Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering

The Institute of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering was established in 2014 at the Agricultural University of Georgia. The institute's employees have over 45 years of experience in organic and high molecular chemistry and molecular engineering. They have developed new polycondensation methods for synthesizing polymers, known as "activated" and "silyl" polycondensations. Using these methods, they have obtained nearly all major classes of heterochain polymers, including polyamides, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyurea, and polyheteroarylenes.

Particularly valuable are the original high molecular systems (polymers) developed by the institute's employees, which are based on natural α-amino acids and other non-toxic building blocks such as α-oxyacids, aliphatic diols, and dicarboxylic acids—these are known as biomimetic polymers. Various classes of biomimetics have been created, including polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, and different classes of pseudoproteins such as poly(ester amides), poly(ester urethanes), poly(ester ureas), and their co-polymers. In addition to this chemical diversity, three types of pseudoproteins can be synthesized: (I) Non-functional polymers: These do not contain functional groups in their macromolecules. (II) Functional polymers: These contain various types of functional groups (hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, epoxy, saturated bonds, etc.) capable of undergoing different chemical or photochemical transformations. (III) Ionic polymers: These include polycations and polyanions.

The distinguishing feature of pseudoproteins, compared to canonical α-amino acid polymers such as naturally occurring polypeptides and proteins with protein molecular architecture, as well as synthetic polyamino acids, lies in their macromolecular structure. In pseudoproteins, α-amino acids are arranged non-canonically, and they contain different types of chemical bonds other than peptides. In other words, pseudoproteins have a non-proteinaceous molecular architecture. This characteristic makes pseudoproteins non-immunogenic, which makes them particularly attractive for biomedical applications as biocompatible, bioassimilable (similar to proteins), and biodegradable (absorbable) surgical materials and drug delivery/controlled release systems. Such systems also hold great potential in agriculture and the food industry, as well as in the development of eco-friendly materials.

It is important to note that pseudoproteins are characterized by a reasonable rate of biodegradation, achieved by including easily hydrolyzable ester bonds in the macromolecular chains. Various ester class polymers—such as poly(ester amides), poly(ester urethanes), and poly(ester ureas)—have been synthesized. These polymers exhibit a wide range of chemical, physicochemical, biochemical, and mechanical properties.

Compared to commercially successful biodegradable polymers (mainly polyesters) on the market, pseudoproteins exhibit several positive properties: (a) Enzyme-specific groups: These ensure enzyme-catalyzed biodegradation; (b) Availability and cost-effectiveness: The raw materials and monomers required for their synthesis are readily available and inexpensive; (c) Low melting points and solubility: With melting points ranging from 60-180°C and solubility in common organic solvents (such as ethanol, isopropanol, chloroform, methylene chloride, acetone, tetrahydrofuran, etc.), they are easily processed into products. (d) Diverse material properties: They exhibit a wide range of material properties, from water-soluble polymers, hydrogels, and micelle-forming amphiphilic polymers to hydrophobic, viscous, adhesive-forming, and bone-like super-strong materials. Pseudoproteins readily form micro- and nanoparticles, which show promise as drug-carrying/targeted delivery containers, nanofibers with great potential for medical applications, and porous films that serve as scaffolds for cell cloning. Additionally, the use of pseudoproteins is promising in the food industry, agriculture, agricultural product storage, and the production of widely used eco-friendly items.

The employees of the institute have received numerous international and national grants and have been invited to conduct research at American and European universities. In 2017, the director of the institute, Prof. R. Katsarava, was awarded the Gold Medal of the International Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as the best inventor. That same year, Prof. Katsarava was recognized as the best scientist of Georgia. In 2018, he received the Svante Arrhenius International Prize, and in 2019, he was elected as a member (academician) of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. In 2021, a group of institute employees (R. Katsarava, D. Tugushi, V. Beridze) was awarded the National Prize of Georgia for the development and implementation of pseudoproteins.

The institute operates a molecular engineering laboratory.

Ksovreli, M., Kachlishvili, T., Mtiulishvili, T., Dzmanashvili, Batsatsashvili, T., Zurabiani, K., Tughushi, D., Kantaria,Tem., Nadaraia, L., Rusishvili L., Piot, O., Terryn, C., Tchelidze, P., Katsarava, R., Kulikova, N. (2023). Leucine-based Pseudo-Proteins (LPPs) as Promising Biomaterials:  A Study of Cell-Supporting Properties.

