Chemotherapy
MDIS
Foundation Certificate in Biomedical Sciences
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Date : 27th July 2012
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‘Father of Chemotherapy’
Chemotherapy is the use of chemical matters to cure diseases (1). The origins of chemotherapy is attributed to Paul Erhlich, a Nobel Laureate in Medicine (1814-1915), who is recognized as the ‘Father of Chemotherapy’ due to his works in stains using different dyes and his discovery of the drug ‘bullets’ (2). In his workings of stains using different dyes on lab animals, Paul Erhlich discovered that different dyes had varying affinities as to which blood cell it could attach to. Hence, he discovered the presence of chemo-receptors. With this discovery, Paul Erhlich worked with various chemists and went through several inventions to produce drugs such as suramin, to cure common illnesses and ailments (2). Paul Erhlich has been attributed for his theory that ‘bad’ cells in the body were attacked by administered drugs through a molecular binding process that allows those ‘bad’ cells to undergo necrosis (3).
In Paul Erhlich’s preparation of drugs, the quantity of separate ingredients used is an important factor to produce working drugs that are in a non-toxic state. Paul Erhlich carried out clinical tests on laboratory animals by administering these drugs into their systems before it was put in the market. However, he did encounter drugs that were not feasible but highly toxic, such as Atoxyl. Yet, he used this drug to seek better alternatives in the medicinal field (2).
Why was Paul Erhlich preparing drugs?
Generally, drugs are actually beneficial to cure and relief symptoms, Drugs are introduced into our system through jabs, nasal sprays, pills and more. But the misuse of these drugs leads to health complications and an increase in
Foundation Certificate in Biomedical Sciences
Name :
Student ID/NRIC/FIN:
Batch :
Lab Group :
Date : 27th July 2012
|Total Marks Scored | |
‘Father of Chemotherapy’
Chemotherapy is the use of chemical matters to cure diseases (1). The origins of chemotherapy is attributed to Paul Erhlich, a Nobel Laureate in Medicine (1814-1915), who is recognized as the ‘Father of Chemotherapy’ due to his works in stains using different dyes and his discovery of the drug ‘bullets’ (2). In his workings of stains using different dyes on lab animals, Paul Erhlich discovered that different dyes had varying affinities as to which blood cell it could attach to. Hence, he discovered the presence of chemo-receptors. With this discovery, Paul Erhlich worked with various chemists and went through several inventions to produce drugs such as suramin, to cure common illnesses and ailments (2). Paul Erhlich has been attributed for his theory that ‘bad’ cells in the body were attacked by administered drugs through a molecular binding process that allows those ‘bad’ cells to undergo necrosis (3).
In Paul Erhlich’s preparation of drugs, the quantity of separate ingredients used is an important factor to produce working drugs that are in a non-toxic state. Paul Erhlich carried out clinical tests on laboratory animals by administering these drugs into their systems before it was put in the market. However, he did encounter drugs that were not feasible but highly toxic, such as Atoxyl. Yet, he used this drug to seek better alternatives in the medicinal field (2).
Why was Paul Erhlich preparing drugs?
Generally, drugs are actually beneficial to cure and relief symptoms, Drugs are introduced into our system through jabs, nasal sprays, pills and more. But the misuse of these drugs leads to health complications and an increase in
References: 5. Hoh Y.K., 2003. Longman A-Level course in Biology Core Syllabus.Longman, Singapore. 6. NCBI, 2004. One Size Does Not Fit All: The Promise of Pharmacogenomics. [online] (Last updated on 31 March 2004) Available at: < http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/About/primer/pharm.html> [Accessed on 27 July 2012] -----------------------