Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry

Design, synthesis and modification of natural products and biomolecules for medical research.

The diversity of biological processes requires a high variability of biomolecules and a plethora of chemical modifications for activity modulation. The group organic and bioorganic chemistry works on the synthesis, modification, and biological evaluation of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates. The group explores new technologies and combines synthetic and biotechnology methods.

The projects cover the development and optimization of processes for the synthesis of natural and modified compounds varying from small molecules to biomolecules (e. g. glycoproteins, glycolipids, and nucleic acids). In collaborations within the School of Life Sciences, our industry partners and an extended network of research institutes and universities, the group searches for new applications of these structures to treat diseases and develop diagnostic tests, adjuvants, vaccine candidates against parasitic infections, drug carriers, and carbohydrate- and peptide-based materials.