Deuterium Oxide and Deuteration in Biosciences

This new book provides comprehensive coverage of the subjects of deuterium oxide and deuteration in biosciences, with an emphasis on the biochemical, biomedical, and pharmacological aspects. Deuterium oxide and deuteration effects also offer various implications for health-related issues, including diseases, vaccines and drugs. Organized in six sections, the chapter topics include the role of regular and heavy water in biosciences, and their implications to biomolecules, biochemical processes, health-related research, and pharmacology.

Due to the broad scope, the book may be used as a supplemental text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in the related fields of biochemistry, biology, biomedical sciences, biophysics, and pharmacology. Researchers and pharmaceutical industry professionals will also find the content useful in order to gain knowledge and better understand the implications of deuterium oxide and deuteration research.

Section I. Roles of regular and heavy water in biosciences

Overview: background and applications

Characteristics of deuterium oxide versus hydrogen oxide

Section II. Molecular interactions of deuterium versus hydrogen oxide

Deuterium bonding versus hydrogen bonding

Hydrophobic interaction in D2O versus H2O

Section III. Implications of deuterium oxide and deuteration in biological Systems

Deuterium oxide and deuteration effects on biomolecules

Effects of D2O and deuteration on biomembranes

Section IV. Applications of D2O and deuteration to biochemical reactions

Biochemical effects of deuterium oxide and deuteration

Physical methods for investigating D2O and deuteration effects

Section V. Exploration of deuterium oxide and deuteration in health-related research

Living cells grown in deuterium oxide and deuteration

Deuterium oxide and deuteration effects on health issues

Section VI. Applications of deuterium oxide and deuteration to pharmacology

Deuterium oxide effects on thermostability of vaccines

Deuterium oxide and deuteration effects on pharmacology

Dr. Chang-Hwei Chen is a biophysicist and professor emeritus of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Public Heath, University at Albany. He is currently a member of the Institute of Health and the Environment at the University at Albany.