CUSAT Granted Patent for Design and Synthesis of Foldamers

KOCHI:
Cochin University of Science and Technology has been granted a patent for the invention entitled ‘PAMAM DENDRIMER AND PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION THEREOF’. Dr. K. Sreekumar, Professor and Head, Department of Applied Chemistry, CUSAT and Dr. Sherlymole P.B., Associate Professor, Department of Applied Science, Model Engineering College, Thrikkakka, Kochi, are the inventors. The invention provides the design and synthesis of foldamers, which mimic biopolymer architecture, an important and challenging target in foldamer science.

The patent is for the invention of a group of nanosized multistranded dendritic foldamer that form discrete quaternary structure as in protein complex, which represents an exciting yet formidable challenge for chemistry. The homotrimer, homotetramer and homohexamer subunits in the three different types of PAMAM dendrimer molecules synthesized, adopted well- ordered conformations by intramolecular hydrogen bonding in each chain and interchain hydrogen bonding between the chains, to mimic the natural proteins.

The water soluble artificial bio-inspired synthetic systems synthesized, in polar medium appeared with globular protein morphology and each subunits possesses helical secondary structure. The particular interest is the availability of nanosized hydrophilic cavities and holes generated by enforcing stably folded helical
structure.

Many novel properties may emerge by the tunable and distinct cavities associated with the novel foldamer, and numerous applications in catalysis, separation, molecular recognition, and transportation like drug or gene delivery can be envisioned. The enzyme mimic catalytic activity of the novel foldamer have been proved by investigating different multi component reactions and the high product yield within short reaction time in each case.

Vice Chancellor Dr. K.N. Madhusoodanan congratulated and presented a letter of appreciation to Dr. K. Sreekumar and Dr. Sherlymole P.B.,. Dr. P.G. Sankaran, Pro-Vice Chancellor and Dr.Meera V., Registrar, were present on the occasion.