Finding an Alternative to Metformin

Session Number

Project ID: CHEM 04

Advisor(s)

Dr. John Thurmond; Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Discipline

Chemistry

Start Date

19-4-2023 10:50 AM

End Date

19-4-2023 11:05 AM

Abstract

Metformin is one of the oldest drugs that is still currently used, and it is the most prescribed drug for treating diabetes. While Metformin is incredibly inert (as a result of it being a biguanide), it does not bind to its binding site too strongly. Through my research, I have developed hundreds of alternatives to Metformin using computer aided drug design, the majority of which bind better than Metformin does. One particularly interesting result (and the molecule that binds to the site the strongest) has a strength that scales with the length of a hydrocarbon chain contained within, most likely as a result of a pocket in the binding site.

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Apr 19th, 10:50 AM Apr 19th, 11:05 AM

Finding an Alternative to Metformin

Metformin is one of the oldest drugs that is still currently used, and it is the most prescribed drug for treating diabetes. While Metformin is incredibly inert (as a result of it being a biguanide), it does not bind to its binding site too strongly. Through my research, I have developed hundreds of alternatives to Metformin using computer aided drug design, the majority of which bind better than Metformin does. One particularly interesting result (and the molecule that binds to the site the strongest) has a strength that scales with the length of a hydrocarbon chain contained within, most likely as a result of a pocket in the binding site.