Kantaria, T., Baduashvili, L., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2021). Metronidazole-Loaded Pseudo-Protein Microspheres for Intravaginal Drug Delivery: Evaluation of Drug Encapsulation Efficiency and Drug Release. Bull. Georgian Nat. Acad. Sci., 15 (1), 76-82.

Zavradashvili, N., Kobauri, S., Puiggali, J., Katsarava, R. (2021). Functionalized Polymers: Functional Pseudo-Proteins (Review). Book chapter. In "Functionalized Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications", edited by the Dr. N.S.Chauhan, CRC press (Taylor and Francis) USA.

Zavradashvili, N., Otinashvili, G., Kantaria, T., Kupatadze, N., Tugushi, D., Saghyan, A., Mkrtchyan, A., Poghosyan, S., Katsarava, R. (2021). New Cationic Polymers Composed of Non-Proteinogenic α-Amino Acids. In: Advanced Materials, Polymers, and Composites:  New Research on Properties, Techniques, and Applications. Chapter 19. O.Mukbaniani, T.Tatrishvili, M.J.M. Abadie, Eds. Apple Academic Press (AAP)

Katsarava, R. (2021). Pseudo-Proteins and Related Synthetic Amino Acid-Based Polymers Promising for Constructing Artificial Vaccine. In: Synthetic Peptide Vaccine Design Synthesis, Purification, Characterization Methods and New Generation Models. Chapter 10.  M.Karahan, Ed. CRC press (Taylor and Francis) USA

Katsarava, R., Kantaria, Ten., Kobauri, S. (2021). Pseudo-proteins and related synthetic amino acid based polymers (Review). Mater, J. Educ., 43 (1-2), 33-80

Zavradashvili, N., Otinashvili, G., Tugushi, D., Kantaria, Ten., Kantaria, Tem, Kupatadze, N., Chkhaidze, E., Nepharidze,  N., Saghyan, A., Mkrtchyan, A., Poghosyan, S., Katsarava, R. (2021). Synthesis of Pseudoproteins Based on Nonproteinogenic α-Amino Acids. Bull. Georgian Nat. Acad. Sci., 15(3), 41-47.

Zavradashvili, N., Puiggali, J., Katsarava, R. (2020). Artificial polymers made of α-amino acids – Poly(Amino Acid)s, Pseudo-Poly(Amino Acid)s, Poly (depsipeptide)s, and Pseudo-Proteins, Current Pharm.Design.,  26 (5), 566-593

https://doi.org/10.2174/1381612826666200203122110

Zhang, W., Kantaria, T., Zhang, Y., Kantaria, T., Kobauri, S., Tugushi, D., Brücher, V., Katsarava, R., Eter, N., Heiduschka, P. (2020). Biodegradable nanoparticles based on pseudo-proteins show promise as carriers for ophthalmic drug delivery. J. Ocular Pharmacol. Therap. 36(6), 1-12 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2019.0148 

Ochkhikidze, N., Titvinidze, G., Gverdtsiteli, M., Otinashvili, G., Tugushi, D., Katsa­­rava, R. (2020). Synthesis of AABB-polydepsipeptides, poly (ester amide)s and functional polymers on the basis of O,O-diacyl-bis-glycolic acids.  J. Macromol.Sci., Part A, Pure & Appl. Chem. 57(12), 854–864

 

https://doi.org/10.1080/10601325.2020.1800411

Tsiklauri, G., Kantaria, Tem., Kantaria, Ten., Katsarava, R., Titvinidze, G. (2020). Synthesis of novel main-chain azo-benzene poly(ester amide)s via interfacial polycondensation. Int. J. Appl. Chem., 7(2), 63-69.

