CHAPTER 10: Glycosylated Peptide Materials

Carbohydrate-modified peptides (i.e., “glycopeptides”) inspired by natural glycoproteins and proteoglycans are receiving increasing interest as the basis for biomaterials with advanced structural and functional properties. This chapter first introduces the reader to different chemical and enzymatic methods that are used to synthesize glycosylated peptides. Then, the chapter presents examples in which the structure of peptides and peptide-based materials can be varied through glycosylation. Finally, the chapter highlights the emerging use of glycosylated peptide materials for medical and biotechnology applications, including protein recognition, cell scaffolding, drug delivery, vaccines, and disease treatment. Collectively, the examples surveyed in this chapter demonstrate the enormous potential of carbohydrate conjugates to inform the structure of peptide-based biomaterials, as well as to endow them with new functional capabilities.