Abstract
The sequence, length and substitution of a polysaccharide influence its physical and biological properties. Thus, sequence controlled polysaccharides are important targets to establish structure–properties correlations. Polymerization techniques and enzymatic methods have been optimized to obtain samples with well-defined substitution patterns and narrow molecular weight distribution. Chemical synthesis has granted access to polysaccharides with full control over the length. Here, we review the progress towards the synthesis of well-defined polysaccharides. For each class of polysaccharides, we discuss the available synthetic approaches and their current limitations.
Highlights
Polysaccharides are an abundant class of natural polymers that play important roles in the biosphere by structurally supporting plants, providing energy to animals, and regulating a variety of biological processes [1]
We aim to provide guidelines for the synthesis of a target polysaccharide, as well as to identify the remaining bottlenecks associated with each class of polysaccharides
An amino or azido functionality in the C-6 position allows for further modifications, for example by click-chemistry [82]. These results show that enzymatic methods can be powerful approaches to create unnatural polysaccharide materials
Summary
Polysaccharides are an abundant class of natural polymers that play important roles in the biosphere by structurally supporting plants, providing energy to animals, and regulating a variety of biological processes [1]. Their versatility and diversity result in a wide range of properties exploited for commercial purposes. Small contaminations can heavily affect the polysaccharides’ material and biological properties. This issue became dramatic when contaminated batches of heparin caused many deaths during the so called “heparin crisis” in 2008 [4]
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