Some of
the diseases in which metal ions or a metalloprotein have
been strongly implicated are Wilson and Menkes disease
(Wilson and Menkes disease proteins; copper) [14], amytrophic
lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s
disease; Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase; copper) [15], Alzheimer’s
disease (b-amyloid; aluminum, copper, zinc)
[16] and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (also known as Mad
Cow disease; prion protein; copper) [16]. The role of
bioinorganic chemistry in both the development of medicinal
agents and in the understanding of the underlying
mechanism of disease clearly indicates that the field of
‘metals in medicine’ will continue to make contributions
to advancements in human health in the 21st century.