ABSTRACT Covalent Immobilization of Glucose Isomerase on Poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) Particles Yildiz, Hakan &Uuml / mit M.S., Department of Chemistry Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Nesrin Hasirci July 2004, 54 pages In this study, poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), P(HEMA), particles were prepared by suspension polymerization of the monomer 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate with addition of ethylene glycol dimethyacrylate, EGDMA, as cross linker. Glucose isomerase, GI, enzyme was covalently immobilized on the prepared P(HEMA) particles after activation of the particles with cyanuric chloride. The activities of the free and immobilized enzymes were measured with Ethanol-Carbazole method. The immobilization of GI on P(HEMA) particles promoted enzyme stability and as a result, the enzyme became more stable to temperature, storage, and reuse. For maximum substrate conversion, optimum temperature was determined as 70 oC for free GI and this value shifted to 60 oC for immobilized enzyme. Optimum pH for maximum substrate conversion was found to be 7.0 for free GI and 8.0 for immobilized GI. The change of enzyme activity with substrate concentration were determined to calculate Km and Vmax values of the free and immobilized enzymes. Km values were found to be 1.7x10-2 mol/L and 3.1x10-1 mol/L while Vmax values were 1.01x10-4 mol/L.min, 1.65x10-3 mol/L.min for free and immobilized GI, respectively. Reuse capability of immobilized GI on P(HEMA) particles was measured and compared with commercial GI. Both systems retained 80 % of their original activities after 40th use, within 6 days. The change of enzyme activities upon storage were detected at certain time intervals for the samples stored in buffer solution at 4 oC. Immobilized enzyme was retained 60% of its original activitiy in 60 days of storage at 4 oC. Immobilized GI and commercial GI both retained 90% of their activities under continuous flow after 180 mL of substrate solution passed through the column.

This thesis investigates the design, synthesis and biological assay of cysteine protease inhibitors within the papain superfamily of cysteine proteases. This is achieved by examining the effect of inhibitor design, especially warheads, on IC₅₀ values and structureactivity relationships between cysteine protease inhibitors of the papain superfamily. The representative proteases used are m-calpain, μ-calpain, cathepsin B and papain. Chapter One is an introductory chapter; Chapters Two-Four describe the design and synthesis of cysteine protease inhibitors; Chapter Five discusses assay protocol; and Chapter Six contains the assay results and structure-activity relationships of the synthesised inhibitors. Chapter One introduces cysteine proteases of the papain family and examines the structure, physiology and role in disease of papain, cathepsin B, m-calpain and μ-calpain. The close structural homology that exists between these members of the papain superfamily is identified, as well characteristics unique to each protease. Covalent reversible, covalent irreversible and non-covalent warheads are defined. The generic inhibitor scaffold of address region, recognition and warhead, upon which the inhibitors synthesised in this thesis are based, is also introduced. Chapter Two introduces reversible cysteine protease inhibitors found in the literature and that little is known about the effect of inhibitor warhead on selectivity within the papain superfamily. Oxidation of the dipeptidyl alcohols 2.6, 2.26, 2.29, 2.30, 2.35 and 2.36 utilising the sulfur trioxide-pyridine complex gave the aldehydes 2.3, 2.27, 2.19, 2.2, 2.21 and 2.22. Semicarbazones 2.37-2.40 were synthesised by a condensation reaction between the alcohol 2.3 and four available semicarbazides. The amidoximes 2.48 and 2.49 separately underwent thermal intramolecular cyclodehydration to give the 3-methyl-1,2,4- oxadiazoles 2.41 and 2.50. The aldehydes 2.3 and 2.27 were reacted with potassium cyanide to give the cyanohydrins 2.51 and 2.52. The cyanohydrins 2.51 and 2.52 were separately reacted to give 1) the α-ketotetrazoles 2.43 and 2.55; 2) the α-ketooxazolines 2.42 and 2.58; 3) the esterified cyanohydrins 2.60 and 2.61. A two step SN2 displacement reaction of the alcohol 2.6 to give the azide 2.62, an example of a non-covalent cysteine protease inhibitor. Chapter