2009 Laureate for Africa and the Arab States, Prof. Tebello Nyokong (from South Africa),  has led research which makes unusual connections between blue jeans, environmental clean-up and medical treatment…

Nature as a great source of inspiration
Prof. Nyokong’s work has involved the use of a blue-jean (aniline) dye that was activated by light. Then she proved that the molecules inside the dye could be used to detect pollution in water, and could, in certain circumstances, even detect cancer.  To conduct this work, she took her inspiration from nature. The same molecular base in nature is used for chlorophyll in plants (containing magnesium) and for heme (contained in iron) in blood, both complexes are only slightly structurally different.

Her research is centered on the ability of molecules to absorb light and to release it when needed. Those molecules can be used in the treatment of certain cancers through the use of photodynamic therapy.
Also, because the molecules can absorb light, they can also be used for degrading pollutants. Some pollutants may be treated with light (without the dye), but this means using UV light, and can result in degradation products that are more harmful that the original pollutants. The molecules she uses absorb red light which they then pass on to the pollutants to degrade them, resulting in less toxic products.

A useful work for South Africa’s development
Her work also has applications in the preservation of water, which is a scarce resource in South Africa. The South African Government aims to achieve equitable access to water, and sustainable use of water – in other words, efficient and effective water use for optimum social and economic benefit. By being able to re-cycle water, as her research proposes, the above aims may be achieved, and hence preserve water for future generations.

Tags :

• 2009 
• Medicinal Chemistry 
• South Africa 
• Tebello Nyokong

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