The project aims to develop amino- and imino-based podand and macrocycle receptors for the biomimetic (non-covalent) recognition of biologically relevant carbohydrates. Recent advances in our group have led to synthetic receptors that targeting glycans are biologically active in several context, from antiviral compounds against enveloped health risk viruses to apoptotic agents against cancer cell lines. Objectives of this project are the design and synthesis of new receptors and the determination and characterization of their binding properties using spectroscopic and calorimetric techniques with particular reference to NMR and ITC.
Information about the related PhD position and how to apply are available here.