Three introduces inhibitors with irreversible warheads. The well-known examples of epoxysuccinic acids 3.1 and 3.5 are discussed in detail, highlighting the lack of irreversible cysteine protease specific inhibitors. The aldehydes 2.3 and 2.27 were reacted under Wittig conditions to give the α,β-unsaturated carbonyls 3.14-3.18. Horner- Emmons-Wadsworth methodology was utilised for the synthesis of the vinyl sulfones 3.20- 3.23. The dipeptidyl acids 2.24 and 2.28 were separately reacted with diazomethane to give the diazoketones 3.25 and 3.26. The diazoketones 3.25 and 3.26 were separately reacted with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid (33%) to give the α-bromomethyl ketones 3.27 and 3.28, which were subsequently reduced to give the α-bromomethyl alcohols 3.29-3.32. Under basic conditions the α-bromomethyl alcohols 3.29-3.32 ring-closed to form the peptidyl epoxides 3.33-3.36. Chapter Four introduces the disadvantages of peptide-based inhibitors. A discussion is given on the benefits of constraining inhibitors into the extended bioactive conformation known as a β-strand. Ring closing metathesis is utilised in the synthesis of the macrocyclic aldehyde 4.4, macrocyclic semicarbazone 4.15, the macrocyclic cyanohydrin 4.16, the macrocyclic α-ketotetrazole 4.18 and the macrocyclic azide 4.19. Chapter Five introduces enzyme inhibition studies. The BODIPY-casein fluorogenic assay used for establishing inhibitor potency against m-calpain and μ-calpain is validated. Assay protocols are also established and validated for cathepsin B, papain, pepsin and α- chymotrypsin. A discussion of the effect of solvent on enzyme activity is also included as part of this study. Chapter Six presents the assay results for all the inhibitors synthesised throughout this thesis and an extensive structure-activity relationship study between inhibitors is included. The alcohols 2.26 and 2.30 are unprecedented examples of non-covalent, potent, cathepsin B inhibitors (IC₅₀ = 0.075 μM selectivity 80-fold and 1.1 μM, selectivity 18-fold). The macrocyclic semicarbazone 4.15 is an unprecedented example of a potent macrocyclic cysteine protease inhibitor (m-calpain: IC₅₀ = 0.16 μM, selectivity 8-fold). The cyanohydrin 2.51 contains an unprecedented cysteine protease warhead and is a potent and selective inhibitor of papain (IC₅₀ = 0.030 μM, selectivity 3-fold). The O-protected cyanohydrin 2.61 is a potent and selective inhibitor of pepsin (IC₅₀ = 1.6 μM, selectivity 1.5-fold). The top ten warheads for potent, selective cathepsin B inhibition are: carboxylic acid, methyl ester, diazoketone, esterified cyanohydrin, α-bromomethyl ketone, α,β- unsaturated aldehyde, vinyl sulfones, α-bromomethyl-C₃-S,R-alcohol, alcohol and α,β- unsaturated ethyl ester. The selectivity of these warheads was between 5- and 130-fold for cathepsin B. The best inhibitors for cathepsin B were the α-bromomethyl ketone 3.26 (IC₅₀ = 0.075 μM, selectivity 16-fold), the α,β-unsaturated aldehyde 3.18 (IC₅₀ = 0.13 μM, selectivity 13-fold) and the esterified cyanohydrin 3.59 (IC₅₀ = 0.35 μM, selectivity 22- fold). Chapter Seven outlines the experimental details and synthesis of the compounds prepared in this thesis.

Covalent functionalization significantly enhances the utility of carbon nanomaterials for many applications. In this study, we investigated the functionalization of double nitrogen doped graphene by the addition of different alkyl and phenyl functional groups at N atoms in syn and anti-configurations. Density functional theory calculations at the B3LYP/def-SV(P) level were employed to understand the syn versus anti preference on functionalization. The bond lengths, bond angles, relative energies, deformation energies and HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, of the syn and anti-configurations of the functionalized 2N-doped graphenes, have been compared. Functionalization with two groups leads to considerable deformation of 2N-doped graphene, which is confirmed by the change in C–N bond lengths by attachment of the functional groups. The attachment of larger functional groups deforms 2N-doped graphene to a greater extent than smaller functional groups. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap values are the least for the alkyl functionalized products, indicating that these structures are kinetically less stable than the phenyl functionalized products.

