Scientists in Russia have discovered a new structure of a molecule of a diabetes drug — and this could directly affect how effectively the drugs work. It concerns a substance that, under certain conditions, literally changes its internal "architecture", and with it, its properties. The discovery was made by researchers from Novosibirsk State University (NSU).
During the experiments, scientists recorded a completely different range of pressures at which the structural transformation of the substance occurs. This means that the behavior of the molecule turned out to be more complex than previously thought.
To study the new phase, the researchers used synchrotron radiation — a powerful beam of light that arises when charged particles move. With its help, it was possible to detect an intermediate phase with a complex structure and understand in detail how it is arranged. This makes it possible to understand more deeply how organic crystals change under the influence of external factors.
The discovery was made using chlorpropamide as an example — a drug for type 2 diabetes. It is known to have a record number of polymorphs — compounds with the same chemical composition but different arrangement of atoms.
During the experiments, the substance was placed in a special high-pressure chamber with diamond anvils and irradiated. This made it possible to trace changes in the structure at all stages — up to the exact location of individual atoms and the mechanism of transition from one phase to another.
As noted in NSU, the existence of such phases, which can only be detected with the help of a synchrotron, also has practical significance. Intermediate forms of a substance are often more reactive, and therefore potentially more active. This makes them especially important for further research and the development of new drugs.
Diabetes is a chronic disease in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. Most often we are talking about type 2 diabetes: with it, cells react worse to insulin — a hormone that helps glucose get into tissues. As a result, sugar accumulates in the blood, which over time damages blood vessels, heart, kidneys, vision and the nervous system. The disease requires constant monitoring — from nutrition and lifestyle to regular medication, so discoveries that can increase the effectiveness of drugs are of great importance to millions of patients.