THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA NSUKKA BIOCHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT HOSTS SOUTH EAST ZONAL CONFERENCE

The Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) between 21-23 August 2024 hosted the Nigerian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (NSBMB) during the 14th Annual South-Easth Zonal Conference (HYBRID), at the Niger Hall, Continuing Education Center (CEC), UNN.

Delivering a keynote paper at the conference, the Head, Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Prof. Eyong Ubana Eyong, Ph.D. said that ” nanotechnology, materials with high performance and unique properties have and are being developed, that traditional synthesis and manufacturing approaches could not create, stressing that, these many novel nanoparticles and nanodevices are expected to revolutionize the practice of medicine in the coming years, with an enormous positive impact on human health. He added that the human system is basically a complex molecular machine – an extremely complex system of interacting molecules, hence requires a molecular technology – nanotechnology to understand and repair it, when it malfunctions “.

Prof. Eyong, who spoke on the theme, “New Frontiers In Biochemistry And Molecular Biology”, further revealed that “the nanoparticles and nanodevices are so small that they are not recognized by the human body, hence can navigate through cell membranes beneath a critical size and are able to pass the blood – brain barrier “.

The biochemistry Don also noted that “these unique characteristics of the particles and devices allow for their use as “ferries”, to transport high potential pharmaceutics precisely to their destinations, including drug-and gender- delivery, probing DNA structures, etc”.

According to him, “the nonscaled “ferries” come in different types and categorization namely: fullerenses, polymer therapeutics such as dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, liposomes and polymer nanoparticles”.

He also intimated that “therapeutics are delivered to exact locations (precision medicine), bacteria, viruses and cancer cells are killed and damaged tissues repaired, with the use of nanomaterials and many more “.

The Head, Department of Biochemistry, UNN, Prof. Bennett C. Nwanguma, said the theme of the conference was aptly selected to address the problems bedevilling biochemistry profession in the country and hoped that the outcome of the conference would have a positive impact in the world of biochemistry “.

Present during the conference was Dr. Ikechukwu Okorie Igwenyi, NSBMB South East Zonal Coordinator, among others.

Chris Ugwuja