Terrapin Technologies, Inc., has applied its proprietary technology in the area of molecular mimicry to the development of liquid chromatography "paralog" (paratope analog) ligands, which can be used for protein purification and analysis. Initial empirical results indicate that these ligands have novel properties compared to existing chromatographic media, as expected theoretically, and should, therefore, be useful in separating proteins from each other by criteria distinct from those currently available. Accordingly, it is anticipated that Terrapin's ligands will be useful in the initial purification of novel proteins, in the preparative scale manufacture of known proteins, and in the purity analysis of recombinant proteins intended for therapeutic applications. The research described covers examination of the degree of diversity of the novel ligands among themselves, as well as exploration of their operating characteristics when coupled to a suitable chromatographic sorbent.The potential commercial application as described by the awardee: It is anticipated that Terrapin's ligands will be used as chromatographic media by research biochemists purifying novel proteins, by pharmaceutical manufacturers purifying proteins on a preparative scale, and by Quality Assurance Laboratories assessing the purity of therapeutic proteins.
