Application of Chemistry in Medicine

Medicines have become an essential part of our living and chemistry plays a significant role in the field of medicine. The knowledge of chemistry helps us know about the chemical products used in medicines and their effects. In this article, we will discuss in detail the real life applications of chemistry in medicine.

How is Chemistry Uses in Medicine?

The applications of chemistry in medicine include the processes of designing and producing medicines, conducting research on medicines, using drugs in medicines, producing vaccines, etc.

The scientific study of the application of chemistry in medicine is known as Medicinal Chemistry.

The knowledge of chemistry helps us predict the possible drug reactions when we take multiple medicines as part of a treatment. When drugs are taken in the prescribed manner to treat a particular disease or ailment, it is called medicine. However, the excessive use of it in medicine is extremely harmful to our health. Over the years, the use of chemical elements in medicine sector has progressed in different areas like production of medicines, use in pharmacy, research, production of vaccines, antibiotics etc.

Application of Chemistry in Medicine

Here some real life applications of chemistry in medicine with proper details and examples are discussed bellow:

Application of Chemistry in Production of Medicine

Chemical compounds are essential in medicine production, contributing to the designing, developing and manufacturing of medicinal products. Drugs are used in all kinds of medicines, mostly in cough syrups, medicines for nerve problems, Chemotherapy medicines.

• Acetylcholine functions as a neurotransmitter. It is an organic compound released by the nerve cells.
• Analgesics are pain relievers which are used to treat a variety of ailments.
• Chemical agents such as Sarin(GB), Soman(GD), Tabun(GA) are highly toxic and poisonous. Some times these are used as nerve agents.
• Antacids or gastric medicines are an essential part of our daily life. It consists of chemical compounds such as sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide and magnesium etc.
• Normal saline is a sodium chloride(NaCl salt) and water mixture. It is mostly used in the clinics and hospitals for cleaning wounds, removal and storage of lenses etc.

Application of Chemistry in Medicinal Research:

Knowledge of the nature of chemicals and its properties provides access into a variety of biological phenomena. Medicinal chemistry plays a vital role in the study, development and research of medicines.

• Drugs are essential part of medicine but excessive use of drugs is harmful for our health. Hence it is used in a very scientific way to produce medicines after several researches and analysis.
• Chemistry helps in the identification, composition and development of new medicines suitable for therapeutic use in clinics.
• Chemistry techniques and chemical compounds are much needed in medical laboratory testing.
• Chemists use their knowledge of chemistry to study cells, evaluate microbes examine tissues, in development of drugs, research and develop lab procedures to help scientists and bio-medical researchers.

Application of Chemistry in Vaccines

Chemical ingredients in vaccines are used for variety of purposes – some of them are used to prevent the attack of bacteria or virus while others are used to preserve the efficiency of the vaccine and prevent the vaccine from loosing its potency over time. Some chemical ingredients used in vaccine are –

• Very small amounts of aluminum are used in some vaccines to build stronger immunity in our body against the viruses such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and diphtheria-tetanus-containing vaccines. These vaccines are strongly recommended for babies and young children.
• Over the years Formaldehyde has long been used in the manufacture of vaccines, specially viral and bacterial vaccines. Formaldehyde is mainly used to inactivate a virus before it can cause a disease to a person vaccinated against, for example- polio virus is used in making polio vaccine, influenza virus is used in making influenza vaccine.
• Sometimes tiny amount of culture materials are used in vaccines for the growth of virus or bacteria used in making the vaccines, such as egg protein. For example, flu vaccines are manufactured through an egg based chemical process for more than seven decades.
• To prevent bacterial contamination and growth of fungus, some antibiotics such as neomycin, streptomycin are used vaccines. For example, during the production of influenza vaccine, antibiotics are used to prevent bacterial growth in egg ingredients of the vaccine.

Application of Chemistry in Pharmaceutical Industry

Chemistry is an essential part of pharmaceutical industry. It has large number of applications in pharmacy. Pharmacists use their knowledge of chemistry to design and production of compounds that are used in medicines to prevent and treat human or animal diseases.

