Supramolecular Carbohydrate Assemblies with Tunable Glycan Surfaces

TL;DR

Scientists created nanomaterials with precise carbohydrate surfaces that can influence fungal cell shape.

Contribution

A modular system for assembling carbohydrate ligands into supramolecular nanomaterials with controlled density and spatial arrangement.

Findings

Carbohydrate oligomers assemble into nanomaterials with dense carbohydrate ligand presentation.

The system maintains consistent material properties while accommodating various carbohydrates.

The nanomaterials influence the morphology of Candida albicans through displayed carbohydrate residues.

Abstract

The self‐assembly of molecular building blocks into ordered supramolecular structures enables the creation of nanomaterials that can display ligands on their surfaces with molecular precision. However, many of these supramolecular scaffolds face challenges in incorporating bulky or hydrophilic ligands, such as carbohydrates. This issue often requires the co‐assembly of ligand‐containing blocks with non‐functionalized ones, diluting ligand presentation and compromising their precise spatial arrangement. Herein, we present carbohydrate oligomers that assemble into supramolecular nanomaterials featuring a molecularly controlled, dense presentation of carbohydrate ligands on their surfaces. This modular system accommodates a variety of carbohydrate ligands while maintaining consistent bulk material properties. Using this approach, we have engineered a series of supramolecular hydrogels, whose nanostructure displays specific carbohydrate residues with high density that act as biological cues to influence the morphology of Candida albicans.

Synthetic cellulose‐based oligomers assemble into supramolecular nanomaterials with a molecularly controlled, dense presentation of carbohydrates on their surfaces, serving as biological cues.

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