Molecular characterization and design of bioconjugates

Bioconjugates, formed by covalently linking a biological molecule to another molecule, have become essential in medicine and biotechnology. These conjugates enhance or optimize biomolecular properties, enabling new therapeutic applications, particularly for biologics. Small therapeutic proteins and peptides pose a challenge due to their rapid clearance from the body, leading to short plasma half-lives. Bioconjugation strategies address this by either extending plasma circulation or enabling targeted immobilization in tissues. This work investigates bioconjugation through multiple approaches: (i) improving the proteolytic stability of interferon-alpha 2a through polymer conjugation, (ii) enabling systemic delivery of a myostatin-inhibiting peptide via attachment of poly(ethylene glycol) and folate targeting, (iii) immobilizing bioconjugates in tissues using transglutaminases, and (iv) developing protease-sensitive linkers for selective drug release or diagnostic applications. These approaches demonstrate the v