Photochemical Delivery and Metal Mediated Reactions of Nitrogen Oxides and other Bioactive Small Molecules

这个生命过程化学（CLP）项目的奖项支持加州大学圣巴巴拉分校的Peter C. Ford教授继续进行基础研究，研究过渡金属中心如何定义在哺乳动物生理学中起关键调节作用的一氧化氮（NO）和其他小分子的生物化学。这些研究还将探索使用新的纳米材料将这些物种运送到特定目标的光化学策略。NO、氮氧化物衍生物如亚硝酸盐离子、一氧化碳（CO）等几种简单分子物种在控制心血管系统、伤口愈合、对病原体的免疫反应等生理功能方面发挥着深远的作用。在几乎所有这样的情况下，与金属中心的化学反应，如血红蛋白和其他含铁和铜的蛋白质，对生理作用是必不可少的。当前研究的一个目标是定义和理解这些金属小分子相互作用的相关生物化学。所采用的技术是反应动力学和现代分析方法以及理论计算。另一个目标是设计、制备和测试新的分子和纳米级组件，这些组件可以与光一起将这种生物调节剂传递到目标组织，以影响目标的生存能力。利用光作为触发机制，可以控制生物调节剂释放的位置、时间和剂量。沿着这条路线，UCSB小组开发了新的系统，其中纳米尺寸的半导体量子点（QDs）作为携带小分子前体的模板，同时作为光吸收触发的天线。正在进行的研究将改进这些组件并研究其有效性。从更广泛的角度来看，UCSB的研究将发展对这些生物调节分子的基本化学理解，这必将成为开发新治疗应用的潜在基础。在这个奖项下进行的研究也可以作为培养本科生、研究生和博士后创造性奖学金细微差别的模板。这也延伸到了当地的K-12学校，因为福特集团的成员积极参与了科学推广项目。离开这个群体的本科生进入研究生和医学院学习，博士和博士后毕业生在工业、政府和学术界担任重要角色，从而为美国的科学人力资源做出了贡献。

This award in the Chemistry of Life Processes (CLP) program supports continuing fundamental research by Professor Peter C. Ford at the University of California, Santa Barbara into how transition metal centers define the biological chemistry of nitric oxide (NO) and other small molecules that play key regulatory roles in mammalian physiology. These studies will also explore photochemical strategies using new nanomaterials for delivering such species to specific targets. It is now broadly known that NO, nitrogen oxide derivatives such as nitrite ion, carbon monoxide (CO) and several other simple molecular species have profound roles in controlling certain physiological functions including the cardiovascular system, wound healing, immune response to pathogens, etc. In nearly all such cases, the chemical reactions with metal centers, such as hemoglobin and other iron and copper containing proteins, is essential to the physiological effects. One goal of the current research is to define and to understand the relevant biochemistry of these metal--small molecule interactions. The techniques employed are reaction kinetics and modern analytical methods as well as theoretical computations. Another goal is to design, prepare and test new molecular and nano-scaled assemblies that that can be used with light to deliver such bioregulators to targeted tissues for the purpose of affecting the viability of the target. By using light as the triggering mechanism one can control the location, timing, and dosages of bioregulator release. Along this line, the UCSB group has developed new systems where nano-sized semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) serve as templates for carrying the small molecule precursors while simultaneously acting as the antennas for light absorption for triggering. On-going studies will refine these assemblies and study their effectivity. From a broader perspective, the UCSB studies will develop fundamental chemical understanding of these bioregulatory molecules that must underlie potential development of new therapeutic applications. The research performed under this award also serves as a template for training undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students in the nuances of creative scholarship. This also extends to local K-12 schools, since members of the Ford group have participated actively in scientific outreach programs. Undergraduates leaving the group have entered graduate and medical school programs and Ph.D. and postdoctoral graduates have assumed responsible roles in industry, government and academia, thereby contributing to the US scientific manpower pool.