New
'Molecule-Making Machine' Could Speed The Development Of Life-Saving Drugs
By:
Macrina Cooper-White
Source:
Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/14/3d-print-molecules-machine-drugs_n_6864636.html?utm_hp_ref=science
3-D printing is the new invention that everyone is talking
about. 3-D printing is not just ant original printer; it prints anything one
would want in 3-D. Thanks to 3-D printing it is now possible to print from
pizza to prosthetics to human organs with just a push of a button. 3-D printing
works on the atomic scale, it assembles complex molecules from scratch. This
machine can revolutionize the drug- development process. Dr.Martin D.Burke, a
professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois said, “We’re really
excited about the immediate impacts that this will have on drug discovery.”
This 3-D printer can synthesize small molecules, which requires a step-by-step
series of chemical reactions. The process is time consuming and requires
someone with a lot of expertise. The new printer simplifies the molecule-making process and makes it accessible to non-chemists. When one puts power
into technology a tremendous impact will make history. Dr.Martin D.Burke also
said, “A 3-D printer for molecules could allow us to harness all the
creativity, innovation, and outside-the-box thinking that comes when
non-experts start to use technology that used to only be in the hands of a
select few.” To create such a machine like this Dr. Brooke and his
collaborators analyzed thousands of molecules and identified the chemical
building blocks. The 3-D printer snaps these building blocks together like
LEGOs and then washed away byproducts. This printer is capable of building
fourteen classes of small molecules, and the researchers hope to develop the
technology to the point that is can assemble almost any kind of small molecule. This article is important because it shows how important a
3-D printer can be and how useful it will once it works properly.
It is amazing how rapidly the three dimensional printer has been integrated into modern medicine. I have read that people are using these revolutionary printers to download and print functioning guns as well. With every powerful tool there must be an equally powerful wielder. If three dimensional printing falls into the wrong hands, the world as we know it may be a slightly worse place.
ReplyDeleteAngelica wonderful job on this post! The topic you chose is a topic I have great interest in. My research writing essay was in fact on organ printing. California is funding a 3D liver printer! The thought of a 3D food printing machine being invented is amazing to me. Anyways, great job!
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ReplyDeleteAngie, I enjoyed reading your blog post and found your choice of topic intriguing. Hopefully this technology will be improved and put into common usage soon, because it has great potential. I have always wanted a printer that would make whatever I wanted, like in Spy Kids, although I know that is not the biggest concern of the developers right now.
ReplyDeleteAngelica, your topic scares me to a certain degree. My fear is partly a result of the argument Narek brought up about this technological innovation falling into the wrong hands through 3-D printing of guns. However, my fear also goes deeper than the aforementioned concern; I merely do not understand the enigmatic machinations behind this technology. What I do not understand scares me and more often than not brings me to tears.
ReplyDeleteIt makes my head spin thinking about the fact that we are growing up during the beginning of such an innovative and productive era. Technology like this must have been only a dream two decades ago, and yet here we are, printing objects in three dimensions. The story you reported is quite captivating, and it very important to keep up with news like this; these are the industries that we will be working in one day. Awesome job, Angie. Absolutely marvelous.
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