La notion de valence est très répandue à l’échelle de l’atome et est à l’origine de la diversité et des propriétés des composés covalents (molécules, macromolécules, cristaux). L’un des grands challenges à l’heure actuelle est de décliner cette notion de valence à l’échelle des particules, qui pourraient devenir des briques élémentaires programmées, c’est-à-dire la matière première de nouveaux matériaux qui seraient obtenus par assemblage spontané. Dans ce contexte, nous avons développé des particules à patchs possédant à leur surface des discontinuités chimiques et topologiques permettant de limiter le nombre de particules voisines et d’engendrer des interactions directionnelles avec ces dernières. L’objectif de nos travaux consiste dans un premier temps à imiter les hybridations simples de l’atome de carbone divalent (sp), trivalent (sp2) et tétravalent (sp3). Des particules de silice contenant un nombre spécifique de cavités dans lesquelles se trouvent des chaines de polystyrène ont été synthétisées et fonctionnalisées sélectivement. Des molécules colloïdales constituées d’une particule à patchs, au centre, entourée de nanoparticules satellites en nombre contrôlé ont été obtenues par assemblages covalents ou supramoléculaires. Ces premiers clusters miment la géométrie de molécules simples telles que CF4, BF3, CO2 ou H2O. En différenciant des lots de satellites soit par leur taille, soit par leur composition chimique, nous avons montré qu’il est possible d’étendre la formation de molécules colloïdales vers de structures plus complexes du type AXnYm (n+m = 4) ou encore des molécules colloïdales chirales. Enfin, nous avons développé une autre voie permettant d’obtenir de nouveaux atomes colloïdaux contenant un nombre défini de patchs surfaciques de taille contrôlée. / The concept of valence is well-known at the atomic level and is at the origin of the diversity and properties of covalent compounds (molecules, macromolecules, crystals). Nowadays, one of the major challenges is to decline this notion of valence at the scale of colloidal particles, which could become programmed elementary bricks, that is to say the raw material of new materials that would be obtained by spontaneous assembly. In this context, we have developed patchy particles with chemical and topological discontinuities at their surface that limit the number of neighboring particles and induce directional interactions with them. The objective of our work consists first in imitating simple hybridizations of the divalent (sp), trivalent (sp2) and tetravalent (sp3) carbon atoms. The silica particles containing a specific number of cavities in which residues of polystyrene chains are chemically and selectively functionalized. Colloidal molecules consisting of a patchy particle, in the center, surrounded by satellite nanoparticles in controlled number were obtained by covalent or supramolecular routes. These first clusters mimic the geometry of simple molecules such as CF4, BF3, CO2 or H2O. By differentiating batches of satellites either by their size or by their chemical composition, we have shown that it is possible to extend the formation of colloidal molecules to more complex AXnYm (n + m = 4) structures or chiral colloidal molecules. Finally, we have developed another way to obtain new colloidal atoms containing a precise number of surface patches with a controlled area.

This thesis entitled “Design and Synthesis of Peptidomimics Constrained in Helical and Sheet Conformations Using a Novel Covalent Surrogate for the Peptide Main Chain Hydrogen Bond” is divided into six chapters. Chapter 1: Introduction to Ordered Conformations of Peptides and Strategies for Constraining Short Peptides in Ordered Conformations. The first chapter describes the different types of protein secondary structures and introduces the various prominent strategies developed thus far to constrain short peptides in ordered secondary structure-like conformations, with specific emphasis on helical and parallel β-sheet folds. Chapter 2: Design of Structure and General Methodology for the synthesis of Novel H-Bond Surrogate Constrained Cyclic α-Helical Mimics Here we develop the first design of the propyl linker as a covalent surrogate for the peptide H-bond. The first synthetic methodology is described for the synthesis of constraining shortest peptide sequences (tripeptides) in α-helix-like conformations. The Macrolactamization strategy proved to work best as the final step for cyclization. All residues of the turn are completely retained in the constrained sequence, unlike any other earlier method. More importantly, there are no metal involved as catalysts in any of the synthetic transformations, hence removing the problem of metal-bound cyclic structures – which have otherwise rendered these structures non-usable as drug leads in the earlier models. Gly-rich peptides have been constrained as extreme cases of highest chain entropy and least helix propensity. Both secondary and tertiary amide containing peptides have been synthesized using this protocol. Note that the macrolactamization was found to be better than the Fukuyama-Mitsunobu N-alkylation protocol for the final cyclization step. Chapter 3: Synthesis of C-terminal Extended HBS-Constrained Helical Turn Mimics – Validation of the Versatility of Current synthetic protocol The developed cyclization protocol is extended towards the synthesis of C-terminal extended α-helical turn mimics using a solution phase peptide synthesis procedure. Peptides which extend belong the helical turn by a high entropy Gly-residue at the C-terminal are synthesized. The versatility of the synthetic methodology to accommodate sterically constrained amino acid residues – in the form of phenylalanine residue – at any of the positions i+1, i+2 or i+3 of the constrained helical turn is demonstrated. The synthesized are easily isolated without need for column chromatography, in high purity and good yields – this