Upscaling of laboratory synthesis (SYMO)
Synthesis
Description
The discovery of new soft materials provides fresh opportunities for the development of innovative systems in a variety of research fields. Usually novel materials, intermediates and building blocks are initially produced in lower quantities. When promising results are obtained, synthetic upscaling is required to explore further research or development, or to test a range of (research) applications.
SyMO-Chem can provide you with upscaled quantities of soft materials, or intermediates, monomers and building blocks that are required to prepare such soft materials. Depending on the particular chemistry that is involved, we can prepare multiple mgs, grams, or more. In the process, we may be able to find optimized synthetic routes or purification options.
Find hereunder examples of materials that we can work with. Note that these examples are non-limiting, as we may also be able to work with materials or chemistry that you are proposing.
- Building blocks of nature: peptides and (phospho)lipids
In the life sciences peptides are often used to give materials a recognition site for cells or enzymes, and (phospho)lipid conjugates are for example used to anchor particular molecules onto cells, micelles or nanoparticles.
SyMO-Chem has experience in preparing peptides and phospholipid derivatives, and can assist in providing larger quantities (typically multiple mg’s in this case) of peptide and/or phospholipid materials or building blocks. Examples that SyMO-Chem has in the past worked with are RGD, cRGD and MMP (an enzyme) cleavable peptides, as well as phospholipids conjugated to peptides or imaging labels (dyes, MRI-ligands). Other type of peptides or lipids we can probably also work with.
Figure 1: a conjugate of a DSPE phospholipid connected to a cRGD peptide, in this case established via a click reaction creating a triazole linker.
- Hydrogel materials
Hydrogels are used for all sorts of purposes, ranging from cosmetics to controlled release drug delivery. SyMO-Chem can be of help in providing building blocks or materials to prepare hydrogels or hydrogelators.
Figure 2: two vials filled with two hydrogels at different concentrations.
- Dyes (e.g. materials for solar cell research)
SyMO-Chem has ample experience in the preparation or conjugation of dye materials. Examples are syntheses of Cy-dyes, perylene or terrylene di-imide dyes, thiophenes, benzothiadiazoles or diketopyrrolopyrroles. The latter few mentioned classes of materials are frequently used in organic soft materials for solar cell applications.
Figure 3: Example dyes from top left counter clock-wise: a perylene di-imide, a terrylene di-imide, a diketopyrrolopyrrole derivative, a benzothiadiazole dithiophene and a benzothiadiazole-pyrrole conjugated co-polymer.
- Poly(propylene imine) (PPI) dendrimers
SyMO-Chem can prepare modified PPI-dendrimers for various types of research. PPI-dendrimers are molecules with a defined nano-scale size. On top of this, PPIs can be modified relatively easily, as they have an exterior of amine end groups that allow attachment to a wide variety of molecules.
In the past SyMO-Chem has used PPIs as platform for DNA or RNA delivery into cells, or we have used PPIs to prepare inert nanoprobes. However, and more in general, PPI-dendrimer are perfect starting point building blocks for materials for a wide range of applications.
Figure 4: the second generation of PPI dendrimer (left; DAB-Am-8) has 8 amine end groups that can be modified by, for example, amidation.
- Materials for imaging: MRI, (PARA)CEST and radiolabeling ligands
SyMO-Chem can prepare materials with appended ligands or complexes that are typically used in the field of imaging. Examples are materials containing DTPA-Gd or DOTA-Gd or DO3A-Gd complexes that are used for MRI-imaging purposes, materials that have DOTAM groups for (PARA)CEST applications, of materials with ligands suitable for radiolabeling (note that SyMO-Chem cannot perform the radiolabeling chemistry itself).
Figure 5: a benzene carboxy-tri-amide (BTA; in green left) connected to three arms, with every arm being composed of a di-peptide linker (in green) and a DTPA-Gd complex (in blue and red).
Note
SyMO-Chem will offer the trans-national access (TNA) within EUSMI, so the above described expertise, equipment and experience, as a service to EUSMI users. This means that the syntheses will be executed at the SyMO-Chem labs by SyMO-Chem researchers. Of course, the research and syntheses will be done watched over by and in close collaboration with you, the EUSMI user.
Possibilities for upscaling of laboratory synthesis or for execution of research by SyMO-Chem will be reviewed on request. Specific materials or upscaling activities that are requested or proposed in EUSMI projects can be provided by SyMO-Chem, when they are considered feasible by SyMO-Chem. SyMO-Chem synthesizes and provides materials for research purposes only.
Please do not hesitate to contact SyMO-Chem in case you have questions or remarks, especially when you are considering writing a proposal for EUSMI.
CONTACT
H.M. (Henk) Janssen, SyMO-Chem BV, the Netherlands
T: +31(0)40-2473211 or h.janssen@symo-chem.nl or h.janssen@tue.nl
Local Contacts
- Dr. Henk Janssen