Moxon, S. R., Ferreira,  M. J. S., dos Santos, P., Popa, B., Gloria, A.,  Katsarava, R.,  Tugushi, A. C.,  Serra, N., Hooper, M., Kimber, S. J., Fonseca, A.C., Domingos, M. A. N. (2020). A Preliminary Evaluation of the Pro-Chondrogenic Potential of 3D-Bioprinted Poly(ester urea) Scaffolds. Polymers, 12, 1478 doi:10.3390/polym12071478

Kantaria, Tem., Kantaria, Ten., Kobauri, S., Zhangb, W., Eter, N., Heiduschka, P., Kezeli, A., Chichua, G., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2020). Pseudoprotein-based nanoparticles show promise as carriers for ophthalmic drug delivery. Ann. Agrarian Sci.  18 43–53

Yousefzade, O., Katsarava, R., Puiggalí, J. (2020). Biomimetic Hybrid Systems for Tissue Engineering. Biomimetics 5 49; doi:10.3390/biomimetics5040049

Díaz, A., del Valle, L.J., Rodrigo, N., Casas, M.T., Chumburidze, G., Katsarava, R., Puiggali, J. (2020) Antimicrobial Activity of Poly(ester urea) Electrospun Fibers Loaded with Bacteriophages. Book chapter 8, Current Perspectives on Chemical Sciences 5 97-116.

Wang, Y., Zavradashvili, N., Wang, Y., Pietropaolo, A., Song, Z., Bando, M., Katsarava, R., Nakano, T. (2020).  Optically Active Polymers with Cationic Units Connected through Neutral Spacers: Helical Conformation and Chirality Transfer to External Molecule. Macromolecules 53 (22) 9916–9928. 

Kharadze, D., Omiadze, T., Kirmelashvili, L., Katsarava, R. (2020). Artificial Polymers Made of α-Amino Acids – Biomimetics of Proteins. Proc. Georgian Nat. Acad. Sci., Biomed. Series, 46 5-6.

Puiggalí, J., del Valle, L.J.,  Katsarava, R. (2019). Other miscellaneous materials and their nanocomposites, Chapter 10. In “Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites”.  Niranjan Karak Ed. Elsevier, 353-398.

Zavradashvili, N., Sarisozen, C., Titvinidze, G., Kantaria, Teng., Tugushi, D., Puiggali, J., Torchilin, V., Katsarava. R. (2019).  Library of Cationic Polymers Composed of Polyamines and Arginine as Gene Transfection Agents, ACS Omega, 2090-2101

   

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.8b02977

Kobauri, S., Kantaria, Tem., Kupatadze, N., Kutsiava, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2019). Pseudo-proteins: A new family of biodegradable polymers for sophisticated biomedical applications, Nano Technology & Nano Science Journal, 1(1): 37-42 Journal Impact Factor: 1.48

Kantaria, Tem., Kantaria, Ten., Kobauri, S., Ksovreli, M., Kachlishvili, T., Kulikova, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2019). A new generation of biocompatible nanoparticles made of resorbable poly (ester amide)s, Ann. Agrarian Sci., 17 49-58.

Lebedev, D. S., Kryukova, E.V., Ivanov, I. A., Egorova, N. V., Timofeev, N. D., Spirova, E.N., Tufanova, E. Yu., Kudryavtsev, D. S., Kasheverov, I. E., Zouridakis, M., Katsarava, R., Zavradashvili, N., Iagorashvili, I., Tzartos, S. J., Tsetlin, V.I. (2019). Oligoarginine Peptides, a New Family of nAChR Inhibitors. Molec. Pharmacol. September 6. 

DOI: 10.1124/mol.119.117713.

Puiggalí, J., Díaz, A., Katsarava, R. (2018) Bio-based aliphatic polyesters from dicarboxylic acids and related sugar and amino acid derivatives. In “Biodegradable and biocompatible polymer composites”. Navinchandra Shimpi Ed. Elsevier, Chapter 11, pp. 317-349. DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-08-100970-3.00011-0.

Kantaria, Ten., Kantaria, Tem., Titvinidze, G., Otinashvili, G., Kupatadze, N., Zavradashvili, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2018). New 1,2,3-Triazole Containing Polyesters via Click Step-Growth Polymerization and Nanoparticles Made of Them.  Int. J. Polym. Sci.,V, Article ID 6798258.

 

https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6798258

Díaz, A., del Valle, L.J., Rodrigo, N., Casas, M.T., Chumburidze, G., Katsarava, R., Puiggali, J. (2018). Antimicrobial Activity of Poly(ester urea) Electrospun Fibers Loaded with Bacteriophages. Fibers, 6, 33; doi:10.3390/fib6020033.

