Cisplatin was approved for use in the United States in 1978 by the Food and Drug Administration after years of studies and testing.
Cisplatin is used to treat primarily sarcoma cancers. It is believed to kill cancer cells by binding to them and interfering with the cell’s ability to repair itself. This eventually leads to the death of the cell.
Cisplatin is used through chemotherapy (the treatment of disease through the use of chemicals to kill or modify cells). Cisplatin falls into the Alkylating Agent group because it often adds an alkyl group to electronegative groups in cells.
The compound for Cisplatin was first described 1845, but the structure was not deduced until 1893 by Alfred Werner. Over 70 years later, in the 1960’s, Barnett Rosenberg and his staff at Michigan State University were able discover that electrolysis of a platinum electrode resulted in the production of cisplatin. Furthermore, this inhibited binary fission in the E. Coli bacteria and resulted in the substantial growth of their normal size.
Consequently, Rosenberg was compelled to further test Cisplatin. His staff conducted several experiments that artificially placed sarcomas in rats and tested the effects of different platinum coordination complexes on them. Cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum was deemed the most effective out of this group. As a result, Cisplatin was now its way to becoming a miracle drug to help fight the growing plague of cancer.
The earliest known treatment of cancer dates back to 2500 BC with the Egyptians. Ancient records tell of surgeries to remove tumors from the body as well as other medicines of antiquity. During the Roman Empire, praying and ancient rituals were used to help treat the growth of cancerous tumors on the body.
In the late 16th and 17th centuries, a better understanding of the human anatomy led to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer and experiments led to disprove the myth excess black bile caused cancer. By the 19th century, microscopes helped scientists understand the interaction between the body and the disease.
In 20th century, curing cancer had become a goal of many scientists, and in 1938, the United States Congress founded the National Cancer Institute. As a result, surgeries were vastly improved, hormone therapy was established, and countless hours of priceless research has been done.
The chemical formula for Cisplatin is Cl 2H6N2Ptand its molecular weight is 300.05. It is made up of two chloride molecules, six hydrogen molecules, two nitrogen molecules, and one central platinum molecule. Its structure name is CIS-diamminedichloroplatinum, and this is significant because being a cis-isomer is what makes Cisplatin so effective.[1] This is because the it allows for the same molecules to be on the same side, and thus, effectively latch onto cancerous cells. Cisplatin is a deep yellow color and a solid. It also will decompose at 270 degrees Celsius and will become trans with contact with many liquids.
Cisplatin is created through taking potassium tetrachloroplatinate, K2PtCl4,and adding the a NH3 compound to one of the four positions around the platinum molecule. Next, anotherNH3 compound is added next to the other NH3 to insure the compound becomes a cis-isomer. The next step calls for the addition of the Cl molecule, it is added after the NH3 because it has the tendency to be more trans in a molecule, to the compound. Finally, the next Cl is added to the compound after a great deal of chemical reaction the synthesis yields Cisplatin.[2]
[1] S. Dhara (2007). The Synthesis of Cisplatin. Indian Journal of Chemistry 1970, p.
123–134.
[2] S. Dhara (2007). The Synthesis of Cisplatin. Indian Journal of Chemistry 1970, p.
Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug used to treat many different types of cancer. It was first deduced in 1893 by Alferd Werner. However, it was not until the 1960’s that scientists at Michigan State were able to produce Cisplatin. After a series of tests and experiments, it was concluded that Cisplatin could be an effective treatment for Sarcoma cancers (Cancer of the connective or supportive tissues).
During this time, Chile was the biggest exporter of nitrates to Germany. Germany used these nitrates to produce the supply of their munitions during the war
A naval blockade was formed that prevented Germany from getting its supply of nitrates from Chile. Unless something was done quickly, Germany would run of munitions to continue to fight the war
Rescue came in the form of ammonia and the Haber-Bosch Process. Germany devised a way using the Haber-Bosch process to convert ammonia into nitric acid and nitrates. It proved to be incredibly beneficial to Germany who now had a much more efficient way of producing munitions
Many believe that without the Haber-Bosch Process, Germany would have almost certainly run out of explosives in 1916, ending the war three years earlier than it actually did
Fertilizer and World Population
After World War II, there was a rising demand for nitrogen fertilizers. Thus, the production of ammonia shifted to the purpose of producing it for fertilizers
The efficiently of crop production increased exponentially
The Haber-Bosh synthesis of ammonia removed the limits on nitrogen supply that had constrained traditional agriculture
This allowed for a large population increase around the world
Raised standard of living in Third World Countries
Changed diets
Malnutrition was greatly decreased.
The use of ammonia-based fertilizers also made it possible to grow crops in places that normally could not grow crops
About 85% of all nitrogen in food proteins available for human consumption comes directly in plant foods from the world’s cropland and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers provide about half of the nutrient in those harvests crops
Therefore, more than 40% of the world’s protein supply comes the Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia
In other words, the synthesis of ammonia is responsible for feeding 2.2 billion people
The synthesis of Ammonia had long been perceived to be the holy grail of chemistry
Fritz Haber first developed the process during the summer of 1904
Haber’s process was then further developed by Carl Bosch
In 1910, Bosh secured patent, which confirmed that the synthesis of ammonia was possible
The Haber-Bosch method utilizes a high temperature and elevated pressure, a metal catalyst, and gas circulation to synthesize ammonia
The pressure needs to be between 200 and 400 atmospheres while the temperature needs to be between 400 and 650 degrees Celsius.
The efficiency of the process is a function of the pressure and temperature: the highest yields are produced at higher pressures and lower temperatures.
With the development of the Haber-Bosch Process, the mass manufacturing of ammonia began
The main use of ammonia is in fertilizers. Fertilizers are used as a substance added to soil in order to improve the growth and yield of plants. All plants rely on nutrients in the soil in order to survive, most importantly nitrogen. However, as the plants grow they use up those nutrients in the soil. Thus, something is needed in order to replenish those vital nutrients. Fertilizers replace the chemical components that are taken from the soil by growing plants. The replenishing of nutrients in the soil by fertilizers make the plans grow more efficiently.
Modern-day research into fertilizers began in the early 1600s. Scientists began to discover the chemical needs of plants and thus began to improve fertilizers. Organic chemists Justus con Liebig discovered that plants needed mineral elements such as nitrogen and phosphorous in order to grow. Subsequently, the first patent was issued to John Lawes for his method of producing a form of phosphate that was effective as a fertilizer. Lawes’ patent is often said to have originated the fertilizer industry. The fertilizer industry then experienced its most significant growth after World War I when ammonia facilities that were producing explosives for the war were converted to the production of fertilizers.
It was this post-war era that saw the growth of fully integrated factories deigned to produce fertilizers. It was quickly realized that ammonia would be a good source for these fertilizers because it could be synthesized from inexpensive raw materials.
