Astro Pharmacy | Drugs in Space

 

By GM Hammad

Astro Pharmacy – An Introduction

There are many aspects of Pharmacy hidden from those who aren’t interested to explore them. Pharmacists have been working with the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) as Astro Pharmacists since the very beginning of the era of discoveries and innovations. NASA needs pharmacists for the medicines required during space missions. Having right medicines onboard for the minor ailments and emergency situations is very crucial. Pharmacists play a very vital role by preparing medical kits for astronauts which are the only possibility of their survival in space, this highlights the importance of Pharmacist and pharmaceutical services in space expeditions.

Challenges to Astro Pharmacy

The medical kits have a certain short life span then they expire, So, this is very taxing condition for the astro pharmacists as resupply is not possible for the reason that there is millions kilometers distance in space from earth. Pharmacists are burning the midnight fuel to invoke revolutionary breakthroughs in medicines for extending their shelf-life. But there is another concern that injectables are not convenient in space travels as they cannot be used in emergency situations as astronauts wear space suits which are not easy to remove quickly and if they attempt to do so, the radiations in space will destroy their bodies in seconds. Additionally, the use of medical devices is also problematic because of the micro-gravity and other forces in space. Pharmacists are also striving for overcoming the bulkiness of medicines, reducing their mass and volume as they are not suitable to be carried for space operations. The job of Astro Pharmacists is very challenging as the body physiology changes drastically in space especially vision, cardio-vascular system, musculoskeletal system, respiratory system along with the disturbed blood supply to different body parts, so the drugs do not work in space the same way as they do on Earth leading to colossal complexities in manufacturing medicines for space explorations.

Breakthroughs in Astro Pharmacy

Astro Pharmacists are contriving to conjure an upheaval in medicines and prepare them synthetically from natural products in space. Astronauts can get pharmaceuticals from genetically engineered micro-organisms and plants. This technology can enable modified plants to produce medicines in less than a day. Pharmacists have prepared medicines with extended-release actions for astronauts to be taken od. (Once a day), because they cannot take multiple pills throughout day. They have also prepared drug depots that are implanted in the astronauts GI to deliver multiple doses for extended period. Medicines are rapidly degraded due to the gamma radiations in space so the Pharmacists have decided to give meds a protective coat to prevent damage caused by gamma rays, they are doing experiment by applying coating of thin layer of silk proteins on medicines. Researchers are planning to digitally monitor the pharmacokinetics of astronauts and the effects of radiation on their body, this will lead to the production of more potent medicines for them. Astro Pharmacy has applications on earth too, the microgravity concept has lead to the strong innovations in oncology medicines and vaccinations against Salmonella and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Future of Astro Pharmacy

Astro Pharmacy is a game changing technology for space expeditions. The dosage forms and doses for astronauts are needed to be analyzed carefully requiring a competent Astro Pharmacist. Moreover, the International Space Station (ISS) and Space Research Institutes along with NASA are considering it crucial for Astro-Pharmacist to travel in space and manufacture onboard medicines and monitor the health conditions of space exploration team more closely and precisely. Astro Pharmacist are ready to land on moon very soon, curing diseases out of this world, providing care and pharmaceutical services in space. Pharmacists are also part of the Mars mission and will soon be functioning to provide services on Mars. The conclusion is role of pharmacist is mandatory and crucial for the space travels