Synthesis, Surface Binding and Biological Testing of Neuritogenic Agents

• Applicant: Dr. Regina Berg
• Subject Area: Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Biological and Biomimetic Chemistry
• Term: from 2013 to 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 253282422

This interdisciplinary project proposal aims at the preparation of neuritogenic agents, their immobilization on titanium dioxide surfaces and biological evaluation with a series of neuronal cellular assays. Based on the experience of the Gademann group in the preparation of pyridone alkaloids, a truncated derivative of militarinone D will be synthesized so that it can be attached to a functionalized titanium dioxide surface. Various anchor and linker groups for the immobilization of the bioactive agent will be prepared and evaluated. Finally, biological tests in a variety of cellular assays (PC12, SH-SY5Y, primary rat neurons) will be carried out to assess the hypothesis as to whether the neuritogenic activity of the immobilized compounds is retained. Moreover, different release strategies are proposed in order to enable the space- and time-dependent delivery of the bioactive agent. In the next stage of the project, the synthetic approach to pyridone alkaloids in the Gademann group will be extended to members of the militarinone family that have not been synthesized to date. In conclusion, this proposal presents the first small-molecule approach to functionalized materials stimulating nerve regeneration, with significant ramifications to both science and society.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Host: Professor Dr. Karl Gademann