Recent advances in engineering polyvalent biological interactions

Biomacromolecules. 2015 Jan 12;16(1):43-55. doi: 10.1021/bm5014469. Epub 2014 Nov 26.

Abstract

Polyvalent interactions, where multiple ligands and receptors interact simultaneously, are ubiquitous in nature. Synthetic polyvalent molecules, therefore, have the ability to affect biological processes ranging from protein-ligand binding to cellular signaling. In this review, we discuss recent advances in polyvalent scaffold design and applications. First, we will describe recent developments in the engineering of polyvalent scaffolds based on biomolecules and novel materials. Then, we will illustrate how polyvalent molecules are finding applications as toxin and pathogen inhibitors, targeting molecules, immune response modulators, and cellular effectors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomedical Engineering / methods
  • Biomedical Engineering / trends*
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Delivery Systems / trends*
  • Drug Design*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Protein Binding / physiology
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / metabolism
  • Tissue Scaffolds / trends

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear