The Use of Stereolithography and Computer Graphics to Develop Three-Dimensional Tactile Models for Use by Blind and Visually Impaired Scientists

Carol A.Venanzi教授和William J.Skawinski博士得到了理论和计算化学计划的资助，他们将：1)对阿米洛利类似物进行理论化学研究，以努力了解它们作为上皮细胞钠通道阻滞剂的有效性；2)开发立体光刻技术与计算机图形技术相结合，为视障科学家开发三维触觉建模技术。Venanzi博士和Skawinski博士将使用分子静电势图的理论计算来解释关于化合物阿米洛利化学类似物结合常数的实验数据，阿米洛利是一种已知的利尿药和有效的钠通道阻滞剂。他们的工作假设是，长程静电相互作用将阿米洛利分子定向并引导到通道结合部位，该结合部位必须在分子形状和分子静电势上与阿米洛利互补。作为这项研究的一部分，他们还将利用一种名为立体平版印刷的技术，将计算机生成的3D图像转换为触觉模型，这样视力受损的理论化学家斯卡温斯基就可以感知活性物种的分子形状，并积极参与研究。

Professor Carol A. Venanzi and Dr. William J. Skawinski are supported by a grant from the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry Program to: 1) perform theoretical chemical studies of amiloride analogs in an effort to understand their efficacy as sodium channel blockers in epithelial cells, and 2) to develop the use of stereolithography in conjunction with computer graphics as a three-dimensional tactile modeling technique for visually impaired scientists. %%% Drs. Venanzi and Skawinski will use theoretical calculations of molecular electrostatic potential maps to explain experimental data on the binding constants for chemical analogs of the compound amiloride which is a known diuretic drug and a potent sodium channel blocker. Their working hypothesis is that the long-range electrostatic interactions orient and direct the amiloride molecule into the channel binding site which must be complementary to amiloride in both molecular shape and molecular electrostatic potential. As part of this research they will also exploit a technique known as stereolithography to translate 3-D computer generated images into tactile models so that Dr. Skawinski, a visually impaired theoretical chemist, can perceive the molecular shapes of the active species and actively participate in the research.