Biopolymers
-Biopolymers ; polymers which are present in, or created by living organisms.
All polymers, including biopolymers, are made of repetitive units called (monomers
All polymers, including biopolymers, are made of repetitive units called (monomers
-There are two main types of polymers according to the type of monomers:
1-Homo-polymer (the same type of monomer).
2-Hetero-polymer (more than one type of monomers).
1-Homo-polymer (the same type of monomer).
2-Hetero-polymer (more than one type of monomers).
Examples
-Starch, proteins and peptides, DNA, and RNA are all examples of biopolymers, in which the monomer units, respectively,are sugars, amino acids, and nucleic acids.
Advantages:
1. Sustainable and renewable.
2. Monodispersity:Well defined structure and specific upon synthesis.
3. Biocompatibleand hence is suitable for medical applications.
4. Non toxic.
5. Biodegradable(easy to be removed from the environment).
-Starch, proteins and peptides, DNA, and RNA are all examples of biopolymers, in which the monomer units, respectively,are sugars, amino acids, and nucleic acids.
Advantages:
1. Sustainable and renewable.
2. Monodispersity:Well defined structure and specific upon synthesis.
3. Biocompatibleand hence is suitable for medical applications.
4. Non toxic.
5. Biodegradable(easy to be removed from the environment).
Applications:
-Biopolymers can be usedas:
1. Plasma substitutes (Volume expanders).
2. Complex with iron for iron deficiency anemia.
3. Used in paints, printing, and textileindustries4. In oil industry as drilling fluid additive and for enhanced oil recovery .
-Biopolymers can be usedas:
1. Plasma substitutes (Volume expanders).
2. Complex with iron for iron deficiency anemia.
3. Used in paints, printing, and textileindustries4. In oil industry as drilling fluid additive and for enhanced oil recovery .
-Green plastics = Bio-plastics:
-means plastics that arebiodegradable&derived from biological origin.
-Can be obtained through the production of poly hydroxy alkanoates(PHAs), a versatile family of bio-polymers, by Alcaligenes eutrophus bacteria.
-These are currently replacingthe petrochemical based plastics in all fields .
-Plastics from plants ?!!!!!
-Can be obtained through the production of poly hydroxy alkanoates(PHAs), a versatile family of bio-polymers, by Alcaligenes eutrophus bacteria.
-These are currently replacingthe petrochemical based plastics in all fields .
-Plastics from plants ?!!!!!
-Researchers created a plant Arabidopis thaliana that can produce plastics instead of bacteria, by genetic engineering.
1.The researchers have transferredthe genes used by bacteriato create plastics, into the plant.
2.As a result the plant begin to produce plastic through its cellular processes.
3.Finally, The plant is harvested and the plastic is extracted from it using a suitable solvent.
1.The researchers have transferredthe genes used by bacteriato create plastics, into the plant.
2.As a result the plant begin to produce plastic through its cellular processes.
3.Finally, The plant is harvested and the plastic is extracted from it using a suitable solvent.
2.Gene therapy
-Definition:
The replacement of a defective genein an organism suffering from a genetic diseasewith a functioning one.
-Background:
1990
1990
-The first patient treated with gene therapy was a four-year old girl.
-She had adenosine deaminase(ADA)deficiency, a genetic disease which leaves her defenseless against infections.
-White blood cells were taken from her, and the normal genes for making adenosine deamina sewere inserted into the
-The corrected cells were re-injected into her.
-She had adenosine deaminase(ADA)deficiency, a genetic disease which leaves her defenseless against infections.
-White blood cells were taken from her, and the normal genes for making adenosine deamina sewere inserted into the
-The corrected cells were re-injected into her.
-Method
There are 2 main lines of gene therapy either:
• Germ-line gene therapy
• Somatic cell gene therapy
-Germ-line gene therapy
-Involves the introduction of corrective genes into reproductive cells(sperms, eggs or zygotes), with the objective of creating a beneficial genetic change that is transmitted to the new generation.
• Germ-line gene therapy
• Somatic cell gene therapy
-Germ-line gene therapy
-Involves the introduction of corrective genes into reproductive cells(sperms, eggs or zygotes), with the objective of creating a beneficial genetic change that is transmitted to the new generation.
Somatic cell gene therapy-is the introduction of genes in an organ or tissue to enable it to function normally.
This can be done:
1-Ex-vivo:
-the defected cell type is being removed to outside the body
1-Ex-vivo:
-the defected cell type is being removed to outside the body
-genetically treatment to the isolated cells
-the treated cellsre-injectedto the body.
2-In-vivo:
through, systemic infusion or tissue injection
Applications of Gene therapy:
Gene therapy is being studied for treatment of many diseases such as:
-the treated cellsre-injectedto the body.
2-In-vivo:
through, systemic infusion or tissue injection
Applications of Gene therapy:
Gene therapy is being studied for treatment of many diseases such as:
-ADA deficiency, Hemophilia ,AIDS ,Liver cancer ,Asthma ,Lung cancer ,Brain tumor ,Melanoma ,Breast cancer ,Muscular dystrophy ,Colon cancer,Neurodegenerative conditions,Diabetes ,Ovarian cancer Heart diseases ,Prostate cancer.
Disadvantages of gene therapy?
1-Short-lived nature of gene therapy:
-the rapidly dividing nature of many cells -------> prevent gene therapy from achieving any long-term benefits.
- ((Patients will have to undergo multiple rounds of gene therapy)).
2-Problems with viral vectors:
-Viruses, while the carrier of choice in most gene therapy studies, present a variety of potential problems to the patient --toxicity, immune and inflammatory responses.
-((the viral vector, once inside the patient, may recover its ability to cause disease.))**
3-Multigenedisorders:
-e.g. heart disease, Alzheimer's disease------>are caused by the combined effects of variations in many genes.
-Multigeneor multifactorial disorders such as these would be especially difficult to treat effectively using gene therapy.(Obstacles to a FDA approval)
1-Short-lived nature of gene therapy:
-the rapidly dividing nature of many cells -------> prevent gene therapy from achieving any long-term benefits.
- ((Patients will have to undergo multiple rounds of gene therapy)).
2-Problems with viral vectors:
-Viruses, while the carrier of choice in most gene therapy studies, present a variety of potential problems to the patient --toxicity, immune and inflammatory responses.
-((the viral vector, once inside the patient, may recover its ability to cause disease.))**
3-Multigenedisorders:
-e.g. heart disease, Alzheimer's disease------>are caused by the combined effects of variations in many genes.
-Multigeneor multifactorial disorders such as these would be especially difficult to treat effectively using gene therapy.(Obstacles to a FDA approval)