91162 - Bioactive Peptides, from Science to Industry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has acquired knowledge on the uses of bioactive peptides, proteins, antibiotics, hormones of therapeutic interest in the biological and pharmaceutical fields. The student has  deepened the techniques for the syntheses of these compounds in the laboratory and at the industrial level, and for their analysis and structural investigation. The student has also understood the relationship between structure and function, the foundations of principles and mechanism of action in the interaction between bioactive peprides and the respective receptors, strategies for modifying the pharmacokinetic properties, and their applications.

The course is also aimed at training graduates who can interact on medium-term processes and in more applicative sectors (e.g. agro, veterinary, zootechnical, cosmetic and medical devices) and in the perspective of the green economy and the circularity of processes.

Course contents

Peptides, small proteins, and synthetic analogues of industrial interest

Socio-economic context, international and national markets

Structure and function.

Synthesis and production in laboratory: liquid phase synthesis, solid phase synthesis

Industrial preparations: enzymatic, recombinant, combinatorial.

Preparation of peptides in the perspective of Green Economy and Circular Economy.

Native Chemical Ligation for the production of modified proteins

Principles and mechanism of action of API peptides and receptors, enzymes, o membranes.

Peptidomimetic strategy

Principles of drug design of peptides and analogues

Applications of peptides and synthetic analogues in pharmaceutics, medicine, biotechnology:

antibiotics, antitumorals, hormons, antivirals/antiHIV, opioids, integrin ligands, biomaterials per artificial tissues and sensors; self-assembly nanostructures; drug delivery systems; peptides for agro, veterinary, cosmetics and medical devices sectors.

Readings/Bibliography

Introduzione alla Chimica Farmaceutica, Patrick, Edises

 

Peptidi e Peptidomimetici, Santagada, Caliendo, PICCIN

Teaching methods

frontal lesson with power-point. Exercises in itinere, group work. Preparation of a paper on a theme addressed during the lessons, to deepen particular aspects, chosen by the student, but to be agreed with the teacher.

Assessment methods

The assessment of learning takes place through final oral exam, which ascertains the knowledge and skills achieved. Initially, the student presentats a paper on a topic addressed during the lessons, to explore particular aspects. The topic of the report is chosen by the student and must be communicated beforehand to the teacher. The examination continues with an exercise on the blackboard that is aimed at solving a problem of synthesis. This second test is followed by a question on the theory. The score is calculated for 50% based on the presentation of the paper. The originality, rigor and clarity, and adherence to the formats of international scientific journals are rewarded. Another 25% is defined on the basis of the outcome of the exercise, for the remaining 25%, from the interrogation on the theory. The total duration of the oral exam is on average 25 minutes. On request the student can ask for a written test.

Teaching tools

power point slides as a pdf file

Office hours

See the website of Luca Gentilucci