Researchers develop method to reduce medications side effects

Scientists from Israeli have developed a method to reduce side effects of drugs, as published Sunday by the Weizmann Institute of Science located in central Israel.

The new method is based on separating molecules according to their geometric property called "chirality". Chiral molecules are a pair of molecules with same structure, but the arrangement of the atoms in their space is different.

Opposite chiral molecules, with mirror images of each other, may play quite different roles. For example, a molecule with a particular chiral may act as a drug, and its opposite may cause unwanted side effects.

When producing medications, the molecules must be sorted according to their chirality. Compared to the expensive methods used today, the researchers found an inexpensive simple one for sorting chiral molecules of any material.

The scientists took advantage of the fact that chirality influences the properties of electrons called "spin", including two states: up and down.

They inserted a magnetic surface, where the spins of all electrons turn in the same direction, into a solution with left and right molecules.

As the molecules neared the magnetic surface, they became polarised, and the spins of the electrons at each pole were arranged according to the chirality of the molecule.

This method makes it possible to purify drugs by chiral, leaving only the molecules that promote healing, and removing the harmful ones, said a Xinhua report.

It can also be used to produce more efficient, safer and cheaper chemicals, such as fertilizer and pesticides.