N,N'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis-L-aspartic acid, also known as EDTA-bis-aspartic acid or EDTA-Asp, is a chelating agent derived from ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) where two of the carboxylate groups are replaced by aspartic acid moieties. This modification retains strong metal-chelating properties while introducing additional functional groups and potentially altering its biocompatibility and coordination behavior compared to traditional EDTA. Its primary application is in the field of materials science, particularly for the functionalization of surfaces and the synthesis of advanced materials. It serves as a versatile ligand for binding metal ions (such as lanthanides or transition metals) to create functional complexes or to modify the surface properties of nanoparticles and other substrates. This makes it valuable in the development of adsorption materials, catalysts, and functional coatings where controlled metal binding and surface modification are required. The compound is also explored in biomedical research contexts, for instance, in the synthesis of MRI contrast agents or as a component in metal-chelating resins for protein purification. Its bifunctional nature, combining a strong chelating core with amino acid-derived side chains, provides a platform for designing materials with tailored interactions with metal ions and biological systems.