Seeking Surface Selective Conjugation Technologies

Kurzfassung

A large US company is looking for proposals to adapt or develop simple, selective and irreversible conjugation systems for attaching particles, polymers or active ingredients to surfaces. They are interested in technology licensing, joint development, supplier agreement, proof of concept development leading to commercialization.

Details

This company seeks expert partners to adopt chemical ligation technologies that may have been developed in other industries. In a final embodiment, the technology will effect the “anchoring” of different species to targeted outdoor surfaces.

In principle, a number of mild selective covalent coupling chemistries exist and could be adapted to solve this problem. However, the company wishes not to develop something new from concept but rather adapt a robust system developed in alternative industries. The company seeks development partners who may have reduced a selective conjugation technology to some form of commercial practice such that rapid proof of concept studies and product development can be achieved.

The company envisions different types of encapsulated particles (<35 µm) and polymers needing reactive functionalization. This need, combined with multiple target surfaces could represent significant opportunity for several partners in a new commercial space.

Conjugation systems than can selectively react with specific organic or inorganic, or cellular surfaces are all of interest.
Technologies or know how adapted from the paint, inks or dyeing sectors may be one source of innovation while bioconjugation systems for drug delivery or other uses may be another. The client is very open-minded.

Possible approaches / areas of interest might include, but are not limited to:
- bifunctional linkers
- functionalized polymers
- functionalized encapsulation technologies
- particle surface modification strategies
- functionalized lipids
- chemistries that are catalyzed by common metal ions (e.g., Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn…)
- light catalyzed chemistries
- microbe catalyzed chemistries
- chemophysical approaches.

To be favorably considered, the reactive components must be stable in water at high and low concentrations (non-toxic inhibitors are permissible) and effect their irreversible anchoring chemistry in water. The solutions must not diminish the inherent function or activity of the anchored “particle”.

The following approaches are not of interest:
- Chemistries that are incompatible with water
- Antibody or similar costly selective binding systems
- Purely conceptual or high cost approaches that are not easily scalable
- Highly toxic to living systems or with the potential for high environmental toxicity or persistence.

Technical Specifications / Specific technical requirements:
The company has a broad need to develop approaches that will allow active ingredients to remain closely associated to a variety of organic and inorganic surfaces. The concept involves anchoring the active ingredient to a surface that is at or near the intended site of action. Currently the company’s organic active ingredients are delivered in molecular form, as solid particles, or encapsulated in polymers. A variety of surfaces are possible targets. Descriptions of technologies and capabilities/ expertise from all fields are invited for consideration.

The preferred solutions will be based on existing commercial materials or technologies such that a rapid road to commercial development can be completed. Purely conceptual solutions that are not amenable to or do not currently provide access to reasonable bulk supplies of key materials are of less interest.

The successful ligation technology will:
- Be selective towards a particular surface or material
- React with said surface in an aqueous environment
- Provide strong adhesion / binding to target surface even after drying. Not attenuate the inherent activity of the bound particles
- Scalable
- Remain stable when suspended in water for up to 24 hours in the absence of the target surface.

Technologies should also:
- Be mature enough to provide a demonstration
- Be versatile such that selectivity could be tailored as needed
- Have a well-defined intellectual property position
- Remain shelf stable for 2 years.