ligand
/ˈlɪɡ(ə)nd
/noun
1 Chemistry An ion or molecule attached to a metal atom by coordinate bonding.The bonding between the ligand and the metal ion is intermediate between covalent and electrostatic....
- Ligand field theory, like crystal field theory, concentrates on what happens when ligands split the central metal atom's inner orbitals.
- Furthermore, the molecular arrangement of the three citrate ligands allows the possible introduction of other catalytic metal centres.
1.1 Biochemistry A molecule that binds to another (usually larger) molecule.Inside the human body, there are mu, Kappa, and delta opiate receptors, to which the enkephalins and endorphins bind as ligands....
- They are also biocompatible, and their surfaces can be modified to attach antibodies or other ligands that could be used to target the nanoparticles to specific tissues.
- It remains to be seen if the surface of the micelle can be used to target macromolecules or ligands of interest, in order to penetrate cells and pinpoint their constituents.
Origin
1950s: from Latin ligandus 'that can be tied', gerundive of ligare 'to bind'.