Universiteit Gent

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Annemieke Madder

Kurt Hoogewijs

Richard Hoogenboom

Lieselot Carrette

Steven Ballet

Marleen Van Troys

Annelies Deceuninck

Willem Vannecke

Eirini Antonatou

Christophe Ampe

Benedikt J Sas

Sarah De Saeger

Sabina Smolen

Dimitris Kalaitzakis

Georgios Vassilikogiannakis

Charlotte Martin

Vincent Ornelis

Andreja Rajkovic

Ewout De Geyter

The present invention in general relates to the field of bioconjugation. More in particular, the invention relates to novel bioconjugation reactants based on an α,β unsaturated γ-hydroxylactam structure, amongst others allowing a higher degree of functionalization compared to classical bioconjugation reactants such as maleimide. The present invention also provides methods of preparing the novel bioconjugation reactants, as well as uses thereof in human and/or veterinary medicine; and conjugation processes.

Bioconjugation reagent and methods

The present invention provides peptide hydrogelators capable of forming hydrogels as carriers of active ingredients and acting as sustained or controlled release drug delivery systems.

Hydrogel-forming composition for controlled release

The present invention relates to synthetic receptors for ionophoric compounds, such as ionophoric toxins. Hence, the invention provides synthetic molecules capable of binding different ionophoric compounds, thereby being suitable for use in the detection, isolation and detoxification of such ionophoric compounds. The present invention further provides the use of such synthetic receptors in human and veterinary medicine, such as in the diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment of disorders caused by such ionophoric compounds. Finally, the invention provides methods of preparing such synthetic receptors for ionophoric compounds.

Synthetic receptors for ionophoric compounds

The present invention relates to a method for covalently binding a cell surface protein and a ligand, the ligand being capable of specifically binding to the cell surface protein, the method consisting essentially of contacting the living cells expressing the cell surface protein with the ligand comprising at least one furan moiety, thereby covalently binding the cell surface protein and the ligand.

Methods for covalently binding a cell surface protein and a ligand

The present invention relates to a method for site-selective coupling of a first agent to a second agent, comprising the steps of: contacting a first agent comprising at least one furan moiety with an activation signal and with a second agent comprising at least one hydrazine moiety or at least one hydroxylamine moiety, thereby activating said furan moiety to an activated furan moiety; and reacting said activated furan moiety with the hydrazine moiety or the hydroxylamine moiety, thereby site-selectively coupling said first agent to said second agent.

Methods for the site-selective coupling of a first agent to a second agent

Provided are hydrogel-forming peptides that comprise at least one dyad of hydrophobic amino acid residues in which one is a &#x3b2;- or &#x3b2;-homo amino acid residue. The hydrogels derived from these peptides can be loaded with biological materials and can be used in physiological conditions.

Hydrogel-forming peptides

The present invention relates to a method for cross-linking peptides using an activated furan-moiety. In particular, the present invention provides a method for cross-linking peptides comprising the steps of: a) providing a composition comprising furan-peptides, said furan-peptides comprising at least one amino acid comprising a furan-moiety; b) contacting said composition comprising furan-peptides with second peptides, thereby obtaining a mixture comprising furan-peptides and second peptides; c) adding an activation signal to said mixture of step b), thereby activating said furan-peptides to activated furan-peptides, and d) reacting said activated furan-peptides with said second peptides, thereby cross-linking said activated furan-peptides with said second peptides.

Method for cross-linking peptides

Growing community of inventors

Massemen, Belgium

Annemieke Madder