Abstract
To translate the emerging insights into the functionality of the sugar code into applications in organic materials science, we have paid special attention to carbohydrate-protein (lectin) interactions. They are increasingly delineated to play an important role in biological recognition systems. Thus, the custom-made design of research tools and the examination of how to practically exploit them are becoming burgeoning research areas for producing new functional materials. We here report preparation and characterization of novel types of neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates, and indicate applications by studying recognition functions of these tailored carriers with defined sugar part as the recognition function using a model system and in vivo experiments. Various types of neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates were prepared according to a method including preparation of mixed micelles and then of liposomes, chemical coupling of neoglycoproteins to the characterized liposomes, and further sequential enzymatic glycosylation to refine the glycan part. The assays indicated carbohydrate-specific recognition functions of these neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates. Monitoring of tissue distribution using Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice showed individual response of diverse tissues towards various types of applied neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates harboring a series of sugar chain ligands including mono-and oligosaccharides. This type of carbohydrate-conjugated material is expected to find applications in basic glycoscientific research as well as in applied areas such as tissue-specific drug targeting material
