Supramolecular Chemistry may be defined as “the design and synthesis of functional molecules”. As the subject matures, it becomes increasingly important that these functions should be genuinely useful. Opportunities exist in medicine, but the precision required and the complexity of biological media raise major challenges. This lecture will discuss two areas where discoveries with real potential have been made. The first is the design of synthetic receptors for carbohydrates, especially glucose, an important target in the context of diabetes. Research in this field has led to a system with remarkable properties, potentially enabling developments such as glucose-responsive insulin. The second is the transport of anions across cell membranes by synthetic carriers, where high activities have been demonstrated and medical applications are under active investigation. Results in both areas suggest that the rational design of functional molecules can open new avenues in medicinal chemistry, complementing the standard paradigm of lock-and-key binding to macromolecular targets.
嘉宾介绍
Professor Anthony P. Davis
英国皇家化学会会士、国际著名超分子化学家Tony’s research in supramolecular chemistry has focused mainly on the design of synthetic receptors, especially for carbohydrates and anions. His work on carbohydrate recognition has led to the creation of two companies. The first, Ziylo, was founded in 2014 and sold to Novo Nordisk in 2018 in a deal which could exceed $800m, dependent on future progress. The second, Carbometrics, was spun out of Ziylo and continues to work on carbohydrate sensing in Sciences Creates St Philips, an incubator laboratory built in Bristol by Ziylo’s founders. In 2023 he was awarded an Advanced Grant by the European Research Council (ERC) for further work on carbohydrate recognition.