is due to the presence of the N-terminal amino group, salts of which are easily triturated to remove all other organic impurities. Chapter 4: Synthesis and CD conformational analyses of HBS constrained α-Helical turn mimics containing residues with improved helical propensities Alanine residue has the highest helix propensity among all other natural α-amino acid residues. Its enthalpic contribution to the helical conformation is 1 kcal/mol more than that for the Gly residue, which has the least propensity. Incorporation of Ala residue in the Gly-rich cyclic sequences in either the middle of constrained tripeptide or as the C-terminal extended residue has been accomplished. Comparison of the CD spectra of the synthesized cyclic α-helical turn peptides reveals that a tertiary amide linkage is essential for the propyl linker at the C-terminal amino appendage, for helicity to be observed. Helicity improves upon introduction of the first extended residue. The constrained and C-terminal extended α-helical turn mimics show consistently high helicity irrespective of the helix propensities of the component residues showing that the covalent propyl linker surrogate for the H-bond overwhelms the natural propensities of individual amino acid residues towards enabling stabilization of the helical turn and offer far better structural organization to this cause. Chapter 5: Synthesis of shortest HBS-constrained 310 and - helical peptide analogues The unique versatility of the novel covalent propyl linker surrogate for the peptide H-bond is exhibited by its ability to constrain dipeptides in 310-helix like structures. This is the first and the only HBS model that can achieve this synthetic target as the synthetic protocol allows the conservation of both the residues as is in the constrained helical turn. Similarly, the trapping of a pentapeptide in a C-terminal extended rare and unstable -helix like cyclic structure using the current HBS linker is achieved. Considering the high entropic cost for cyclizing such a long 16-membered chain into a constrained structure, this again exhibits the versatility of the currently developed HBS design and the currently developed synthetic methodology. Chapter 6: First design and synthesis of novel H-bond surrogate constrained parallel β-sheet mimics H-bonding interactions stabilize another prevalently observed secondary structure, other than helical structures, namely the -sheets. The parallel -sheets that almost qualify for super secondary structures due to the high contact orders in them are thought to mimic in models, unlike the easier antiparallel -sheets. Here we replace the inter-strand peptide H-bond between parallel -strands to create excised templates as parallel -sheet nucleators. The propyl linker acts as a dynamic linker in these models and the two amino groups are protected with bulky sulphonamides, in order to provide Thorpe-Ingold effect to the peptide chain. The protocol for synthesizing these models has been described and the different analogues that are synthesized thus have been described. This is the first instance of synthesis of parallel -sheet mimics using the covalent surrogates for the peptide H-bond.

Les interactions non-covalentes (NCI pour Non-Covalent Interactions) stabilisant les complexes non-covalents biologiques (NCX pour Non-Covalent compleXes) régissent la majorité des processus cellulaires indispensables au développement et au bon fonctionnement de tout organisme vivant. Toutes les fonctions de l'ADN, tels que son conditionnement, sa réplication et la régulation de son expression, sont permises par la formation et la dissociation de NCI avec des protéines. La compréhension des bases de ces processus cellulaires de l'ADN au niveau moléculaire est un sujet d'actualité et d'une importance fondamentale. Des informations essentielles peuvent être obtenues par spectrométrie de masse (MS pour Mass Spectrometry) qui joue un rôle de plus en plus important dans ce domaine. Malgré la technologie avancée déjà mise en ¿uvre, le développement de nouveaux concepts d'ionisation et d'activation implémentent perpétuellement la MS. Les travaux de thèse exposés à travers ce manuscrit présente l'étude de la stabilité des NCI maintenant les NCX biologiques par la comparaison des voies de fragmentations observées en mode positif et en mode négatif mais aussi par l'application de certains concepts récents de la MS comme : (i) l'utilisation d'agents de " superchargement " et, (ii) le développement et l'utilisation d'une source V-EASI (pour Venturi Easy Ambiant Sonic-spray Ionization) permettant l'aspiration libre de la solution et la désorption/ionisation des analytes par la seule vélocité du gaz de nébulisation. / Non-covalent interactions (NCI) stabilizing biological non-covalent complexes (NCX) lead most of cellular processes compulsory for the development and the functioning of all living organisms. All DNA functions, such as its conditioning, its replication and the regulation of its expression, are allowed by the formation and the dissociation of NCI with proteins. The comprehension of cellular processes basis of DNA at the molecular level is both topical and fundamental. Crucial information can be obtained by mass spectrometry (MS) which plays an increasing role in this field. Despite the already advanced technology applied, the development new ionization and activation concepts implement perpetually the MS. The Ph.D. work described through this manuscript presents the study of NCI maintaining the biological NCX by the comparison of fragmentation pathways observed in positive ion mode and in negative ion mode but also by the application of some recent MS concepts like: (i) the use of supercharging reagents and, (ii) the development and the use of a Venturi Easy Ambiant Sonic-spray Ionization (V-EASI) source allowing the free aspiration of the solution and the desorption/ionization of the analytes only by the velocity of the spraying gas.

