Understanding molecular data
Having a good understanding of molecular properties and structures is extremely critical to determine how they react with each other. These reactions lead to the discovery of new molecules that lead to drug development. Pharmacology is the branch of science that studies such reactions and their impact on the body. Pharmacologists do this by reviewing molecular data stored in a variety of formats. At a very high level, molecules can be divided into two categories, small and large molecules. The distinction between them is not just because of their size. Let’s look at them in more detail.
Small molecules
Small molecules have been the basis of drug development for a very long time. They weigh less than 900 Dalton (Da) (1 Da is equal to 1.66053904x10^-24 grams) and account for more than 90% of drugs on the market today. Drugs based on small molecules are mostly developed through chemical synthesis. Due to their small size, they are easily absorbed...
