
their environment. This is highly critical as these polymer sensors could be used to detect
experiment in a lab. Polymer sensors are therefore highly important and necessary to
ensure function in the body and thusly important for research. Artificial sensors
comprised of antibodies, enzymes, and other molecules can be used as receptors for
various biological functions within the body. However, they suffer reliability issues,
making them poor sensing devices. Recent advances in molecular implanted polymers
have overcome this issue; these artificial sensors not only behave and function similar to
natural, biological sensors, but also are much more stable. Atrazine, a compound known
for causing organ damage in animals, poses a threat to the human health. Scientists from
the United States military research laboratory have recently discovered that a certain
molecularly imprinted polymer can be used to detect Atrazine with a high degree of
accuracy. The imprinted polymer, which uses Lanthanide ions can detect Atrazine at
concentrations of parts per trillion and smaller (Jenkins, 2001). This high degree of
Scientists have also developed highly sensitive sensors for detecting Hydrogen
gas. The importance of this is due to the highly combustive nature of Hydrogen - it reacts
include the Hindenburg crash, which killed hundreds and destroyed the airship industry.
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The researchers who developed the sensor laced carbon nanotubes with Palladium
nanoparticles (Kong, 2001). This discovery is significant because it functions well even
at room temperature. How it senses the Hydrogen particles is because the Palladium
becomes electrically conductive. This conductance can be used to then calculate the
amount of Hydrogen gas in the air, which in turn gives a reading on the concentration. A
similar process to this is also used to detect explosives. By using transduction, sensors
can detect the presence of compounds such as trinitrotoluene, picric acid, and tetryl (Toal,
2006). This is significant as engineers can now create hand-held devices which are
capable of detecting explosive matter, which can be used where dogs can not. This
process is also less invasive, as it does not require opening and searching peoples bags
and suitcases. Thus, the process of transduction represents a significant leap in terms of
science and liberty. A pressing question that you may have had after learning of these
discoveries is, what exactly is this device known as a transducer? Why is it so critical
towards these new innovations? The transducer is a device which converts mechanical
energy to electrical energy and vice versa (Pelrine). The transducer consists of an
slight bend in the polymer. This bend can then be measured to give a reading on a
have been created which can save the lives of countless people. Polymer sensing
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Global Impact
The impact that Polymer Chemistry technology can have on the world is
immense. As cited earlier, the annual global cost of Alzheimers is over 604 Billion USD,
roughly 1% of the worlds GDP (The Cost of Dementia). Should a cheap and effective
cure for Alzheimers be found, the money saved can be put back into the economy, and
As more and more people are born and rates of disease increase, there will be an
ever increasing need for new medicines and medicine technology. Thus it is imperative
that we research and develop cures from the field of Polymer Chemistry.
Conclusion
With the rising costs of healthcare, and the ever increasing population of the
world, it is absolutely necessary that we do not fall behind in the battle against disease.
Polymer Chemistry is a unique field that offers potential. Current research has shown that
using certain Polymers we can create less invasive vaccines, be used during and after
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Works Cited
Altman, G. H., Diaz, F., Jakuba, C., Calabro, T., Horan, R. L., Chen, J., . . . Kaplan, D. L.
(2002, June 19). Silk-Based Biomaterials (Tech.). Retrieved September 19, 2017,
Appel, A. A., Anastasio, M. A., Larson, J. C., & Brey, E. M. (2013). Imaging challenges
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.05.033
Human Enhancement and the Means of Achieving It. (n.d.). American Association for
https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/migrate/uploads/HEandMeans_of_Achiev
ngIt.pdf.
Jameela, S., Suma, N., Misra, A., Raghuvanshi, R., Ganga, S., & Jayakrishnan, A.
Jenkins, A. L., Lin, R., & Jensen, J. L. (2001, January 31). Molecularly imprinted
polymer sensors for pesticide and insecticide detection in water [PDF]. London:
The Analyst.
Kong, Jing, et al. Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes for Molecular Hydrogen Sensors.
Langer, R., & Tirrel, D. A. (2004). Designing materials for biology and medicine (Vol.
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Pelrine, R. E., Kornbluh, R. D., Pei, Q., & Eckerle, J. S. (2004). U.S. Patent No. US
Peppas, N., & Langer, R. (1994). New Challenges in Biomaterials. Science, 263(5154),
https://ind.ucsf.edu/supporting-our-work/cost-dementia
Toal, J. S., Trogler, C. W., (2006, April 27). Polymer sensors for nitroaromatic
Xu, F., Geiger, J. H., Baker, G. L., & Bruening, M. L. (2011). Polymer Brush-Modified
http://doi.org/10.1021/la1050404
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