Heavy Metal Chelation: Applications in Industry and Medicine

Heavy metal ions are typically considered to be detrimental to human health and are therefore considered to be a nuisance in both industrial and medicinal settings. The proper control of these ions via chelation, however, can engender them with beneficial applications in both regards. In this talk, Wilson will discuss his group’s efforts to design chelators for heavy metal ions spanning the s-, d-, and f-block. Wilson will show how unusual thermodynamic binding affinities can be obtained via ligand design efforts. Furthermore, direct applications for addressing “real life” problems in both industry and medicine will be given.