Molecular and nanostructured peculiarities of biological tissues in various functional states
Analyzing structural peculiarities of biological polymers at the molecular and nanosized scales (1–1000 Å) provides new possibilities to study their functioning. Revolutionary concepts in the study of nanostructured systems are being stimulated by revolutionary instrumentation related to the development of structural methods based on the use of synchrotron radiation, making it possible to investigate the structural dynamics of a functioning biological object. The first experimental study of biological tissues using synchrotron radiation was performed at VEPP-3 storage ring, and measurements are now being performed at the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute. In this brief review we describe the use of synchrotron radiation in biology and medicine in (i) fundamental programs of structural biology and (ii) medical programs.