TL;DW:
Due to various molecular configurations (aka polymorphs), currently known medicines when contaminated with a catalyst seed molecule/particle can become irreversibly unreproducible via chained-contaminations.

  • the contamination can cause the existing configurations to become more stable in a negative fashion where the medicine/compounds no longer work they way we expect them to.

This system of contamination and reproduction acts in similar fashion to viral infections.


Current Solutions:

  • better clean room procedures for all steps of medicine manufacturing.
  • pour more money into medicine polymorph research.
  • _stranger_@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    16 days ago

    It’s just a visual analogy. Once aluminum is infiltrated by the gallium it can’t be reverted, only removed/replaced.

    • flying_sheep@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      15 days ago

      Not only visual, it’s the exact same thing: polymorphism. It’s therefore an extremely relevant and fitting thumbnail, and chuckleslord is a fool for assuming otherwise without giving the video a shot.