Les polyphénols naturels forment des complexes non-covalents dans lesquels le π-stacking et les liaisons hydrogène jouent un rôle clé dans la stabilisation. Les calculs DFT incluant la dispersion (DFT-D), la description des processus d'agrégation non-covalente de produits naturels devient fiable. Dans ce travail, les méthodes DFT-D sont appliquées à i) la compréhension de la biosynthèse stéréo- et régio-sélective des oligostilbenoïdes, ii) la prédiction de l'agrégation des antioxydants naturels au sein de la membrane bicouche lipidique, qui pourrait rationaliser la synergie de la vitamine E, la vitamine C et polyphénols dans leur action antioxydante, et iii) la modulation des propriétés optiques de dérivés de chalcones. / Natural polyphenols form non-covalent complexes in which π-stacking and H-bonding play a key stabilizing role. The dispersion-corrected DFT calculations have paved the way towards reliable description of aggregation processes of natural products. In this work, these methods are applied at i) understanding of stereo- and regio-selective oligostilbenoids biosynthesis; ii) predicting natural antioxidant aggregation within lipid bilayer membrane, which may allow rationalizing the synergism of vitamin E, vitamin C and polyphenols in their antioxidant action; and iii) modulating optical properties of chalcone derivatives.

La Chimie Dynamique Combinatoire basée sur les liaisions imines (-C=N-), avec l’aide de la chimie de coordination, donne accès à différentes types d’architectures metallosupramoléculaires et de réseaux dynamiques fonctionnels. Le travail effectué au cours de cette thèse traite de ces deux aspects. Dans un premier temps des structures de types grilles moléculaire et de type hélicate ont été synthétisés, à l’aide de métaux donnant une coordination octahédrale ou tétraédrale, et leurs propriétés dans un environnement dynamique ont été étudiées. Dans un deuxième temps des réseaux dynamiques, présentant des relations agoniste/antagoniste à travers l’échange des constituants aldéhydes et amines/hydrazines réseau, ont été étudiés. Ces systèmes permettent, à travers l’amplification d’un ou plusieurs constituants, une rééquilibration du réseau permettant l’implémentation de fonction tel que l’apprentissage et la prise de décision pour ces systèmes chimiques adaptifs. Un nouveau système, est présenté et étudié ici, permettant une redistribution stable même après le retrait du stimuli métallique (ajout/retrait d’un métal), permettant à ce système de réaliser un processing d’information : apprentissage, stockage, rappel et effacement. / Dynamic Combinatorial Chemistry of imine-based dynamic covalent bonds (-C=N-), under the governance of coordination chemistry, can lead to different metallosupramolecular architectures and responsive functional systems. In this work these two aspects have been approached. Grids and helicates architectures based on aldehydes and amines/hydrazines backbones have been synthesised, in order to probe their behaviour in a dynamic network environment, using both octahedral and tetrahedral coordinating metal cations. Dynamic systems can be also represented by dynamic networks that define agonistic and antagonistic relationships between different constituents linked through component exchange. These networks can be switched through amplification of the best fittest constituent(s) in a dynamic set, allowing to access higher level functions such as training, learning, and decision making for adaptive chemical systems. A novel multi responsive system, able to be trained for information storage, has been studied, exhibiting a stable distribution even after removal of the metal stimuli, making this system able to perform information processing operations: training, storage, recall, and erase.