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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 21, 2026

High-throughput Synthesis of Carbohydrates and Functionalization of Polyanhydride Nanoparticles

High-throughput Synthesis of Carbohydrates and Functionalization of Polyanhydride Nanoparticles

Published on: July 6, 2012

Externally controllable glycan presentation on nanoparticle surfaces to modulate lectin recognition.

Sangho Won¹, Sarah-Jane Richards¹, Marc Walker²

¹Department of Chemistry , University of Warwick , Coventry , CV4 7AL , UK .

Nanoscale Horizons

|October 10, 2017

Summary

Scientists created temperature-controlled synthetic nanoparticles to dynamically manage cell surface sugar (glycan) presentation. This offers a new method for studying glycan interactions and developing targeted therapies.

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Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Structural and Dynamic Aspects of Glycan Molecular Recognition

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Structural and Dynamic Aspects of Glycan Molecular Recognition

Published on: May 17, 2024

Area of Science:

Biomaterials Science
Carbohydrate Chemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Cell surface carbohydrates (glycans) play dynamic roles in biological processes, unlike static presentations.
Nature utilizes enzymatic processes to control glycan expression.
Understanding dynamic glycan presentation is crucial for biological and medical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop synthetic nanoparticles with externally controllable glycan surface expression.
To create a dynamic multivalent scaffold for studying glycan recognition.
To offer an alternative to natural enzymatic control of glycan presentation.

Main Methods:

Fabrication of glycosylated nanoparticles incorporating polymeric 'gates'.
Utilizing temperature changes to modulate the 'gate' mechanism and control glycan display.
Characterization of nanoparticle properties and glycan surface expression.

Main Results:

Successful synthesis of nanoparticles with temperature-responsive glycan presentation.
Demonstration of external control over glycan surface expression via temperature.
Establishment of a dynamic multivalent scaffold for glycan recognition.

Conclusions:

Synthetic glycosylated nanoparticles offer a novel platform for dynamic control of glycan expression.
Temperature-induced modulation provides an alternative to enzymatic control for glycan presentation.
This technology enables new strategies for investigating cell-surface interactions and developing glycan-based therapeutics.