Poly(amido amine)-Based Mannose-Glycodendrimers As Multielectron Redox Probes for Improving Lectin Sensing

An easy-to-prepare series of electroactive poly­(amido amine) (PAMAM)-based dendrimers of generations G0 to G2 having mannopyranosylferrocenyl moieties in the periphery to detect carbohydrate–protein interactions is reported. The synthesis involved the functionalization of the PAMAM surface with azidomethylferrocenyl groups and subsequent coupling of mannoside units by the Cu­(I)-catalyzed Huisgen reaction. The binding affinity of the series of electroactive glycodendrimers was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Upon complexation of the glycodendrimers conjugates with prototypical concanavalin A (Con A), voltammograms showed a decrease of the peak current. Such dendrimers showed a notable improvement of redox sensing abilities toward Con A when compared with mono- and divalent analogues, based on both the glycoside multivalent and ferrocene dendritic effects

β‑Cyclodextrin-Bearing Gold Glyconanoparticles for the Development of Site Specific Drug Delivery Systems

Three novel gold nanoparticles containing multiple long, flexible linkers decorated with lactose, β-cyclodextrin, and both simultaneously have been prepared. The interaction of such nanoparticles with β-d-galactose-recognizing lectins peanut agglutinin (PNA) and human galectin-3 (Gal-3) was demonstrated by UV–vis studies. Gal-3 is well-known to be overexpressed in several human tumors and can act as a biorecognizable target. This technique also allowed us to estimate their loading capability toward the anticancer drug methotrexate (MTX). Both results make these glyconanoparticles potential site-specific delivery systems for anticancer drugs