Dr. Wetzler's research utilizes peptoids (N-substituted polyglycines) as a synthetic platform for developing applications in medicinal chemistry, materials and nanotechnology. Peptoids are more easily synthesized than peptides, and retain many of the useful properties of peptides while imparting important new advantages. Medicinally, peptoids are completely resistant to proteases that rapidly cleave most peptide drugs in the blood, and they have also been synthesized with over 230 side chains compared to the natural ~20 amino acids. Advantageously for materials and nanotechnology applications, peptoid structure does not unfold at high temperatures, in organic solvents, or in extreme pH and salt conditions, unlike most proteins.
Research in the Wetzler group focuses on a range of topics, from fundamental study of peptoid structure and folding to applications in diverse fields utilizing techniques from organic chemistry and biochemistry. Specific projects include: synthetic developments to modify peptoid backbones and side chains to control structure; developing peptoids for chiral separations; utilizing peptoids as structural frameworks in medicinal chemistry; and utilizing peptoids as ligands for metal catalysis and separations. These projects and others are being pursued to capitalize upon the unique advantage of peptoids in a diverse range of disciplines.
