At the beginning of 2006, with the financial support of Tofigh Daru Research & Engineering Company, K. N. Toosi University of Technology and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany, Peptide Chemistry Research Group at K. N. Toosi University of Technology began its work. Then in 2009, it was promoted to a research center and in 2013, to the Peptide Chemistry Research Institute.

The main goal of this research institute is to try to acquire the technical knowledge of peptide drugs and to carry out joint research projects with other colleagues of domestic and foreign universities, which fortunately has achieved great success over the past years, including achieving technical knowledge of some drugs required by the country and a large number of joint research projects with other domestic and foreign universities.

A living world is inconceivable without the presence of peptides. These seemingly small biopolymers play a major role in biological systems. Peptide hormones and neurotransmitters are the body’s main regulators. Peptide chemistry is interdisciplinary in nature and has established a good and effective relationship between disciplines such as biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmaceutical chemistry and biotechnology. It also has good potential for connection with the construction of micro-reactors, bioreactors and control engineering. Therefore, the next century has been named as the century of biological codes, and among these, peptides have found a special place due to the natural structure, diversity of biological properties, drugs and toxicity effects.

The family of peptide compounds also has a wide variety of medicinal properties, so that currently more than 240 peptide samples are in the final clinical stages and will soon occupy a large volume of the pharmaceutical market.

In view of the above, the Peptide Chemistry Research Institute has placed three research groups in its organizational chart entitled “Biocatalysts and Natural Peptides Research Group”, “New Pharmaceutical Peptides Research Group” and “Peptide Synthesis Research Group”. Accordingly, the Peptide Chemistry Research Institute is currently able to synthesize the active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) of the GnRH family of peptide drugs (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) as well as a large number of peptides with analgesic properties. Also, in recent years, by combining peptide chemistry and chemistry of biologically active heterocyclic compounds, various compounds with biologically effective properties have been synthesized in this research institute, among which we can mention the binding of analgesic heterocyclic compounds to the enkephalin peptide chain. According to the available capabilities as well as the requirements of the country, if you wish to do any of the requested items, more details will be provided.

Research to obtain technical knowledge of peptide drug production, synthesis of peptide chains with medicinal properties, presenting a new methodology in the synthesis of peptides and amino acid derivatives, holding research-training courses required by the pharmaceutical industry, helping to solve the problems of the pharmaceutical industry and cooperation together with professors from domestic and foreign universities, are the main goals of the Peptide Chemistry Research Institute.

Accordingly, the main activities of the research institute can be divided into five areas: research activities, consulting services, laboratory services, educational-research services and providing technical knowledge of peptide synthesis.

A) Research Activities:

Providing technical knowledge for the production of raw materials and final products of the country’s pharmaceutical industry, especially peptide drugs, is one of the main, current and future activities of this research institute.

B) Consulting Services:

Due to the need of the pharmaceutical industry to optimize and update production methods and solve quantitative and qualitative problems, this research institute has the ability to cooperate in this regard and provide consulting services.

C) Laboratory Services:

Due to the presence of qualified personnel and appropriate hardware facilities in the research institute, it is possible to perform laboratory services such as instrumental analysis services and synthesis of peptide compounds in different and valid ways. In this regard, by joining the nanotechnology network, it is possible to communicate with others. Research centers and companies that need this type of service are also available.

D) Educational-research Services:

Peptide Chemistry Research Institute has the ability to hold training-research courses required by various pharmaceutical industries. Also, considering the fact that one of the main problems of the pharmaceutical industry is the lack of specialized personnel in line with the research and production of new drugs, this research institute is able to train the specialized personnel required by the country’s pharmaceutical industry.