Advancing Bio-purification of Anti-cancer Therapeutic Peptides via Crystallization using Surface Modified Heteronucleants

Peptides are emerging as next generation therapeutics with a promise of treating cancers and metabolic disorders. This is due to their high specificity, precise targeting, small size, ease of modification, and excellent biocompatibility. Despite the acceleration of peptide drug discovery with >800 drugs in clinical trials, the separation and purification processes remain a challenge, requiring sustainable downstream processing. Thus, there is a need for more efficient purification methods to keep pace with peptide-based drug advancements. PetalPure introduces an innovative crystallization-based purification process using surface-modified heteronucleants to enhance the crystallizability of challenging anti-cancer peptides. This multidisciplinary project involves developing solubility models, size-based peptide classification, heteronucleant selection and modification, crystallization process design, and experimental frameworks for broader application. PetalPure aims to provide a more affordable alternative to chromatographic separation, eliminating the need for expensive resins and reducing solvent consumption and waste, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of Responsible Consumption and Production. Additionally, it will lower the time and cost of peptide manufacturing, facilitating wider access to affordable and effective healthcare, contributing to the SDG of Good Health and Well-being. Prof. Heng, with his extensive experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and being a leader in peptide crystallization, is an ideal supervisor for this project. Imperial, with its research excellence and experience with MSCA postdoctoral fellows, will offer a supportive environment for PetalPure. This project will play a pivotal role in making me a leading academic by allowing high-impact research, training on teaching, supervision, and other transferable skills as well as long-term collaboration opportunities with pharmaceutical industry and academics.