Mapping interactions between Phytoglycogen and active compounds for biomedical applications

Mirexus生物技术公司是一家新兴的加拿大公司，该公司开发了一种从玉米中提取的新型生物材料，称为植物糖原。这种全天然生物材料具有独特的性能，使其性能超过目前用于制药、护肤和天然保健品的人造(即合成)分子。具体地说，植物糖原是无毒的，可以与其他小分子相互作用并包裹，并可以进入我们的细胞；因此，它可以被用作安全的“输送系统”。例如，它可以用来将药物输送到原本无法进入的细胞中。然而，在将植物糖原用于这一目的之前，需要更多地了解它是如何与其他小分子相互作用的。由物理学教授弗拉基米尔·拉迪占斯基博士领导的一个研究小组提议设计一套新的筛选测试，利用圭尔夫大学先进的分子成像技术(即核磁共振)。他们的目标是利用这些测试来快速和准确地找出植物糖原与感兴趣的分子相互作用的强度，并确定使其他分子能够以所需方式与植物糖原相互作用的特定结构属性。该项目中设计的新方法以及它们将实现的知识是必不可少的；它们代表了在开发基于植物糖原的新产品之前必须完成的关键的第一步。所获得的知识将使Mirexus生物技术公司能够将产品开发重点放在最有可能与植物糖原相互作用的分子上。这也将使他们能够设计新版本的植物糖原，可以与更广泛的生物活性分子相互作用。最终，拟议的研究将使Mirexus BioTechnologies Inc.能够开发新产品、进入新市场、增加收入，并在研发、制造和销售方面创造新的就业机会--同时为加拿大人提供更安全、更有效的美容和保健产品。

Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc. is an emerging Canadian company that has developed a novel biomaterialextracted from corn, called phytoglycogen. This all-natural biomaterial has unique properties that enable it tooutperform human-made (i.e, synthetic) molecules that are currently used in pharmaceuticals, and skin care andnatural health products. Specifically, phytoglycogen is non-toxic, can interact with and envelop other smallmolecules, and can enter into our cells; therefore, it can be used as a safe "delivery system." For example, it canbe used to shuttle medications into cells that they would not have otherwise been able to enter. However,before phytoglycogen can be used for this purpose, more needs to be known about how it interacts with othersmall molecules.A research team led by Physics Professor Dr. Vladimir Ladizhansky proposes to design a new set of screeningtests that take advantage of the advanced molecular imaging techniques (i.e., Nuclear Magnetic Resonance)available at the University of Guelph. They aim to use these tests to quickly and accurately find out howstrongly phytoglycogen interacts with molecules of interest, and to determine the specific structural propertiesthat enable other molecules to interact with phytoglycogen in the desired ways.The novel methods designed in this project, and the knowledge that they will enable, are essential; theyrepresent the critical first step that must be completed before new phytoglycogen-based products can bedeveloped. The knowledge gained will enable Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc. to focus product development onthe molecules that are most likely to interact with phytoglycogen. It will also enable them to design newversions of phytoglycogen that can interact with a wider spectrum of bioactive molecules. Ultimately, theproposed research will enable Mirexus Biotechnologies Inc. to develop new products, enter new markets,increase revenue, and create new jobs in research and development, as well as manufacturing and sales-allwhile providing safer and more effective beauty and healthcare products for Canadians.