Hyperbranched polyglycerols (HPGs) are ideal scaffolds for the multivalent presentation of saccharides, due to their biocompatible, carbohydrate-like properties; here, we report the conjugation of galactosesugar moieties to HPG, and the multivalent effect of these constructs on selectin binding.

Electrostatic properties and stability of charged virus-like nano-shells are examined in ionic solutions with monovalent and multivalent ions. A theoretical model based on a thin charged spherical shell and multivalent ions within the "dressed multivalent ion" approximation, yielding their distribution across the shell and the corresponding electrostatic (osmotic) pressure acting on the shell, ...

Four generations of lactose-functionalized polyamidoamine (PAMAM) were employed to further the understanding of multivalent galectin-1 mediated interactions. Dynamic light scattering and fluorescence microscopy were used to study the multivalent interaction of galectin-1 with the glycodendrimers in solution, and glycodendrimers were observed to organize galectin-1 into nanoparticles. In the pre...

Cell-surface receptors acquire information from the extracellular environment and coordinate intracellular responses. Many receptors do not operate as individual entities, but rather as part of dimeric or oligomeric complexes. Coupling the functions of multiple receptors may endow signaling pathways with the sensitivity and malleability required to govern cellular responses. Moreover, multirece...

Cyclodextrin bilayer vesicles have dynamic membranes that recognize guest molecules through efficient multivalent host-guest interaction reminiscent of multivalent binding of a ligand with receptors in a biological membrane.

The multivalent character of dendrimers has positioned these well-defined, highly branched macromolecules at the forefront in the development of new contrast agents for biomedical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). By modifying the periphery of the dendrimer with gadolinium(III) chelates, the relaxivity of the resulting MRI contrast agent is increased considerably, compared to low molecular weig...