Chemically synthesized glycoconjugates on proteins: effects of multivalency and glycoform in vivo.

The biodistributions and in vivo kinetics of chemically prepared glycoconjugates on proteins are reviewed. Chemical methods can be used to conjugate various mono- and oligosaccharides onto a protein surface. The kinetics and organ-specific accumulation profiles of these glycoconjugates, which are introduced through intravenous injections, have been analyzed using conventional dissection studies as well as non-invasive methods such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and fluorescence imaging. The results suggest that glycan-dependent protein distribution kinetics may be useful for pharmacological and diagnostic applications.