Deep Blue Medicine Library: Uncovering the Infinite Possibilities of Marine Drugs 

The vast ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and breeds more than 80% of the Earth’s species. It is a veritable “blue medicine storehouse”. From the extremely cold Arctic Ocean to the scorching deep-sea hydrothermal vents, the extremely diverse environment has created the unique physiological mechanisms and rich chemical diversity of marine organisms, and also provided humans with inexhaustible inspiration for drug research and development. This article will take you to explore the past, present and future of marine drugs and unveil the mystery of the deep blue medicine storehouse.

Looking back at history: From accidental discovery to anti-cancer pioneer

Compared with plant medicines with thousands of years of history and microbial medicines with nearly a hundred years of history, the research on marine medicines started relatively late. It was not until the 1940s and 1950s that the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute began to fund related research, and the medicinal value of marine bioactive compounds was gradually valued.

Among them, cytarabine extracted from a sponge called Cryptosporidium in the early 1950s was an important milestone in the development of marine drugs. This marine compound has been proven to have significant anti-tumor activity and has been successfully used to treat various cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and meningeal leukemia.

Another famous marine drug is ziconotide, which was approved by the US FDA in 2006 for the treatment of chronic pain. Its analgesic effect far exceeds that of traditional calcium channel blockers and can even be used as a substitute for morphine. However, its complex spinal delivery method also limits its widespread application. These early discoveries have opened up the journey of human exploration of the treasures of marine drugs.

Focus on the present: high-tech support, blooming in multiple fields

With the rapid development of biotechnology, high-throughput sequencing (HTS), genomics, proteomics and other high-tech methods have been widely used in marine drug research and development. HTS technology can directly analyze the genetic information in seawater samples without isolating or culturing individual microorganisms, greatly improving screening efficiency. Combined with technologies such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, scientists can discover and identify marine bioactive compounds more accurately and efficiently.

Currently, a variety of marine-derived drugs have been put into use or are undergoing clinical trials. For example, eribulin, a synthetic analog of trehalose B extracted from Japanese sponges, has been approved for the treatment of certain types of breast cancer and liposarcoma. Bryostatin from bryozoans is undergoing clinical trials to explore its potential for application in anti-cancer, anti-AIDS and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. These achievements fully demonstrate the great potential of marine drugs in modern medicine.

Challenges and responses: Sustainable development is the key

However, the development of marine drugs is not always smooth sailing. How to obtain sufficient marine biological resources sustainably is a major challenge facing scientists. Traditional fishing methods not only destroy the ecological balance of the ocean, but also make it difficult to ensure a stable supply required for drug production.

In order to meet this challenge, scientists are actively exploring sustainable solutions. For example, through marine and terrestrial aquaculture technology, bryozoans that produce bryostatin are artificially cultivated to meet the needs of drug production. Biotechnology methods, such as microbial fermentation and co-cultivation, also provide new ideas for the large-scale production of active compounds. In addition, semi-synthetic production and full synthesis technologies are also constantly developing, providing more options for solving drug supply problems.

Looking to the future: AI empowers deep-sea treasure hunt

Looking ahead, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to play a greater role in marine drug development. For example, using deep learning systems to predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins can accelerate the discovery of drug targets and drug design. AI can also help scientists analyze massive amounts of data and predict the relationship between the chemical structure of natural products and their biological activity, thereby more efficiently screening potential drug candidates.

The vast deep sea is a huge treasure that has yet to be fully developed. Many deep-sea invertebrates lack physical defense capabilities and immune systems, but have evolved unique chemical defense mechanisms. These chemicals may have similar properties to drug molecules, providing a new direction for the development of new drugs.

Working together to build a healthy future

The ocean is the cradle of life on Earth and an important drug resource for mankind. Facing the challenge of disease, we have reason to believe that through continuous technological innovation and sustainable development strategies, we can better utilize the gifts of the ocean and develop more safe and effective drugs to protect human health. Let us work together to explore the infinite possibilities of the deep blue drug library and build a healthy future for mankind.