Glycodendrimers: versatile tools for nanotechnology

Abstract

Combining nanotechnology with glycobiology has triggered an exponential growth of research activities in the design of novel functional bionanomaterials (glyconanotechnology). More specifically, recent synthetic advances towards the tailored and versatile design of glycosylated nanoparticles namely glyconanoparticles, considered as synthetic mimetics of natural glycoconjugates, paved the way toward diverse biomedical applications. The accessibility of a wide variety of these structured nanosystems, in terms of shapes, sizes, and organized around stable nanoparticles have readily contributed to their development and applications in nanomedicine. In this context, glycosylated gold-nanoparticles (GNPs), glycosylated quantum dots (QDs), fullerenes, single-wall natotubes (SWNTs), and self-assembled glycononanoparticles using amphiphilic glycopolymers or glycodendrimers have received considerable attention to afford powerful imaging, therapeutic, and biodiagnostic devices. This review will provide an overview of the most recent syntheses and applications of glycodendrimers in glycoscience that have permitted to deepen our understanding of multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions. Together with synthetic breast cancer vaccines, inhibitors of bacterial adhesions to host tissues including sensitive detection devices, these novel bionanomaterials are finding extensive relevance.

Synthesis and cell-selective antitumor properties of amino acid conjugated tumor-associated carbohydrate antigen-coated gold nanoparticles

“…62,67 Multivalent constructs presenting carbohydrates have been used for decades as valuable biochemical tools; they have revealed mechanistic details of the so-called “cluster glycoside effect” and have been useful as potential therapeutic agents that inhibit deleterious carbohydrate-protein binding events. In this work, we have used gold nanoparticles as platforms for the multivalent displays of a specific TACA, the TF ag , that is directly involved in metastasis of various tumors of the breast, prostate and pancreas.…”

“…55–58 Hence, a plethora of approaches have been explored to exploit TF ag as a target for both active 4,5,8 and passive 59–61 immunotherapy; in addition to strategies that inhibit cell adhesion. 57,58,62,63 It is now well established that TF ag engages a specific galectin, Galectin-3 (Gal-3), during the metastatic spread of certain TF ag -bearing tumors, and that this interaction can dictate the aggressiveness of the tumor. 55,63–66 Since the majority of biologically relevant carbohydrate-protein interactions require multivalent binding for enhanced avidity 67 , many of these studies have utilized platforms where the TF ag or a TF ag mimic is displayed in multiple copies for a more potent inhibitory effect.…”

Functional aqueous assemblies of linear‐dendron hybrids

“…Glycopolymers with various architectures can be self‐assembled to generate assemblies such as micelles or vesicles . Glycodendrimers have also been extensively explored . However, carbohydrates have only recently been incorporated into LD hybrids.…”

Synthesis, photophysical, electrochemical and laser properties of anthracene conjugated glycodendrimers with triazole as a bridging unit

“…1 Glycodendrimers are supramolecular architecture having several carbohydrate residues the surface accessible for multiple binding interactions, such as carbohydrate protein interactions which are essential for all living organisms and play a crucial role in many biological processes. 1 Glycodendrimers are supramolecular architecture having several carbohydrate residues the surface accessible for multiple binding interactions, such as carbohydrate protein interactions which are essential for all living organisms and play a crucial role in many biological processes.…”