The therapeutic potential of synthetic multivalent carbohydrates

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Abstract
Recent progress has been made in constructing synthetic multivalent carbohydrate ligands targeted at known or probable multivalent carbohydrate ligand receptors. Multivalency can dramatically compensate for the weak affinities of individual carbohydrate ligand moieties. Multivalent branched ligand mimetics have been described bearing multiple mannoside, galactoside, lactoside and Sialyl Lewis X (SLe(x)) moieties. New methods for polymeric backbone construction have provided glyco-polymers of defined and controllable size. Promising examples of multivalent ligands giving significant increases in binding potency are being pursued. These types of agents have extensive therapeutic potential in treating infectious diseases or host abnormalities, and also offer exciting potential as drug-conjugate cell-targeting agents.