High throughput synthesis of peptides and peptidomimetics.

Peptide synthesis has been developed into one of the most efficient synthetic procedures in organic chemistry. The problems of orthogonal functional group protection and amide bond formation without racemization have been developed in a number of ingenious strategies. Optimization, in particular, has been achieved in stepwise solid phase synthesis. This in turn made possible the development of combinatorial synthesis allowing the synthesis of millions of peptide compounds of high purity in a few days. A variety of methodologies and strategies have been developed and continue to be developed to determine structures and to evaluate peptides and peptidomimetics. The development of methods for solid phase synthesis of a variety of organic and inorganic structures using similar strategies as in peptide synthesis are being vigorously pursued. However, existing instrumentation and technology is not sufficient to cover current demands for peptides, and thus new approaches and technologies for cost-effective synthesis of peptide arrays are needed.