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This work presents the synthesis of five new planned [2]rotaxanes whith thread derivates succinamide [R1R2NC(O)CH2CH2C(O)NR1R2, where R1 = R2 = Pr, i-Pr, Bu, i-Bu e R1 = CH2Cy e R2 = CH2Ph]. The compounds were obtained by a five-component clipping reaction. Several studies have been conducted with these compounds such as: deslipping reactions, structural analysis, molecular dynamics by using solution 1H NMR spectroscopy and intra and intermolecular interactions using Hirshfeld surface. From these results, it was observed that the deslipping reaction was highly effective when microwave irradiation was employed and the reaction has shown to be an efficient model for the synthesis of macrocycles. Moreover, it was possible to calculate the rotational energy barrier of the macrocycle around the thread of [2]rotaxanes. In addition, when the Hirshfeld surface was used, it was possible to demonstrate all of the non-covalent interactions between the submolecular components as well as the intermolecular interactions of [2]rotaxane. / Este trabalho apresenta a síntese planejada de cinco novos [2]rotaxanos com filamentos lineares derivados da succinamida [R1R2NC(O)CH2CH2C(O)NR1R2, onde R1 = R2 = Pr, i-Pr, Bu, i-Bu e R1 = CH2Cy e R2 = CH2Ph]. A síntese dos compostos foi realizada através de uma reação cinco componentes utilizando o método clipping. Diversos estudos foram realizados com esses compostos, como: dissociação dos subcomponentes moleculares (deslipping), estruturais, de dinâmica molecular utilizando RMN de 1H em solução e das interações inter/intramolecular utilizando superfície de Hirshfeld. Através dos resultados foi possível verificar que a reação de deslipping foi altamente eficiente quando utilizado irradiação de micro-ondas, sendo um ótimo modelo para a síntese de macrociclos. Além disso, foi possível calcular a energia da barreira rotacional do macrociclo ao redor do filamento linear para os [2]rotaxanos em questão. Com a utilização da superfície de Hirshfeld foi possível demonstrar todas as interações intra e intermoleculares para os [2]rotaxanos.

Dynamic covalent chemistry (DCC) is currently exploited in several areas of biomedical applications such as in drug discovery, sensing, molecular separation, catalysis etc. Hydrazone and oxime chemistry have several advantages, such as mild reaction conditions, selectivity, efficiency, and biocompatibility and therefore, have the potential to be for bioconjugation applications. However, these reactions suffer from major drawbacks of slow reaction rate and poor bond stability under physiological conditions. In this regard, the work presented in this thesis focuses on designing novel bioconjugation reactions amenable under physiological conditions with tunable reaction kinetics and conjugation stability. The first part of the thesis presents different strategies of dynamic covalent reactions utilized for biomedical applications. In the next part, a detailed study related to the mechanism and catalysis of oxime chemistry was investigated in the presence of various catalysts. Aniline, carboxylate and saline were selective as target catalysts and their reaction kinetics were compared under physiological conditions (Paper I and II). Then we attempted to explore the potential of those chemistries in fabricating 3D hydrogel scaffolds for regenerative medicine application. A novel mild and regioselective method was devised to introduce an aldehyde moiety onto glycosaminoglycans structure. This involved the introduction of amino glycerol to glycosaminoglycans, followed by regioselective oxidation of tailed flexible diol without affecting the C2-C3 diol groups on the disaccharide repeating unit. The oxidation rate of the tailed flexible diol was 4-times faster than that of C2-C3 diol groups of native glycosaminoglycan. This strategy preserves the structural integrity of the glycosaminoglycans and provides a functional aldehyde moiety (Paper III). Further, different types of hydrazones were designed and their hydrolytic stability under acidic condition was carefully evaluated. The hydrazone linkage with the highest hydrolytic stability was utilized in the preparation of extracellular matrix hydrogel for delivery of bone morphogenetic proteins 2 in bone regeneration (Paper IV) and studied for controlled release of the growth factor (Paper III). In summary, this thesis presents a selection of strategies for designing bioconjugation chemistries that possess tunable stability and reaction kinetics under physiological conditions. These chemistries are powerful tools for conjugation of biomolecules for the biomedical applications.