Research Highlights

 

Chemical biology, Organic synthesis, Foldamers, Peptide self-assembly, Antimicrobial peptides.

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                                              Research Interests

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Peptidomimetics and Foldamers:

Modification of the backbone of peptides by insertion of higher homologs of α amino acids, have given rise to well folded novel structural elements, characterized both in crystals  by X-ray crystallography and in solution by NMR. Insertion of unnatural amino acid residues significantly increases proteolytic stability of the peptides. We are interested to introduce unnatural α and  β, γ, δ amino acid residues,  into α amino acid containing peptide sequences to explore the conformational possibilities of these hybrid peptides. Understanding the conformational aspect of peptides can be applied in design of peptide based drugs, drug delivery vehicles, ion channel mimics, synthetic receptors, biomimetic foldamers etc.

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Peptide self-assembly:  

Self -assembly of peptides is governed by several non-covelent forces leading to ordered structure which can be put to several applications. Our lab is interested in the development of functional materials from peptide/peptidomimetic self-assembly. We are especially interested in drug delivery and waste water management applications.

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Antimicrobial peptides:

Owing to the dearth of development of new antibiotics and the impending danger of the human civilization from antibiotic resistant microbes, development of new antimicrobials is the necessity of the hour. We are interested in developing new antimicrobial peptides and studying their mechanism of action.