Interest in the study of biochemical and biological properties of glycoconjugates is growing. Lectins and glycoconjugates (mainly glycoproteins) have a huge potential for use in biology and medicine as diagnostic and therapeutic tools, and polymers and colloid nanoparticles can ensure controlled distribution for their interaction with targeted cells in organisms. Development of many diseases including cancer is connected with changes in protein glycosylation, and glycans and lectins as substantial components of microbial cell walls are also involved in the interactions with the host cell immediately after pathogen – host first contact leading to infection reaction and immunological response. Biochemical investigations of interactions of isolated or synthesized oligosaccharides linked to protein carriers or other surfaces are so crucial for drug research and vaccine development. On the other side, the interactions of nanoparticles/polymers with individual components of the body can be unwanted with very serious consequences led to the damage of organism. Therefore, the exact study and quantification of such interactions is important for future development and application of involved molecules/substances in diagnostics and therapy. Surface plasmon resonance is a technique routinely used for study of protein - protein interaction. Its employing in studies of mutual interactions between proteins, lectins, glycoconjugates, polymers and colloids is however still limited. We have studied interactions of mannan glycoconjugates with lectins, human proteins with colloidal nanospheres, and DNA with light-switchable polymer using microfluidics surface plasmon resonance as case studies for future biomedical research and possible applications.
Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the projects VEGA 2/0162/14 and CMST COST Action CM1101.
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