Carbohydrate Nanotechnology

This text explores the possibilities created by integrating carbohydrates with nanostructures for the study of carbohydrate-protein interactions and for sensing, diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. The methods used to create and modify nanostructures such as gold nanoparticles, dendrimers, or magnetic particles with carbohydrates of biological significance are surveyed. Physical methods important for the characterization of carbohydrate -- protein interactions at the nanoscale such as in-situ and scanning probe microscopy methods are covered. Plasmonic, scanning probe, and electrochemical methods important for the application of carbohydrate modified nanostructures for assay of carbohydrate-protein interactions are addressed. New advances in carbohydrate microarray technology based on the use of modified nanostructures are discussed. Applications of modified nanoparticles to imaging of cell surface structure are included, as well as the application of carbohydrate modified nanostructures for the sensing of glycoforms and of glycoproteins.. Selected therapeutic applications in the realm of cancer, vaccines, and infectious diseases are addressed, and safety related aspects of the therapeutic use of carbohydrate modified nanoparticles are included throughout.