Artificial leaf generates medicine with the help of sunlight (2 photos + video)

Obtaining medicines involvesthe use of complex chemical elements, often polluting the nature. Scientists from the Netherlands working at the Technical University of Eindhoven have proposed a simple, effective and completely harmless method for synthesizing drugs using the "artificial leaf" technology.

The installation developed by scientists representsa small reactor that uses sunlight to initiate a chemical reaction. Like photosynthesis in nature, an "artificial leaf" carries out chemical synthesis by absorbing solar energy. Currently, the developers have already announced the generation of two types of drugs: antimalarial artemisinin and antiparasitic ascaridol.

The "artificial sheet" technology can be adapted for various types of chemical reactions, and is also able to maintain stable production under sharp changes in weather conditions.

The main goal of the inventors is to create a compact, environmentally friendly production of drugs, depending on readily available energy sources.

The design of the "artificial sheet"created from special organic glass having a high refractive index of light. Such material is quite cheap, and it can be produced in large quantities.

Using the principle of photosynthesis, sunlightacts on liquid molecules passing through the channels of the "artificial sheet". As a result, a chemical reaction is initiated. In the event of a drop in light when weather conditions worsen, scientists have developed a system that reduces the speed of a chemical reaction.

The main "raw material" for such a generator islight, according to the assurance of the developers for the installation, there is no difference where to carry out the synthesis: on Mars or in the jungle. The team of scientists plans to find a sponsor and a pharmaceutical company in the coming year to conduct large-scale testing and launch into serial production of plants using the "artificial sheet" technology.

Source: tue.nl