Metal-Containing Molecules and Nanomaterials: From Diagnosis to Therapy

Since the discovery and successful deployment of salvarsan to treat syphilis, as well as cisplatin as a cancer drug, the field of metallodrugs has been flourishing. In addition to therapeutic applications, metals and metal-containing molecules have properties, such as an electrochemical or an optical signal, that can be used to diagnose biologically relevant molecules or unravel cellular metabolism. Moreover, metals are part of the essential elements for life, and of increased attention in nutraceuticals. Most of the current diagnosis processes, therapeutics, and nutraceuticals are based on organic molecules. MILS-26 reviews in 7 comprehensive chapters, written by 20 experienced authors, the most recent metal-containing molecules and nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy.

Features:

• The field of metallodrugs has been flourishing and this area of research can be used to diagnose specific biologically relevant molecules or unravel cellular metabolism.
• The authors are preeminent bioinorganic and medicinal inorganic chemists and review the most current research in this field.
• The book discusses the properties and therapeutic applications of metals and metal-containing molecules including the use of electrochemical or optical signal for diagnosis of biologically relevant molecules.
• It endorses and stimulates research in the vibrant field of biological inorganic chemistry.
• It reviews the most current research supporting the relevance of metal-containing molecules and nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy.

Ana de Bettencourt-Dias received her ’licenciatura’ (MS equivalent) in Technological Chemistry from the University of Lisbon in 1993, and her ’Dr. rer. nat.’ (PhD equivalent) in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Cologne in 1997 with Prof. Thomas Kruck. In her graduate work, she isolated new titanium complexes as single source precursors for the chemical vapor deposition of TiN thin layers. She joined the group of Prof. Alan Balch at UC Davis in 1998 as a Gulbenkian postdoctoral fellow, where she studied the electrochemistry and structure of fullerenes and endohedral fullerenes.