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Water as a secret agent: New study reveals binding forces of molecules!
Researchers at KIT and the Constructor University are discovering how “locked-in” water strengthens molecular bonds and opens up new possible applications.
Water as a secret agent: New study reveals binding forces of molecules!
A team of researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Constructor University in Bremen have provided groundbreaking evidence: “locked in” water can strengthen the bond between molecules. These results, published in the renowned specialist journalApplied Chemistry International Edition, open up new perspectives for the development of innovative drugs and materials. Until now, it was unclear whether water trapped in molecular pockets such as protein binding sites or synthetic receptors plays a neutral role or influences interactions between molecules.
Dr. Frank Biedermann from KIT explains that water takes on an energetically tense form in narrow pockets. This particular form of water is called "high energy" and acts much like people in a crowded elevator: it pushes aside when another molecule enters, strengthening the bond between the new molecule and the bag. Professor Werner Nau, co-leader of the study, emphasizes that the binding power of this high-energy water is directly dependent on its energetic tension.
Impact on drug development and materials science
The present study, which is also supported by precise thermodynamic analyses, shows that high-energy water molecules play a central role in the formation of molecular bonds. This finding is particularly important for drug development. High-energy water could be used to anchor active ingredients in the protein more stably. In materials science, the targeted creation of cavities that exclude such water could improve the sensing and storage performance of materials.
The study used the host molecule cucurbit[8]uril, which allows for easier analysis than complex systems such as proteins. This combination of high-precision calorimetry and theoretical models developed by Dr. Jeffry Setiadi and Professor Michael K. Gilson from the University of California, San Diego, provides valuable quantitative data on the role of water in binding processes. The results support the importance of water-based chemistry and show how displaced water can increase the binding energy between molecules, making a significant contribution to aqueous chemistry. idw-online.de reports that this study also highlights relevant advances in water property modeling.
The role of water in chemistry
The essential role of water in chemical reactions and biological processes is undisputed. Histories from the field of aqueous chemistry show how important it is to understand the behavior of water in different contexts. Water is not just an elixir of life; its unique properties, such as high surface tension and the ability to dissolve many substances, make it an indispensable component of many processes. It surrounds and separates ions in ionic compounds and changes its behavior based on temperature and pressure conditions.
Advances in the application of data-driven methods and computational modeling are enabling researchers to study the behavior of water innovatively, pushing the boundaries of traditional understanding. Future research in aqueous chemistry could help find new ways to improve water quality and develop efficient materials that interact closely with the properties of water. scisimple.com highlights that future research targets the dynamic field of water chemistry and offers interesting perspectives.