CHAPTER 7: Glyconanoparticles: Synthesis and Biomedical Applications Check Access

Carbohydrates are integral component of diverse processes, such as in metabolic activity and in cell-receptor recognition processes. Although carbohydrates alone possess few benefits, their incorporation into macromolecular and nanostructures bestow on them new properties such as biocompatibility, multivalency and targeting ability for advanced biomedical applications. With advances in carbohydrate chemistry, glycobiology and nanotechnology, it is now possible to design glyconanoparticles with remarkable physical, chemical and biological properties. This chapter focuses on recent advances in glyconanotechnology and the versatility of such systems for a range of applications, including targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, bacterial/viral inhibition and biosensing, is discussed.