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Deuterium is a stable isotope of hydrogen.
Hydrogen is the most simple atom, usually containing a
single proton around which orbits a single electron.
Isotopic forms of hydrogen exist, in which the
atomic nucleus contains 1 or 2 neutrons in addition
to the solitary proton.
The atomic masses of the three isotopes are
respectively 1 (hydrogen), 2 (deuterium) and 3 (tritium).
All three isotope occur in nature. Deuterium is
relatively abundant comprising about 0.015% of all
hydrogen on Earth. It is stable and absolutely
non-radioactive. Tritium is much less common and
results from nuclear reactions. It is
radioactive.
In high school chemistry classes we learned that
isotopes of atoms did not differ in chemical
properties. While this is generally true for heavier
atoms, the dramatic doubling of nuclear mass
of deuterium - as compared with hydrogen - produces
significant chemical effects.
These are best demonstrated by comparing
differences in the properties of water
H2O and
heavy
water (deuterium oxide),
D2O.
Water freezes at 0oC, whereas heavy
water freezes at 4oC.
Water (MW 18) weighs 1
gram/cm3
Heavy water (MW 20) weighs 1.1
gram/cm3
The availability of heavy water from the mid 1930s
onwards allowed experimenters to investigate the
effects of D2O on biological systems.
Price was a disincentive as early costs were in excess of
€1000/g. Today prices are around €
0.25/g.
Early observations showed that pure D2O
killed almost everything placed in it, although some
prokaryotic
algae and bacteria appeared tolerant. Toxicity was
however relatively low, for even mammalian cells
could tolerate up to 25% D2O in cell
cultures and whole animals could live with up to almost 20%
D2O in
their veins. Sugar or alcohol are much more
toxic!
The causes of observed toxicity were almost all
directly due to the increased strength of hydrogen
bonding in D2O. These effects tended to
suppress open conformations of dissolved proteins and
other
molecules in favour of more closed conformations (it
would be interesting to look at D2O impact on
prion
proteins!) or aggregated states of multi-component
complexes. Clearly the accumulation of biochemical
disturbances generated the observed toxic
effects.
A very interesting observation was that
D2O inhibits cell division by "gelling" the mitotic
spindle apparatus.
To date I am aware of no detailed studies of this
phenomenon, which is interesting as mitosis has recently
become far better understood in molecular
terms.
This opens the way for some interesting
therapeutic scenarios. A number of proliferative diseases
such as psoriasis and of course tumours of all kinds
might be susceptible to control by local administration
of high concentrations of D2O. As
D2O is miscible with ordinary water and rapidly diffuses
out of the
system, no long-term toxic effects such as those
associated with platinum compounds can arise.
In confidence some specific thoughts on these
possibilities can be exchanged with
Karl Simpson. See also the page on vaccines.
Details on all the above ideas can be
obtained directly from Bénézech -
Simpson.
We are delighted to develop our ideas in partnership with those
having an
established presence in the markets of relevance.