Development of glycosylated molecular scaffolds as potential anti-cancer therapeutics

Abstract

The requirement for cell-type specific targeting of anti-cancer therapeutics is crucial to improve treatment and the pallitive care of patients. In this regard, the field of glycotherapeutics has witnessed a surge in research interest in recent years owing to the significant potential offered by such therapeutics. Glycobiology is an expanding and extremely important branch of molecular biology, due to the immense diversity of functions elicited by glycans and lectins. The expression pattern of glyco-conjugates and lectins in oncogenic transformation is important to metastasis. Direct targeting of such molecular handles as biomarkers and drug targets offers significant potential for targeted therapeutics. The aim of this Ph.D. research was to develop novel putative glycotherapeutics and drug delivery systems for such targeting applications.