Responsible Regional Contact Point
Organisation:	CIDEM
Contact person:	Cristina Dezi
Contact details:	cdezi@cidem.gencat.net +34 93 4767210
Organisation Details
Founded (Year):	2002
No of employees:	11-50
Turnover (US $):	> 1m
Organisation Type:	University
Company (Organisation) details
A Catalan research group working in the field of synthetic organic chemistry, develops outsourcing R+D projects, synthesis of small discovery chemistry libraries, building blocks and intermediates, and finally, contract synthesis of compounds such as active pharmaceutical ingredients, intermediates, standards, metabolites, impurities, or derivatives of natural products among others.
Areas of activity:
-  Medicine, Human Health -  Biology/Biotechnology
1) Technology Offer
A New Class of Foldamers Based on cis-gamma-Amino-L-proline as new drug carriers
ABSTRACT: A Catalan university fully integrated service provider with capabilities from early discovery stages through process development. The activities undertaken by the group focus mainly on the design and synthesis of chemical libraries based on organic compounds and products of high added value, particularly for drug discovery. We have developed a synthetic method for the preparation of conformationally constrained gamma-peptides derived from gamma-amino-L-proline. The methodology allows the independent buildup of the peptide backbone and the introduction of sequential variations by reactions with the gamma-amino group of gamma-aminoproline. These gamma-peptides enter into different cell lines (COS-1 and HeLa) via an endocytic mechanism. In addition to their capacity for cellular uptake, these unnatural short length oligomers offer advantages over the well-known penetrating TAT peptide, such as being less toxic than TAT and protease resistance. The aforementioned compounds are among the smallest cell-penetrating peptidomimetics described to date. Thus, their low toxicity, proteolytic stability and, in general, good aqueous solubility suggest their potential utility as agents for drug delivery, as an alternative to other agents, such as viral delivery systems, liposomes or encapsulation in polymers among others. We are looking for companies/partners or research groups that have projects in which our gamma-peptides could be useful. DESCRIPTION: UQC-PCB has strong experience in developing diverse R+D projects where the chemistry is deeply involved addressed to Medicinal Chemistry, Agrochemical, Veterinary and Fine Chemicals. These peptides are easily synthesized and modified using solid-phase synthesis. Using the concept of chemical modulation, we are able to synthesize gamma-peptides with improved bioavailability and selectivity properties. These gamma-peptides enter into different cell lines (COS-1 and HeLa) via an endocytic mechanism. The ability of these compounds to be taken up into cells was studied at 37 °C and 4 °C by plate fluorimetry, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy. In addition to their capacity for cellular uptake, these unnatural short length oligomers offer advantages over the well-known penetrating TAT peptide, such as being less toxic than TAT and protease resistance. These peptides can have several applications such as antimicrobials, Trojan carriers, or other biological activities none described yet. INNOVATIVE ASPECTS: This peptidomimetic family has shown to be potent drug carriers due to different factors: low toxicity, its resemblance to gamma-peptides, high stability versus proteases or its ability to cross cell membrane and target different cellular departments such as nucleus. MAIN ADVANTADGES / BENEFITS: In the past few years several peptides capable of crossing the cell membrane, namely cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have been described in the literature. Moreover, many examples of macromolecules have been extensively described: branched, raft or star polymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG), poly-(L-glutamic acid) (PGA), polyglycolic acid (PGA)...), dendrimers (PLL, PAMAM, PPI, PEI …) among others. However, the family named gamma-peptides offer a great advantage over other delivery systems. Gamma-Peptides are easily synthesized and functionalized which confers versatile structures. Peptides and proteins are nevertheless limited by low protease resistance and, sometimes, low membrane permeability. Hence, gamma-peptides have greater proteolytic resistance and can adopt discrete and predictable well-defined secondary structures. CURRENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT: Development Phase INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR): Know How MARKET APPLICATIONS: Biotech and Pharmaceutical Companies TYPE OF COLLABORATION SOUGHT: Technical Co-operation PARTNER PROFILE: We are looking for a partner that would test these new carriers with some drug that shows difficulties to be delivered. Our organization will supply with diverse drug carriers and carry out their conjugation.
Market application:
-  HUMAN/ANIMAL HEALTH -  Health issue treatment
Further comments	Treatment: drug formulation / stability / delivery
Entry/Update:	2006-11-29  /  2007-01-17