Synthesis of polymeric neoglycoconjugates based on N-substituted polyacrylamides

Several types of polymeric glycoconjugates, N-substituted polyacrylamides, have been synthesized by the reaction of activated polymers with omega-aminoalkylglycosides: (i) (carbohydrate-spacer)n-polyacrylamide, 'pseudopolysaccharides'; (ii) (carbohydrate-spacer)n-phosphatidylethanolaminem-polyacrylamide, neoglycolipids, derivatives of phosphatidylethanolamine; (iii) (carbohydrate-spacer)n-biotin-polyacrylamide, biotinylated probes; (iv) (carbohydrate-spacer)n-polyacrylamide-(macroporous glass), affinity sorbents based on macroporous glass, covalently coated with polyacrylamide. An almost quantitative yield in the conjunction reaction makes it possible to insert in the conjugate a predetermined quantity of the ligand(s). Pseudopolysaccharides proved to be a suitable form of antigen for activation of polystyrene and poly(vinyl chloride) plates (ELISA) and nitrocellulose membranes (dot blot), being advantageous over traditional neoglycoproteins. Polyvalent glycolipids insert well in biological membranes: their physical properties, particularly solubility, can be changed in a desired direction. Biotinylated derivatives were used as probes for detection and analysis of lectins.