Synthetic Carbohydrate Receptors: Tools for Exploring and Exploiting the Most Complex Recognition in Biological Materials
Abstract
The carbohydrates on the surfaces of viruses and cells are unique biomarkers for sensors and diagnostics. There are number of critical Department of Defense needs that could be addressed with sensors that bind these carbohydrates, including detecting biofilm formation on military hardware or point-of-care detection and mitigation of biothreats. Currently, however, rapidresponse sensors based on antibodies and proteins that bind carbohydrates are not widely used because of unresolved issues related to the inability to discriminate between different monosaccharides, low detection sensitivity, and the absence of binding in non-aqueous solvents, where the sensors sometimes must operate. So there is a pressing need for new sensing platforms that can detect carbohydrates selectively and at low concentrations. This research effort will explore the ability of synthetic carbohydrate receptors (SCRs) Ð small molecules that can bind carbohydrates Ð to discriminate between different carbohydrates in organic and aqueous media, so that they could potentially serve as active elements in various sensor platforms. These synthetic molecules are promising for solving the carbohydrate-detection challenge because their structures can be easily tuned to modify substrate specificity, binding affinity, and solubility by leveraging the tools of organic synthesis in conjunction with advanced computational modeling. To this end, we will create a series of SCRs and measure their binding against a series of biologically-relevant carbohydrates to answer the following fundamental questions: (1) Can we derive a set of design rules to anticipate how differences in SCR structures affect selectivity and affinity? And (2) can we create quantitative models for understanding how multivalency and cooperativity affect binding between SCRs and immobilized carbohydrates? Our interdisciplinary and collaborative approach will combine organic synthesis, supramolecular chemistry, surface science, and computational modeling to answer these questions. Through these efforts, we hope to create a series of molecules that can selectively bind carbohydrates with high sensitivity and that are easily incorporated into conventional sensing modalities. In doing so, we will provide cutting-edge research experiences for the graduate and undergraduate students working on this project, and enhance the research environment at Hunter College, a research-focused Minority Serving Institution.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 2020
- Source ID
- W911NF2010271
Entities
People
- Adam B Braunschweig
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Hunter College
- Office of the Secretary of Defense