Inside-out peptides are part of a new class of isomerism

An umbrella turned inside-out

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Could an overlooked conformational contortion invalidate existing drug patents?

Large and flexible polycyclic ring systems can effectively turn themselves inside out, giving rise to an overlooked phenomenon termed ‘homeomorphic isomerisation’. This conformational process enables structures to switch between distinct forms and could have applications in metal separation and drug delivery, as well as significant implications for intellectual property.