Bola-Amphiphilic Glycodendrimers: New Carbohydrate-Mimicking Scaffolds to Target Carbohydrate-Binding Proteins

Dendrimers are appealing scaffolds for creating carbohydrate mimics with unique multivalent cooperativity. We report here novel bola-amphiphilic glycodendrimers bearing mannose and glucose terminals, and a hydrophobic thioacetal core responsive to reactive oxygen species. The peculiar bola-amphiphilic feature enabled stronger binding to lectin compared to conventional amphiphiles. In addition, these dendrimers are able to target mannose receptors and glucose transporters expressed at the surface of cells, thus allowing effective and specific cellular uptake. This highlights their great promise for targeted delivery.

Automated summary

In this study, novel bola-amphiphilic glycodendrimers with mannose and glucose terminals, and a hydrophobic thioacetal core responsive to reactive oxygen species, were reported. The unique bola-amphiphilic feature enhanced the binding to lectin compared to conventional amphiphiles. Moreover, these dendrimers effectively targeted mannose receptors and glucose transporters on cell surfaces, exhibiting great promise for targeted delivery.