Lamas, M.L., Lima, M.S., Pinho, A.C., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R., Costa, E., Correia, I.J., Serra, A.C., Coelho, JF.J., Fonseca, A.C. (2018). Towards the development of miscible poly(ε-caprolactone)/ poly(ester amide)s electrospun mats. Polymer.

 

DOI 10.1016/j.polymer.2018.07.050.

Calman, F., Pelit, P., Arayici, H.K., Buyukbayraktar, M., Karahan, Z., Mustafaeva, Katsarava, R. (2018). Development of Vaccine Prototype Against Zika Virus Disease of Peptide-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Cytotoxicity. Intern. J. Peptide Res. Therap. Doi:10.1007/s10989-018-9753-2 

Kobauri, S., Otinashvili, G., Kantaria, T., Tugushi, D., Kharadze, N., Kutsiava, J., Puiggali,  Katsarava, R. (2018). New amino acid based biodegradable poly (ester amide)s via bis-azlactone chemistry. J.Macromol.Sci., Part A, Pure & Appl. Chem. 677-690. Journal Impact Factor 1.871

 

https://doi.org/10.1080/10601325.2018.1513776

ხატისაშვილი, გ., ლომიძე, ე., ელიზბარაშვილი, ე. (2017).  სახალისო ქიმიური ექსპერიმენტები. თბილისი, საქართველოს მაცნე, (სახელმძღვანელო).

Puiggalí, J., Katsarava, R. (2017). Bionanocomposites. In Clay-Polymer Nanocomposites, Ch. 7, Kh. Jlassi, M.M. Chehimi, S. Thomas, Eds., Elsevier Publihser. 

Zavradashvili, N., Jokhadze, G., Gverdtsiteli, M., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2017). Biodegradable functional polymers composed of naturally occurring amino acids (Review). Res Rev Polym. 8(1), 105-128.

Kantaria, Tem., Kantaria, Ten., Kobauri, S., Ksovreli, M., Kachlishvili, T., Kulikova, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2017). In vitro biocompatibility and cell permeability study of biodegradable nanoparticles made of amino acid based poly (ester amide). J. Chem. Eng. Process Technol., 8:4 (Suppl).

Kantaria, Ten., Kantaria, Tem., Otinashvili, G., Kupatadze, N., Zavradashvili, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2017). Synthesis of new biodegradable clicking polyesters via tricomponent step-growth polymerization. J. Chem. Eng. Process Techn., 8:4 (Suppl).

Memanishvili, T., Kupatadze, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R., Wattananit, S., Hara, N., Tornero, D., Kokaia, Z. (2016). Generation of cortical neurons from human induced-pluripotent stem cells by biodegradable polymeric microspheres loaded with priming factors. Biomed. Mater. 11, 025011. doi:10.1088/1748-6041/11/2/025011.

del Valle, L.J., Franco, L., Katsarava, R., Puiggalí, J. (2016). Electrospun biodegradable polymers loaded with bactericide agents.,  52-87.

10.3934/molsci.2016.1.52. AIMS Molecular Science,  3(1)

Katsarava, R., Kulikova, N., Puiggalí, J. (2016). Amino Acid Based Biodegradable Polymers – promising materials for the applications in regenerative medicine (Review). J. J. Regener. Med., 1(1): 012.

Kantaria, Tem., Kantaria, Teng., Kobauri, S., Ksovreli, M., Kachlishvili, T., Kulikova, N., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2016). Biodegradable nanoparticles made of amino acid based ester polymers: preparation, characterization, and in vitro biocompatibility study. Appl. Sci. 6, 444; doi:10.3390/app6120444

ოჩხიკიძე, ნ., მათითაიშვილი, თ., დიდებულიძე, კ., ელიზბარაშვილი, ე. (2016). ახალი არატოქსიკური ფრაგმენტების შემცველი აზომეთინები.  საქართველოს მეცნიერებათა ეროვნული აკადემია. ქიმიისა და ქიმიური ტექნოლოგიების განყოფილება. გვ-70-71. თბილისი

Díaz, A., del Valle, L.J., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R., Puiggalí, J. (2015). New poly (ester urea) derived from L-leucine: electrospun scaffolds loaded with antibacterial drugs and enzymes.  Materials Science and Engineering C, 46 450–462.

