Automated Glycan Assembly as Basis for Life Science and Material Science Applications

Rapid preparation of polysaccharides by automated glycan assembly (AGA) using a synthesizer provides access to diverse glycans as large as 151-mers. Accelerated microwave-assisted synthesis methods are now used to prepare ever more complex glycans including cis-linked polysaccharides5 are enabling fundamental investigations into the structure and function of polysaccharides.
Synthetic glycans in combination with single molecule imaging, molecular modelling and other physical methods to characterize carbohydrate structure allow us to address fundamental questions of carbohydrate structure, folding and material science. Recently, we described the design, synthesis, and characterization of the first stapled oligosaccharides with increased enzymatic stability and cell penetration.
Synthetic glycans are the basis for the development of vaccines against different bacteria that are currently in clinical evaluation. Monoclonal antibodies and nanobodies against glycans are the basis for a program aimed at developing novel diagnostics and therapeutics.