Mapping interactions between Phytoglycogen and bioactive compounds for biotechnological**applications

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Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc. is an emerging Canadian company specializing in the development of novel**natural biomaterials for applications in personal care, nutrition and biomedicine. The company's proprietary**biomaterial phytoglycogen, a natural polysaccharide extracted from sweet corn, is produced as monodisperse,**biodegradable and non-toxic nanoparticle, and is safe for human use.**Due to its excellent biocompatibility and the principal capability to encapsulate small molecules,**phytoglycogen is considered an attractive platform for the development of novel delivery systems for**nutraceutically, cosmetically and pharmacologically active compounds which are poorly soluble, or cannot**transverse cell membranes on their own.**Fundamental understanding of the features of phytoglycogen that allow it to bind and carry other molecules is**essential for the development of efficient delivery systems. To assist Mirexus with the development of new**generation of products, a research team led by Professor Vladimir Ladizhansky proposes to use a method of**Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and design special screening tests that would be able to quickly determine how**strongly the target molecules interact with phytoglycogen, and further identify molecular and structural motifs**that promote interactions with phytoglycogen.**The knowledge and methodologies designed in this project would be an essential step in creating new**products. It would allow the company to focus on the development of new specific active compounds that are**more likely to interact with phytoglycogen, or to develop phytoglycogen derivatives which can interact with a**wider spectrum of bioactive compounds. Mirexus is currently building a new manufacturing facility in Guelph;**in additional to obvious benefits to health and well-being, the development of new products would help create**new jobs in both R&D and production.