Faster drug screening
Drug design is time-consuming and expensive. Identifying a promising starting molecule – a ligand – is key in the design process. A new characterisation method based on NMR spectroscopy probes the interaction of the ligand with its intended target quickly and reliably.
Matthias Bütikofer, Roland Riek and Félix Torres have invented a method, which supports drug discovery at an early stage. The researchers probe the interaction of ligand molecules and their intended targets with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy.
While NMR spectroscopy is a well-established analytical tool in many research laboratories, it has suffered so far from low signal intensity. The associated long measurement times and high sample amounts have been a disadvantage and have reeled the technique unattractive for fast drug screening.
Now the research group successfully exploits a technique, which enhances the NMR signal by several orders of magnitude. The main advantage of NMR spectroscopy, minimal assay development, now comes with a short screening time and reduced sample amounts.
In the meantime, the inventors have founded the start-up company NexMR, won Venture Kick Stage I & II awards and will develop their business within a BRIDGE project of the Swiss National Science Foundation.
Contact/Links:
Prof. Roland Riek, Biological Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Group
ETH Start-up external pageNexMR
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