Cover Feature: Selective Dissolution of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystals Using a Pyrophosphate Specific Receptor (ChemBioChem 21/2024)

In article 10.1002/cbic.202400319, Simon H. Friedman and co-workers have shown that a di-zinc complex (green circles and purple lines) can selectively dissolve crystalline calcium pyrophosphate (blue circles and red/orange space filling structure), while minimally dissolving hydroxy apatite, the main inorganic component of bone (cyan). It is effective because the complex pre-organizes electrostatically complementary zinc ions which then displace the crystalline calcium ions. Calcium pyrophosphate is the causative agent in pseudo-gout, a disease that affects millions.