One of our Italian professors, Gabriella Tamasi, is currently exploring the use of hydrogels as carriers for coordination compounds that contain metallically based anti-metastatic drugs. Though the gems of her research are the anti-metastatic drugs, the hydrogels allow for targeted delivery. Additionally, annoying gastric side effects are reduced because the gels cause gradual drug release. Anne’s previously posted blog explains the background of her research more in depth, but I thought that Dr. Tamasi’s lecture had fantastic parallels with another topic that we covered in class this week: organogels in art conservation.
Organogels in art are used primarily to control the contact of liquid cleaning solvents. These solvents can be strong and damaging to the art if they are left on the surface of the piece for an extended period of time. It is therefore important for conservators to carefully monitor the areas of contact and to make sure that the organic solvent is completely removed after the cleaning is complete. The advent of rheoreversible polymeric organogels has made this process significantly easier. What exactly is a rheoreversible gel? Well, it is a gel that can be converted back into a liquid with the simple addition of a dilute acid like vinegar. Therefore, a conservator can control the application of an organic solvent by trapping it inside a gel and then they can remove it easily and completely by converting the gel back to a liquid. These gels are just as effective as older gels at varnish removal; they are just easier to clean up. That's enough to make anyone gel-ous!
Interesting read, but also an interesting fact about gels is that Jell-O is made using parts of pig collagen, so for those of you who don't eat pork out there, stay away from Jell-O. The gelatinous material is not kosher, and neither are Skittles. Consumers are unaware of this information, as I was too until this morning.
ReplyDelete"The production of the gelatin starts w/refinement of collagen-bearing tissues of ANY ANIMAL that has raised and slaughtered for food purposes. ....These materials are carefully soaked in alkalies and/or acids and washed in clean water to remove almost all non-collagen constituents, including meat. During this soaking period the collagen is converted to gelatin. The treated materials are then cooked gently in pure water to extract the gelatin, which is further refined by filtration" (http://users.rcn.com/sue.interport/food/gelatin.html)