In materials science, a disappearing polymorph is a form of a crystal structure (a morph) that is suddenly unable to be produced, instead transforming into a different crystal structure with the same chemical composition [...]
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Released to the public in 1996, ritonavir is an antiretroviral medication used to help treat HIV/AIDS. It has been listed on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. The original medication was manufactured in the form of semisolid gel capsules, based on the only known crystal form of the drug ("Form I"). In 1998, however, a second crystal form ("Form II") was unexpectedly discovered. It had significantly lower solubility and was not medically effective. Subsequent research showed that the two forms are conformational polymorphs, with Form II more thermodynamically stable since "all of the strong hydrogen bond donors and acceptors have been satisfied".
Form II was of sufficiently lower energy that it became impossible to produce Form I in any laboratory where Form II was introduced, even indirectly. Scientists who had been exposed to Form II in the past seemingly contaminated entire manufacturing plants by their presence, probably because they carried over microscopic seed crystals of the new polymorph. The drug was temporarily recalled from the market. Tens of thousands of AIDS patients went without medication for their condition (unless they switched to a Norvir liquid suspension) until ritonavir was reformulated as a capsule, approved, and re-released to the market in 1999. It is estimated that Abbott, the company which produced ritonavir under the brand name Norvir, lost over $250 million USD as a result of the incident.
New doomsday fear unlocked. Maybe not water, but some other crystals/molecules we super depend on for life. Our universe is more amazing than I could have possibly imagined. This is as close to...
Vonnegut K, Cat's Cradle, Ice-Nine
New doomsday fear unlocked. Maybe not water, but some other crystals/molecules we super depend on for life.
[Case study progesterone] Form 2 was eventually successfully synthesized by using pregnenolone, a structurally similar compound, as an additive in the crystallization process.[3] The additive seemed to reverse the order of stability of the polymorphs
Our universe is more amazing than I could have possibly imagined. This is as close to alchemy and sorcery as we can get huh, with science. It's good to know we also have the ability to keep trying, and reverse uno disappearing polymorphs.
Our scientific progress also brings some hope that previously impossible materials suddenly become possible and cheap, too.
[On xylitol] This seems to be because once the stable form has been made in a lab, its "seeds" or nuclei can disperse in air, influencing new crystals to grow the same way
[On Cephadroxil] BMS sued for "gastrointestinal infringement", claiming it converted to the patented Bouzard form in the stomach.
They're kidding right, gastrointestinal infringement lol. Hilarious legal hot air.
It's rather funny that we went from Miasma theory of 5th century BC, to nah that's stupid in mid 1800s germ theory, to COVID 19 yeah airborne transmssion totally real, and even seed crystals go global via our atmosphere.
And a non-science metaphorical "it's 5am as this is deep thought"
what if human beings are like a sort of crystalline solution becoming a single large crystal slowly. Where a collection of our past experiences and ideas of ourselves that make up our person nucleate around another concept or seed idea of ourselves, and then suddenly once a new seed idea is introduced to us, once we overcome that little bit of thermodynamics threshold, we transform into a more stable polymorph of ourselves. And then forevermore we can't go back to the old way of thinking or concept about ourselves.
Great post! I have worked in materials science for almost 20 years and I never knew this existed. Amazing. I wonder if a suitable clean room facility could prevent this contamination, but design...
Great post! I have worked in materials science for almost 20 years and I never knew this existed. Amazing. I wonder if a suitable clean room facility could prevent this contamination, but design and construction of one was no longer economically viable for what would amount to a science fair project.
From the article:
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New doomsday fear unlocked. Maybe not water, but some other crystals/molecules we super depend on for life.
Our universe is more amazing than I could have possibly imagined. This is as close to alchemy and sorcery as we can get huh, with science. It's good to know we also have the ability to keep trying, and reverse uno disappearing polymorphs.
Our scientific progress also brings some hope that previously impossible materials suddenly become possible and cheap, too.
They're kidding right, gastrointestinal infringement lol. Hilarious legal hot air.
It's rather funny that we went from Miasma theory of 5th century BC, to nah that's stupid in mid 1800s germ theory, to COVID 19 yeah airborne transmssion totally real, and even seed crystals go global via our atmosphere.
And a non-science metaphorical "it's 5am as this is deep thought"
what if human beings are like a sort of crystalline solution becoming a single large crystal slowly. Where a collection of our past experiences and ideas of ourselves that make up our person nucleate around another concept or seed idea of ourselves, and then suddenly once a new seed idea is introduced to us, once we overcome that little bit of thermodynamics threshold, we transform into a more stable polymorph of ourselves. And then forevermore we can't go back to the old way of thinking or concept about ourselves.
Great post! I have worked in materials science for almost 20 years and I never knew this existed. Amazing. I wonder if a suitable clean room facility could prevent this contamination, but design and construction of one was no longer economically viable for what would amount to a science fair project.