Definition of ligand in English:
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.
1950s: from Latin ligandus 'that can be tied', gerundive of ligare 'to bind'.
Words that rhyme with ligandbrigand
Definition of ligand in:
- US English dictionary
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