Poly(ethylene glycol acrylate)-functionalized hydrogels for heparan sulfate oligosaccharide recognition.

Heparan sulfates are complex polysaccharides belonging to the family of glycosaminoglycans that participate to the regulation of cell behavior and tissue homeostasis. The biological activities conferred to heparan sulfates are largely dependent on the content and positioning of the sulfate groups along their saccharidic units. At present, identification of particular sulfation patterns in biologically relevant heparan sulfate sequences remains challenging. Although several approaches for structure analysis exist, the complexity of heparan sulfates makes new and original approaches still required. Here, we used molecular imprinting technologies to prepare a library of polyethylene glycol acrylate functionalized hydrogels with the aim to investigate their applicability as specific recognizing systems for fondaparinux, a synthetic pentasaccharide analog to the antithrombin binding site of heparin. Adequate choice of the hydrogel composition and controlling rebinding conditions were important determinants for improving the sulfated oligosaccharide recognition specificity and selectivity. Our results suggest that molecular imprinting approaches could be a possibility for the specific recognition of biologically active sequences in heparan sulfates.

Molecular imprinting technology for specific recognition of heparan sulfate like disaccharides.

Iinteractions of biologically active proteins with sulfated glycans, particularly heparan sulfates (HS), are dependent on factors involving amounts and positions of the sulfate groups in the sugars chains. Although the importance of knowing the exact positions of the sulfate groups in particular HS sequences is well recognized, at present, approaches in this area are complex and still considered as a challenge. Here, we investigated the applicability of the 'Molecular Imprinting Technology' for the generation of imprinted polymers able to specifically recognize a model HS-like disaccharide. In order to advance on the applicability of this technology to the recognition of these complex sugars, we prepared a library of imprinted polymers to investigate the impact of the polymerization reaction conditions and stoichiometry on the generation of binding sites able to specifically recognize the model sulfated sugar. Our results show that imprinted polymers able to specifically bind HS-like saccharide can readily be obtained. This constitutes a suitable option for developing novel strategies directed to study fine sulfated sugars structures.