The last two decades have seen an urgent need to find more efficient methods
with minimal health impact to diagnose and treat common diseases. Recent
research on drug and gene delivery by polymeric vectors has shown promising
results because polymers provide excellent drug protection whilst showing low
toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Nevertheless, targeted delivery is a major
characteristic that polymeric vectors often lack. Glycopolymers, however, can
form specific interactions with lectins by mimicking biological interactions.
These interactions are responsible for numerous biological mechanisms and
can be exploited to achieve targeted delivery of medicines. Herein, different
polymerisation techniques for the synthesis of glycopolymers with different
architectures and properties are explored. First, the preparation of star shaped
glycopolymers as a way to increase drug encapsulation and lectin binding is
discussed. Thereafter, reducible glycopolymers prepared via step growth
polymerisation are investigated as potential gene transporters. Furthermore,
the interactions between glycopolymers and a lectin are measured under
physiological conditions and the results are discussed. Finally, recent progress
on glycopolymers and the gaps that still need to be addressed are discussed
