glycospheres

Glycospheres are a recently explored class of nanostructures with potential applications in drug delivery and biomaterials. They are essentially spherical aggregates of carbohydrates, specifically glycans, which are complex sugar molecules. These glycans can be naturally occurring or synthetically modified. The self-assembly of these carbohydrate chains into a spherical form creates a unique nanostructure with a hydrophilic exterior and a potentially tunable interior.

The formation of glycospheres relies on the specific chemical properties of the glycans, such as their branching patterns and the presence of various functional groups. These properties allow for non-covalent interactions, like hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, to drive the self-assembly process. The size and stability of glycospheres can be controlled by altering the type of glycan used, its concentration, and the environmental conditions during formation.

The primary interest in glycospheres stems from their biocompatibility and biodegradability, owing to their carbohydrate nature. Their hydrophilic outer surface makes them well-suited for interacting with biological systems. Furthermore, the internal structure of glycospheres can be modified to encapsulate hydrophobic drugs or other therapeutic agents, offering a novel approach to targeted drug delivery. Research is ongoing to fully understand their assembly mechanisms, stability in biological fluids, and their efficacy and safety in various biomedical applications.