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Small tools for sweet challenges: advances in microfluidic technologies for glycan synthesis
1Robert F. Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. fkp22@cornell.edu.
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
|February 24, 2022
Summary
Microfluidics enable high-throughput synthesis of homogenous glycans, crucial for understanding their biological roles in health and disease. This technology overcomes limitations in obtaining pure glycan samples for diagnostics and research.
Area of Science:
- Carbohydrate Chemistry
- Biotechnology
- Glycoscience
Background:
- Glycans (oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates) are vital for macromolecule function and mediate key physiological and pathological processes.
- Glycan structure-function relationships are critical for understanding human health, disease, and developing diagnostic biosensors.
- Current limitations in obtaining homogenous glycan samples hinder detailed structure-function analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review microfluidic technologies for chemical and enzymatic glycan synthesis.
- To discuss the advantages and limitations of microreactor platforms for glycan synthesis.
- To suggest future directions for improving glycan synthesis using microfluidics.
Main Methods:
- Overview of microfluidic platforms for glycan synthesis.
- Discussion of chemical and enzymatic synthesis strategies within microreactors.
- Analysis of scalability, productivity, and selectivity in microfluidic glycosylation.
Main Results:
- Microfluidics offer high-throughput and reproducible synthesis of homogenous glycans.
- Microreactor platforms can enhance scalability, productivity, and selectivity of glycosylation reactions.
- This review highlights the potential of microfluidics to overcome challenges in glycan sample preparation.
Conclusions:
- Microfluidic technologies are powerful tools for synthesizing homogenous glycans.
- Further development is needed to address limitations and optimize microfluidic glycan synthesis.
- Advancements in microfluidic glycan synthesis will facilitate glycan-based diagnostics and research.
