Artificial Antimicrobial Peptides Could Help Overcome Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Polymer Synthesis Gets a Jolt of Caffeine
The Art and Science of Polymer Chemistry
As a sophomore at Washington University, Jeremiah Johnson was offered a choice of three work-study jobs: checking IDs at the athletic center, working the circulation desk at the library, or washing glassware in a chemistry lab. The latter sounded the most interesting, so he ended up working in the lab of Karen Wooley, a well-known…
Bio-Inspired Approach to RNA Delivery
By delivering strands of genetic material known as messenger RNA (mRNA) into cells, researchers can induce the cells to produce any protein encoded by the mRNA. This technique holds great potential for administering vaccines or treating diseases such as cancer, but achieving efficient delivery of mRNA has proven challenging. Now, a team of MIT chemical…
A New Approach to Chemical Synthesis
MIT chemists have devised a new way to synthesize a complex molecular structure that is shared by a group of fungal compounds with potential as anticancer agents. Known as communesins, these compounds have shown particular promise against leukemia cells but may be able to kill other cancer cells as well. The new synthesis strategy, described…