[Kim Byung-min's Science Village] Our Safety and Happiness Are Someone's Sacrifice

Royal Society of Chemistry Supports Malaria Drug Development... Opens Path to Selective Drug Therapy
Domark, a Medical Graduate from WWI, Introduced Sulfa Drugs... Successful Human Trials on Daughter
Medical Staff and Officials Silently Sacrifice in Heat... What Is Needed Now Is Cooperation in Quarantine, Not Just Support

Byungmin Kim, Science Writer

When iron meets water and oxygen, it rusts and eventually disappears. The free electrons that iron possesses are taken away by other substances, making it impossible for the iron's crystal structure to be maintained. Science explains this transformation process as 'oxidation' or 'corrosion.' In the sea, where salt and oxygen are abundant, the reaction accelerates, speeding up the corrosion process. Therefore, one of the considerations when building ships is preventing rust. At this time, if a metal that oxidizes faster than iron is coated over the iron, it rusts first instead of the iron, keeping the ship safe. Substances like zinc or magnesium, which rust before iron, are called 'sacrificial anodes' in chemistry. However, the term 'sacrificial anode' is not only applied to materials. It is also used for people who have a sense of mission and sacrifice themselves first.

Currently, humanity understands through chemistry that the oxidation reaction of iron means the movement of electrons. But until relatively recently, when chemistry began to be established as a discipline, the origin and even the true nature of substances were not properly known.

In fact, chemistry began to establish itself as a scientific field starting in 1661, when Robert Boyle (1627?1691) of England published the book 'The Skeptical Chymist,' which distinguished between alchemists and chemists. However, chemistry still went through a long period of wandering, similar to the identity confusion of adolescents, lasting until the late 19th century.

Moreover, chemistry was a science practiced by businessmen dealing with tar and dyes derived from coal. Scholars called scientists dealt with physics, natural history, or geology. For example, England established the Royal College of Chemistry and supported the research of brilliant chemists it recruited, aiming to develop malaria treatments. However, the materials used in research at that time were common coal tar. People believed that something hidden in these unknown natural substances could fight diseases.

Unexpectedly, during this process, beautiful purple dyes were discovered. When bituminous coal is dried at high temperatures, it produces coke, a high-quality carbon component, and tar, which is sticky and has a foul smell. Coke was used as an energy source at the time, but tar was treated as waste. Chemistry connected this tar with beautiful dyes that seemed unlikely to go together. But dyes were not only used to decorate the Victorian era splendidly.

You may have seen microscopic photos of cells. The reason certain locations inside cells are clearly and vividly colored in the photos is actually because of dyes. In the late 19th century, humanity discovered that synthetic dyes could selectively stain tissues and cells. After that, humanity turned its attention to biotechnology and medicine.

At that time, it was already known that most human diseases were caused by microorganisms. Efforts to save humanity were divided into two paths: prevention and treatment. In prevention, the concept of vaccines appeared starting with smallpox in the late 18th century. However, finding therapeutic antibiotics was not easy.

Ironically, the advent of synthetic dyes helped the development of treatments. The idea was that if a certain dye stains specific cells, then connecting the dye with a drug would allow the drug to selectively enter those areas. This assumption became a reality.

The war drama 'Band of Brothers' (2001), set during World War II, depicts the war very realistically. There is a scene where white powder is sprinkled on the wounds of injured soldiers. At that time, the Allied forces always carried this powder as a first aid medicine. It was definitely an antibiotic drug that treated wound infections. This drug even saved British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874?1965) from pneumonia.

However, paradoxically, this drug, which played a significant role in the war, was created through the sacrifice of a German scientist from the defeated country.

In the early 20th century, during World War I, many soldiers died from wound infections. Even minor wounds could cause inflammation to spread throughout the body, leading to amputation or death. In those days without antibiotics, even a single wound could be life-threatening.

Gerhard Domagk (1895?1964), a German medical student who served as a medic, could not stand by while infectious diseases ravaged soldiers. After the war, he became the head of an infectious disease research institute supported by German chemical companies. Since the German army also suffered greatly from infectious diseases, overcoming them was a national mission.

Domagk eventually synthesized a dye that adhered well to cell walls and 'sulfonamide,' bringing treatment for bacterial diseases within reach. He had completed animal experiments and was in the preclinical stage. This substance is the drug known as 'sulfa drugs.'

It is common knowledge that all drugs must undergo clinical trials. Domagk, who had reached just before clinical trials, surprisingly chose his own young daughter as the test subject. Even after animal testing, moving to human subjects can be life-threatening due to unknown causes. The chemically synthesized syphilis treatment made previously in Germany underwent over 600 tests but had significant side effects compared to its effectiveness, making clinical trials difficult.

Even after successful clinical trials, the process is often not over. After completing sulfa drugs, organic solvents were used to make a liquid form easier for children to take, as swallowing pills was difficult. However, the toxicity of the organic solvents damaged the children's kidneys. More than 100 children died at that time. The solvent, a sweet-tasting alcohol, was ethylene glycol, which is now used as an ingredient in automobile antifreeze.

Why did Domagk willingly involve his precious family in such a dangerous experiment? At that time, his daughter had an inflamed arm wound that had spread to the point where amputation was necessary. Domagk gave his daughter the sulfa drug he developed. As a result, it proved effective against the inflammation. His sacrifice, risking his life and his family's, became a turning point that saved humanity.

The Nobel Committee selected Domagk, the inventor of sulfa drugs, as the Nobel Prize winner in Physiology or Medicine in 1939. However, Nazi Germany forbade Germans from receiving Nobel Prizes for political reasons. Domagk had no choice but to pledge to refuse the award himself. Moreover, he suffered yet another sacrifice.

When people think of antibiotics, they often recall penicillin, created by Alexander Fleming (1881?1955). In fact, sulfa drugs gave way to penicillin with its advent. But Fleming was also influenced by Domagk's research. Therefore, the emergence of penicillin is not unrelated to the tragic figure Domagk, who was like a sacrificial anode.

Early heat waves have arrived. Recently, in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, health center staff wearing protective suits while operating a walk-through testing site collapsed from heat exhaustion. Even drinking water was difficult because the protective suits made it hard to go to the restroom.

During the collapse of everything caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), people who chose the path of zinc?sacrificing themselves rather than their own safety?such as Jeong Eun-kyeong, the Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, related government officials, and medical staff who cared for patients wearing suffocating protective suits in medical settings. Because they were sacrificial anodes, we can now safely stand on their sacrifices.

A recent government organization law amendment bill was proposed to separate the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from the Ministry of Health and Welfare as an independent agency to enhance expertise in infectious disease response. However, there are controversies regarding the geographical location within the organization of the National Institute of Health, which is central to infectious disease research. Also, it was revealed that the Ministry of Health and Welfare omitted budget allocations for nurses who have fought on the front lines, causing wounds among medical staff.

Despite these incomprehensible situations, they solemnly uphold the essence of their work. Infectious diseases reveal our hidden true nature. What they want is not gratitude or money but the end of infectious diseases.

Recently, COVID-19 infections have been spreading in the metropolitan area. What we can do is not just cheer but cooperate with quarantine measures. The daily lives we enjoy and want to protect are precious things that might disappear like iron without people like sacrificial anodes.

Byungmin Kim, Adjunct Professor, Nano Convergence School, Hallym University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.