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Liquid-Phase Peptide Synthesis (LPPS): A Third Wave for the Preparation of Peptides

Since the last century, peptides have gained wide acceptance as drugs, with almost 100 already in the market and a large number in the pipeline. In this context, peptide synthesis has grown massively as a stringent field for pharmaceuticals around the globe. Three methodologies, namely, classical solution peptide synthesis (CSPS), solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), and liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS), have made significant contributions to the field. This review provides a comprehensive and integrated vision of LPPS as the third wave for peptide synthesis. LPPS combines the advantages of CSPS and SPPS, where peptide elongation is carried out in solution and the growing peptide chain is supported on a soluble tag, which confers characteristic properties. LPPS protocols allow the large-scale production of peptides and reduce the use of excess reagents and solvents, thus meeting the principles of green chemistry. In this review, tags associated with LPPS are broadly discussed under the following headings: polydisperse polyethylene glycol (PEG), membrane-enhanced peptide synthesis (MEPS), fluorous technology, ionic liquids (ILs), PolyCarbon, hydrophobic polymers, and group-assisted purification (GAP). It also highlights the signature accomplishments of LPPS tags and the limitations of the same.