Preparation of Neoglycoprotein-Liposome Conjugates and Their Applications for Studying Recognition Functions Based on Membrane-Surface Carbohydrate-Protein Interactions

In order to find a route from biological phenomena to possible applications in the organic materials science, we have paid special attention to carbohydra te-protein interactions which play an important role in biological systems. Studies on these interactions are attracting increasing interests in synthetic research and in practical applications in various fields for producing new functional materials. We here report preparation and characterization of a new type of neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates, and applications for studying recognition functions of these neoglycoconjugates using a model system and biological systems. Various types of neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates were prepared according to a method, including preparation of mixed micellesCpreparation of liposomes, and chemical coupling of neoglycoproteins to liposomes. A model study and in vitro assays using human adenocarcinoma cells indicated carbohydrate-specific recognition functions of these neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates. A tissue distribution assay using Ehrlich solid tumor-bearing mice showed individual response of diverse tissues towards different types of applied neoglycoprotein-liposome conjugates. This new type of carbohydrate-conjugated materials will find a wide field of applications for basic carbohydrate recognition research as wel as for applied area such as cell type-specific targeting materials.