Download the Carbohydrate Ligands Product Brochure (2022)

For GalNAc ligands, please visit see our GalNAc offering.

Exploiting lectin/carbohydrate-mediated drug delivery through use of glycobiology may offer a means of addressing specific challenges of delivering and targeting difficult therapeutic molecules. The idea of using lectin-carbohydrate interactions to mediate cell targeting and cellular uptake of molecules in general has been under intense investigation in recent years. There is potential for carbohydrate ligands to specifically solubilize, introduce and activate therapeutic macromolecules into diseased cells in a manner that allows for specific and controlled modulation of protein production. Cell-specific delivery of therapeutic agents via carbohydrate ligand targeting has gained interest due to its potential for increased efficacy and reduced side effects.

Sussex Research Laboratories Inc. is the leading commercial source of synthetic, well-defined carbohydrate ligands. These are multi-purpose, functionalized products that enable researchers to modify virtually any molecule large or small with carbohydrates via simple discrete, monodisperse polyethylene glycol (PEG) or alkyl linker/spacer systems. In contrast to traditional alkyl linker/spacers, PEG linker/spacers are water soluble and amphiphilic which reduces linker hydrophobic interactions with macromolecules and surfaces.

Various functionalized carbohydrate ligands include:

1. DBCO (dibenzocyclooctyne) – react with azides via copperless click chemistry
2. Alkynes – react with azides via copper-catalyzed click chemistry
3. Azides – react with triple bonds via click chemistry
4. Maleimides – react with thiols
5. Amines – react with carboxylic acids
6. Carboxylic acids – amine reactive
7. NHS esters (including sulfo-NHS esters) – amine reactive
8. Pentafluorophenolic esters – amine reactive
9. Biotin – for detection of tris-GalNAc ligands via streptavidin
10. Fluorescein – for detection of tris-GalNAc ligands
11. Lipids – preparation of targeted nanoparticles
12. Alkyl and discrete, monodisperse polyethylene glycols (PEGS)
13. Polydisperse polyethylene glycols (PEGS)

View our ligand listing below. If you’re unable to find what you’re looking for, please request for a custom synthesis.