• In pharmacy, chemistry is used to find out which drugs we need to design, its size and shape and at what chemical composition it should be used in medicines to treat a particular disease.
• The scientific process of treatment of diseases by using chemical compounds is called chemotherapy. In 1973, Paul Ehrlich first introduced this therapy. In modern time, chemotherapy is widely used in the treatment of Cancer.
• Acetone, the simplest form of ketone is widely used as an organic solvent in many pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. Its chemical formula is (CH₃)₂CO.
• Hydrochloric acid or HCL is a strong acid. It is used to control the pH levels of injections and pharmaceutical products.

Application of Chemistry in Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are used to prevent diseases cause by microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses.. They are produced from plants or microbes. Antimicrobials are divided into three categories they are – antibiotics, antiseptics and disinfectants. In 1928, Dr. Alexander Fleming, a British bacteriologist, discovered “Penicillin“, the worlds first antibiotic. Some real life applications of antimicrobials are –

• The substance antibiotic kills bacteria and helps in treatment of infections, but they are not effective against viral infections such as cold, dry cough etc. Penicillin G and Penicillin V are well known variants of Penicillin antibiotic. Their chemical formulas are C₁₆H₁₈N₂O₄S and C1₆H₁₈N₂O₅S . Penicillin is used to prevent bacterial infections.
• Chloramphenicol antibiotic is used for the treatment of eye infections such as bacterial conjunctivitis, otitis externa etc.. It is an organic compound. Tetracyclines antibiotic is used to treat infections, including acne, cholera, brucellosis, plague, malaria, and syphilis.
• Antiseptic is a liquid or cream that prevents the growth or kills microbes on the living surface such as, our skin. If antiseptics are used without dilution, it may cause skin rash, itching and skin redness etc. Some examples of antiseptics are – Dettol, iodoform, boric acid, ethanol etc. and some natural antiseptics are – garlic, turmeric, aloe vera.
• Disinfectants are mainly applied on non living surfaces to kill microbes or infective agents such as floors, furniture, bathrooms etc. Disinfectants are harmful for living tissues. Examples- bleaching powder, chlorine, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, iodophors etc.

Summary

Chemistry is a very important part of our living, silently influencing everything around us. It is the part of science that explores what things are made of and how they changes under different circumstances. From the food we eat to the industrial development to medicines we take, chemistry’s touch is everywhere. In the field of medicine, Chemistry plays a crucial role.

• Chemistry finds many applications in the field of medicine.
• Development of medicines involves many complicated chemical processes.
• Chemistry is used in production of surgical materials.
• Most of the laboratory testing are based on chemical techniques.

FAQs on Application of Chemistry in Medicines

What is the importance of Chemistry in medicine?

Medicines or pharmaceuticals are chemical substances that are used to treat diseases, relieve pain. Chemistry has significant contribution in the development of vaccines, production of surgical materials, pharmaceutical products etc.

What is the importance of Chemistry in the production of vaccines?

Chemistry plays an essential role in the production of vaccines. Chemical ingredients are used in vaccines to preserve the efficiency of the vaccines and prevent them from loosing their potency over time.

What are the chemicals that are used in medicines?

The chemicals that are used in medicines including benzyl chloride, acetic anhydride, acetone, hydrochloric acid as well as numerous other organic compounds. These chemicals prove useful in medicines in curing diseases.

Name the chemical compounds in medicine that are toxic.

Chemical compounds in medicines can be extremely toxic, which can lead to several health issues. Some of the toxic chemicals in medicines include chlorine gas, tea, hydrogen sulfide etc. Therefore, these chemicals should be utilized in a proper way to prevent any health damage.

What is the role of Chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry?

Chemistry in pharmaceutical industry is used to determine what drugs we need to design, its size and shape and at what chemical composition it should be used in medicines to make it effective to treat a particular disease. Some organic and inorganic compounds such as acetone, hydrochloric acid etc. are essential part of pharmaceutical manufacturing process.

Which drug is used to treat mood swings?

Noradrenaline drug is used to fix mood swings.