SBIR-STTR Award

Enzymatic Synthesis of Heparin Sulfate and Chondroitin Sulfate
Award last edited on: 2/2/2021

Sponsored Program
STTR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NIGMS
Total Award Amount
$1,933,798
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
859
Principal Investigator
Yongmei Xu

Company Information

Glycan Therapeutics LLC (AKA: Glycan Therapeutics Corporation )

617 Hutton Street Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
   (919) 977-1083
   info@glycantherapeutics.com
   www.glycantherapeutics.com

Research Institution

University of North Carolina

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R42GM128484-01
Start Date: 5/1/2018    Completed: 10/31/2018
Phase I year
2018
Phase I Amount
$224,650
This fast-track STTR application proposes to synthesize structurally defined heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides for biological research. Glycan Therapeutics is a biotech company specializing sulfated carbohydrates using innovative enzyme-based methods. This proposal is focused on the synthesis of large authentic oligosaccharides in the size range of 10-mers to 16-mers, as well as ultra-large click oligosaccharides in the size range of 30 saccharide residues long. A highly experienced research team, including Dr. Yongmei Xu (University of North Carolina), Dr. Robert Linhardt (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), and Dr. Vijayakanth Pagadala (Glycan Therapeutics), will carry out the study. Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are members of the glycosaminoglycan family present in large quantities on mammalian cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix, displaying a wide range of biological functions. This proposal is designed to serve two purposes: (i) to develop a reliable and cost-effective method to synthesize structurally defined heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and structurally controlled polysaccharides to support glycoscience research; and (ii) to simplify this technology to allow non-glycoscientists to utilize this technology in a standard biochemistry laboratory setting. Three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1 is to synthesize a library of structurally defined heparan sulfate oligosaccharides with a size of up to hexadecasaccharides (16-mers); Aim 2 is to develop novel chemoenzymatic methods to synthesize chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides; Aim 3 is to prepare structurally controlled click heparan sulfates and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides. In Phase I we will demonstrate the feasibility of making a limited number of larger heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and then click these larger oligosaccharides together to make ultra-large compounds. In Phase II we will make additional larger compounds and again click these to make ultra- large oligosaccharides. We will then make ?do-it-yourself? ligation kits available commercially. We anticipate that this proposal will provide valuable technical advances to glycoscience research.

Project Terms:
Animals; base; Biochemistry; Biological; Biological Process; biological research; Biotechnology; Blood coagulation; Carbohydrates; Cell Differentiation process; Cell surface; Chemistry; Chondroitin Sulfates; cost effective; design; Embryonic Development; Ensure; Enzymes; experience; Extracellular Matrix; Family; Generations; Glycosaminoglycans; Growth; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Human; Hybrids; Injury; innovation; Institutes; Laboratories; Legal patent; Libraries; Licensing; Ligation; Link; Mammalian Cell; Medicine; member; Methodology; Methods; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neurons; North Carolina; novel; Oligosaccharides; Outcome; Parasitic infection; Pattern; Phase; phase 2 study; Play; Polysaccharides; programs; Research; Resolution; Role; Scheme; Small Business Technology Transfer Research; Structure; success; sugar; sulfation; sulfotransferase; Technology; Therapeutic; United States National Institutes of Health; Universities; Unspecified or Sulfate Ion Sulfates; Viral; Work;

Phase II

Contract Number: 4R42GM128484-02
Start Date: 5/1/2018    Completed: 11/30/2020
Phase II year
2019
(last award dollars: 2020)
Phase II Amount
$1,709,148

This fast-track STTR application proposes to synthesize structurally defined heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides for biological research. Glycan Therapeutics is a biotech company specializing sulfated carbohydrates using innovative enzyme-based methods. This proposal is focused on the synthesis of large authentic oligosaccharides in the size range of 10-mers to 16-mers, as well as ultra-large click oligosaccharides in the size range of 30 saccharide residues long. A highly experienced research team, including Dr. Yongmei Xu (University of North Carolina), Dr. Robert Linhardt (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), and Dr. Vijayakanth Pagadala (Glycan Therapeutics), will carry out the study. Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are members of the glycosaminoglycan family present in large quantities on mammalian cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix, displaying a wide range of biological functions. This proposal is designed to serve two purposes: (i) to develop a reliable and cost-effective method to synthesize structurally defined heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and structurally controlled polysaccharides to support glycoscience research; and (ii) to simplify this technology to allow non-glycoscientists to utilize this technology in a standard biochemistry laboratory setting. Three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1 is to synthesize a library of structurally defined heparan sulfate oligosaccharides with a size of up to hexadecasaccharides (16-mers); Aim 2 is to develop novel chemoenzymatic methods to synthesize chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides; Aim 3 is to prepare structurally controlled click heparan sulfates and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides. In Phase I we will demonstrate the feasibility of making a limited number of larger heparin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and then click these larger oligosaccharides together to make ultra-large compounds. In Phase II we will make additional larger compounds and again click these to make ultra- large oligosaccharides. We will then make “do-it-yourself” ligation kits available commercially. We anticipate that this proposal will provide valuable technical advances to glycoscience research.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
Heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate are biologically important poylsaccharides in humans. This project aims to develop enzyme-based methods to synthesize both heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. The outcome from this project will offer a wide range of heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate compounds for biochemcial studies and to aid in the developmeny carbohydrate-based medicines.

Project Terms:
Animals; base; Biochemistry; Biological; Biological Process; biological research; Biotechnology; Blood coagulation; Carbohydrates; Cell Differentiation process; Cell surface; Chemistry; Chondroitin Sulfates; cost effective; design; Embryonic Development; Ensure; Enzymes; experience; Extracellular Matrix; Family; Generations; Glycosaminoglycans; Growth; Heparin; Heparitin Sulfate; Human; Hybrids; Injury; innovation; Institutes; Laboratories; Legal patent; Libraries; Licensing; Ligation; Link; Mammalian Cell; Medicine; member; Methodology; Methods; National Institute of General Medical Sciences; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neurons; North Carolina; novel; off-patent; Oligosaccharides; Outcome; Parasitic infection; Pattern; Phase; phase 2 study; Play; Polysaccharides; programs; Research; Resolution; Role; Scheme; Small Business Technology Transfer Research; Structure; success; sugar; sulfation; sulfotransferase; Technology; Therapeutic; United States National Institutes of Health; Universities; Unspecified or Sulfate Ion Sulfates; Viral; Work