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Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors
Published on: April 27, 2017
Precision Synthesis of Polysaccharides: Unlocking the Sugar Code for Tailored Biological Functions
Caimeng Lv1, Wenjun Zeng1, Yangchao Luo2
1Molecular Nutrition Branch, National Engineering Research Center of Rice and By-product Deep Processing, College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, P. R. China.
Abstract:
As vital biomacromolecules, polysaccharides play pivotal roles in biological processes, including cell recognition, immune modulation, and signal transduction. Their bioactivities hinge on the precise "sugar code", comprising monosaccharide composition, glycosidic linkages, chain length, branching, and modifications. However, natural extraction faces challenges, including yield variability, low purity, and batch inconsistencies, which impede research and applications. Thus, synthetic approaches have emerged as an essential strategy for producing well-defined polysaccharides. This review summarizes recent progress in polysaccharide synthesis across chemical, enzymatic, and chemoenzymatic approaches. Framing the "structure-synthesis-function" nexus, it elucidates the design principles and application potential of bioactive polysaccharides, traces their evolution from fundamental research to industrial implementation, and offers strategic insights for drug discovery, biomaterials engineering, and functional food development.
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