Katsarava, R., Puiggali, J. (2015). Leucine Based Polymers: Synthesis and Applications. Book chapter in: Leucine: Biology, Consumption and Benefits. Biochemistry Research Trends, S.R. Newman, Ed., NOVA Sci. Publisher.

Murase, S.K., Lv, L.-P., Kaltbeitzel, A., Landfester, K., del Valle, L.J., Katsarava, R., Puiggali, J., Crespy, D. (2015). Amino acid-based poly (ester amide) nanofibers for tailored enzymatic degradation prepared by miniemulsion-electrospinning. RSC Adv., 5, 55006-55014. DOI: 10.1039/C5RA06267E

Murase, S.K., del Valle, L.J., Kobauri, S., Katsarava, R., Puiggalí, J. (2015). Electrospun fibrous mats from a L-phenylalanine based poly (ester amide): Drug delivery and accelerated degradation by loading enzymes, Polym. Degrad. Stabil., 119, 275-287.

Kharadze, D., Memanishvili, T., Mamulashvili, K., Omiadze, T., Kirmelashvili1, L., Lomtatidze, Z., Katsarava, R. (2015). In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Study of Some New Arginine-based Biodegradable Poly (Ester Urethane)s and Poly (Ester Urea)s. J. Chem. Chem. Eng. 9, 524-532 doi: 10.17265/1934-7375/2015.08.008

Zavradashvili, N., Memenishvili, T., Kupatadze, N., Baldi, L., Shen, X., Tugushi, D., Wandrey, C., Katsarava, R. (2014). Cell compatible arginine containing cationic polymer: one-pot synthesis and preliminary biological assessment. Springer Book Series-Advances in experimental medicine and biology: Infectious  Diseases and Nanomedicine, 59-73.

Memanishvili, T., Zavradashvili, N., Kupatadze, N., Tugushi, D., Gverdtsiteli, M., To­r­ch­i­lin, V.P., Wandrey, C., Baldi, L., Manoli, S.S., Katsarava, R. (2014). Arginine-based  biodegradable ether-ester polymers of low cytotoxicity as potential gene carriers. Biomacromolecules, 15, 2839-2848.

Díaz, A., Katsarava, R., Puiggalí, J. (2014). Synthesis, properties and applications of biodegradable polymers derived from diols and dicarboxylic acids: from polyesters to poly (ester amide) (Review). Int. J. Mol. Sci. 15, 7064-7123.

Haddad, L.El., Ben Abdallah, N., Plante, P-L., Dumaresq, J., Katsarava, R., Labrie, S., Corbeil, J., Gelais, D.St., Moineau, S. (2014). Improving the safety of Staphylococcus aureus polyvalent phage by their production on a Staphylococcus xylosus strain. PLoS ONE 9(7): e102600. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0102600

Planellas, M., Pérez-Madrigal, M.M., del Valle, L.J., Kobauri, S., Katsarava, R., Alemán, C., Puiggalí, J. (2014). Microfibres of conducting polythiophene and biodegradable poly (ester urea) for scaffolds. Polymer Chemistry. 6, 925-937. DOI: 10.1039/c4py01243g.

Samsoniya, Sh., Zurabishvili, D., Bukia, T., Lomidze, M., Gogolashvili, I., Buzaladze, G., Elizbarashvili, E., Kazmaier, U.(2014). Synthesis and studies of some adamantane containing benzylidenes, benzimidazoles and dipeptides. 3-rd International Conference of Organic Chemistry (ICOC-2014) "Organic Synthesis - Driving Force of Life Development". Tbilisi, Georgia. 57-59

Zavradashvili, N., Jokhadze, G., Gverdtsiteli, M., Otinashvili, G., Kupatadze, N., Gomurashvili, Z., Tugushi, D., Katsarava, R. (2013). Amino Acid Based Epoxy-Poly(Ester Amide)s - a New Class of Functional Biodegradable Polymers: Synthesis and Chemical Transformations. J.Macromol.Sci., Part A, Pure & Appl. Chem. 50(5), 449-465

Elizbarashvili, E., Lagvilava, I., Matitaishvili, T., Datukishvili, L. (2012). Novel macrocyclic fluorescents dyes. 7-th Eurasian meeting on heterocyclic chemistry. Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. p. 19