Synthesis and biological evaluation of mannose-6-phosphate-coated multivalent dendritic cluster glycosides

Controlled Synthesis of End-Functionalized Mannose-6-phosphate Glycopolypeptides for Lysosome Targeting

The ubiquitous expression of the mannose-6-phosphate receptor on the majority of human cells makes it a valid target in the quest to deliver therapeutics selectively to the lysosome. In this work end-functionalized polyvalent mannose-6-phosphate glycopolypeptides (M6P-GPs) with high molecular weights (up to 22 kDa) have been synthesized via NCA polymerization. These synthetic M6P-GPs were found to display minimal toxicity to cells in vitro and show exceptional selectivity for trafficking into lysosomes in various cell lines. Comparison of the cellular uptake behavior of M6P-GP and the corresponding mannose-GP polymer reveals that incorporation of the phosphate moiety at the 6-position of mannose completely alters its trafficking behavior and becomes exclusively lysosome specific. We also demonstrate that trafficking of M6P-GPs in mammalian cells is likely associated with the CI-MPR receptor pathway.

Multivalent polymers for drug delivery and imaging: the challenges of conjugation

Multivalent polymers offer a powerful opportunity to develop theranostic materials on the size scale of proteins that can provide targeting, imaging, and therapeutic functionality. Achieving this goal requires the presence of multiple targeting molecules, dyes, and/or drugs on the polymer scaffold. This critical review examines the synthetic, analytical, and functional challenges associated with the heterogeneity introduced by conjugation reactions as well as polymer scaffold design. First, approaches to making multivalent polymer conjugations are discussed followed by an analysis of materials that have shown particular promise biologically. Challenges in characterizing the mixed ligand distributions and the impact of these distributions on biological applications are then discussed. Where possible, molecular-level interpretations are provided for the structures that give rise to the functional ligand and molecular weight distributions present in the polymer scaffolds. Lastly, recent strategies employed for overcoming or minimizing the presence of ligand distributions are discussed. This review focuses on multivalent polymer scaffolds where average stoichiometry and/or the distribution of products have been characterized by at least one experimental technique. Key illustrative examples are provided for scaffolds that have been carried forward to in vitro and in vivo testing with significant biological results.

Adaptable synthesis of C-glycosidic multivalent carbohydrates and succinamide-linked derivatization

A modular approach to the synthesis of trivalent C-glycosidic carbohydrates is described. The approach is illustrated employing carboxylate-terminated C-glycosidic d-mannose, d-glucose, and d-galactose derivatives with different length C1-linked spacer units and also core units with different length linker units attached. The central core scaffold is additionally functionalized via a succinamide-based, conjugatable linker unit, exemplified in an extended multivalent derivative [31] and a pyrene-bearing fluorsecent-labeled tris-C-mannosyl conjugate [33].

Design and creativity in synthesis of multivalent neoglycoconjugates

From the authors' opinion, this chapter constitutes a modest extension of the seminal and inspiring contribution of Stowell and Lee on neoglycoconjugates published in this series [C. P. Stowell and Y. C. Lee, Adv. Carbohydr. Chem. Biochem., 37 (1980) 225-281]. The outstanding progresses achieved since then in the field of the "glycoside cluster effect" has witnessed considerable creativity in the design and synthetic strategies toward a vast array of novel carbohydrate structures and reflects the dynamic activity in the field even since the recent chapter by the Nicotra group in this series [F. Nicotra, L. Cipolla, F. Peri, B. La Ferla, and C. Radaelli, Adv. Carbohydr. Chem. Biochem., 61 (2007) 353-398]. Beyond the more classical neoglycoproteins and glycopolymers (not covered in this work) a wide range of unprecedented and often artistically beautiful multivalent and monodisperse nanostructures, termed glycodendrimers for the first time in 1993, has been created. This chapter briefly surveys the concept of multivalency involved in carbohydrate-protein interactions. The topic is also discussed in regard to recent steps undertaken in glycobiology toward identification of lead candidates using microarrays and modern analytical tools. A systematic description of glycocluster and glycodendrimer synthesis follows, starting from the simplest architectures and ending in the most complex ones. Presentation of multivalent glycostructures of intermediate size and comprising, calix[n]arene, porphyrin, cyclodextrin, peptide, and carbohydrate scaffolds, has also been intercalated to better appreciate the growing synthetic complexity involved. A subsection describing novel all-carbon-based glycoconjugates such as fullerenes and carbon nanotubes is inserted, followed by a promising strategy involving dendrons self-assembling around metal chelates. The chapter then ends with those glycodendrimers that have been prepared using commercially available dendrimers possessing varied functionalities, or systematically synthesized using either divergent or convergent strategies.

Binding of monomeric and dimeric Concanavalin A to mannose-functionalized dendrimers

Because of the central role of Concanavalin A (Con A) in the study of protein-carbohydrate interactions, a thorough understanding of the multivalent functions of Con A is imperative. Here, the association of monomeric and dimeric derivatives of Con A with mannose-functionalized generation two through six PAMAM dendrimers is reported. Hemagglutination assay results indicate relatively low activity of the dendrimers for monomeric Con A, with small increases as the dendrimer generation increases. Isothermal titration microcalorimetry experiments indicate monovalent binding by the dendrimers with monomeric Con A and divalent binding by the dendrimers with dimeric Con A. Continuous (and comparable) but narrowing increases in enthalpy and entropy and the slight increase in association constants with monomeric Con A as the dendrimer generation increases suggest favorable proximity effects on binding. Both the hemagglutination assay and the calorimetry experiments suggest that statistical binding enhancements can be observed with monomeric Con A. The results described here should allow for a more quantitative evaluation of the enhancements that are often observed in protein-carbohydrate interactions for glycosylated frameworks binding to Con A.