Polysaccharides and lipoproteins as reactants for the synthesis of pharmaceutically important scaffolds: A review

The growing number of diseases in the past decade has once again highlighted the need for extensive research on the development of novel drugs. There has been a major expansion in the number of people suffering from malignant diseases and types of life-threatening microbial infections. The high mortality rates caused by such infections, their associated toxicity, and a growing number of microbes with acquired resistance necessitate the need to further explore and develop the synthesis of pharmaceutically important scaffolds. Chemical entities derived from biological macromolecules like carbohydrates and lipids have been explored and observed to be effective agents in the treatment of microbial infections and diseases. These biological macromolecules offer a variety of chemical properties that have been exploited for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant scaffolds. All biological macromolecules are long chains of similar atomic groups which are connected by covalent bonds. By altering the attached groups, the physical and chemical properties can be altered and molded as per the clinical applications and needs, this ring them potential candidates for drug synthesis. The present review establishes the role and significance of biological macromolecules by articulating various reactions and pathways reported in the literature.