Main description:

Examining the chemical modification of biological polymers and the emerging applications of this technology, Chemical Modification of Biological Polymers reflects the change in emphasis in this subsection of biotechnology from the study of protein structure and function toward applications in therapeutics and diagnostics.

Highlights

The basic organic chemistry of the modification proteins, nucleic acids, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides, and their applications

New analytical technologies used to characterize the chemical modification of biological polymers

Identification of in vivo, non-enzymatic chemical modification of biological polymers

Specific chemical modifications to generate biopharmaceutical products

This book covers the basics on the organic chemistry underlying the chemical modification of biopolymers, including updates on the use of various chemical reagents. It describes the current status of chemical modification of biological polymers and emerging applications of this technology in biotechnology. These technologies are important for the manufacture of conjugate proteins used in drug delivery, for the preparation of nucleic acid microarrays, and for the preparation of hydrogels and other materials used in tissue engineering.

Contents:

Functional groups in Biological Polymers and Factor Governing Reactivity. Modification of Amino Groups in Proteins. Modification of Hydroxyl and Carboxyl Groups in Proteins. Modification of Imidazole and Indole Groups in Proteins. Modification of Sulfur-Containing Groups in Proteins. Modification of Nucleic Acids. Modification of Polysaccharides. In Vivo Non-enzymatic chemical modification of biological polymers. Proteomic Methods for the Analysis of the Modification of Biological Polymers. Chemical Methods for the Preparation of Conjugates of Biological Polymers.