PolyPeptide supports landmark publication on sustainable peptide synthesis

PolyPeptide’s experts Jan Pawlas and Jon Holbech Rasmussen contributed to the recent landmark publication by UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry: “Sustainability in Tides Chemistry: Green Approaches to Oligonucleotides and Oligopeptides Synthesis“.

Together with other practitioners, they provide examples of learning from and building on processes seen in biology and applying them best possible to the manufacturing of growing production volumes. As therapeutic peptides and oligonucleotides (TIDES) see increasing demand and continue to gain in importance with plentiful applications generated for positive impact, Paul Anastas, Professor in the practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University, describes Nature as the greatest source of inspiration: ”If Mother Nature took the form of a human being, we could all be assured that she would win all the Nobel Prizes in Chemistry for the rest of all time.”

With large-scale manufacture now imperative, sustainability and green chemistry have emerged as crucial considerations. The book edited by Alessandra Tolomelli, Lucia Ferrazzano, and Walter Cabri provides a toolbox for TIDES practitioners in industry and academia alike to inspire and support applied innovation with improving chemistry. It includes an overview of approaches in the art divided into two parts, one dedicated to peptides and the other to oligonucleotides, considering each category’s sustainability in productive and analytical processes as well as taking into account quality and regulatory aspects. Starting from the evolution of drug design, different synthetic approaches are analyzed, stressing sustainability goals and addressing critical points.

In Chapter 4, “Sustainable Approaches in Solid-phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS)”, PolyPeptide’s experts Jan Pawlas and Jon Holbech Rasmussen detail sustainable methods in SPPS with an integrated overview of state-of-the-art methods, highlighting advances within the entire workflow from starting materials to amino acid coupling cycle to cleaving the peptide off the polymer support to reducing hazardous materials and minimizing waste. It also addresses practical considerations like scale-up, cost, and intellectual property. Finally, they provide a perspective on future directions towards elevating SPPS as a versatile, sustainable peptide synthesis platform.

Reference:

Sustainability in Tides Chemistry: Green Approaches to Oligonucleotides and Oligopeptides Synthesis, issued by the Royal Society of Chemistry and edited by Alessandra Tolomelli; Lucia Ferrazzano; Walter Cabri. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/9781837674541. Publication date:18 Oct 2024