The Road to Structurally Defined β-Glucans

beta-glucans are polymers of glucose that have been isolated from a variety of organisms. Isolated beta-glucans have been used for medical purposes for centuries; however, efforts to define the biological activities of beta-glucans experimentally were initiated in the 1940's. The diversity of structure associated with isolated beta-glucans has impeded said investigations, and efforts to leverage the biological activity of beta-glucans for clinical applications. In recognition of the need for defined beta-glucans that retain the biological activity of isolated beta-glucans, considerable investment has been made to facilitate the synthesis of structurally defined beta-glucans. Here, we review the different approaches that have been applied to prepare beta-glucans. In addition, we summarize the approaches that have been utilized to conjugate beta-glucans to proteins.

Automated summary

β-glucans are glucose polymers isolated from various organisms and have been used for medical purposes for centuries. Experimental efforts to define the biological activities of β-glucans have faced challenges due to the diverse structures associated with isolated β-glucans. Significant investment has been made in synthesizing structurally defined β-glucans to retain their biological activity, with research focusing on different approaches for preparation and conjugation with proteins.