Drugs Under the Microscope
By Rebecca Drew
PSYCHEDELIC images of the vitamins and drugs that fly around the human body have been revealed.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Dopamine crystals. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-3.jpg)
The series of light micrographs (LM) show striking insulin, thyroxine and St Johnâs Wort crystals that have formed eye-popping visual patterns.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Insulin crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-13.jpg)
![Light micrograph (LM) of Thyroxine crystals. The thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are tyrosine-based hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-4.jpg)
![Light micrograph (LM) of St. John's Wort crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-8.jpg)
Another shot shows brightly coloured nicotine crystals which ironically appear to resemble burning candles.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Nicotine crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-17.jpg)
Other shots give a new perspective on the readily consumed vitamin c which forms a feathery texture up close and colourful Ibuprofen crystals. The stunning light micrographs were taken by award winning photomicrographer, Dennis Kunkel.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Ibuprofen crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-16.jpg)
âIn my crystal photographs, I can visualise the crystalline birefringence of organic and biological compounds,â said Dennis.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Beta-carotene crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-9.jpg)
âI prepared all the crystals that I have photographed using polarized light in the light microscope.
âIn the preparation, I take the solid form of the compound, such as adrenaline for example and then re-crystallise it using a number of different parameters including temperature, pressure, and time.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-18.jpg)
âSometimes I combine different organic compounds to see what type of unusual crystal arrays I can create.â
Birefringence is the double refraction of light in a crystal that enables these colourful patterns to appear.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Erythromycin (antibiotic) crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-1.jpg)
âThe resulting crystal arrays are both science and art to me,â added Dennis.
![Light micrograph (LM) of Progesterone crystals. Dennis Kunkel / SPL / mediadrumworld.com](https://mediadrumworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/MDRUM_Drugs_Under_The_Microsope-19.jpg)
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