title: Binding to protein surfaces by supramolecular multivalent scaffolds.
abstract: Multivalency plays a pivotal role in biological recognition, particularly at protein-protein and protein-carbohydrate interaction sites. Scaffolds of diverse structure, flexibility, and valency are gaining increasing biomedical importance in the development of artificial multivalent ligands for these interfaces. Relevant examples range from small C(4) symmetric calix[4]arenes and porphyrin ligands, which may achieve nanomolar affinity for protein surfaces of pharmaceutical interest, to large-sized dendrimers that provide promising adherence-inhibition for toxins and other relevant lectins. In addition, highly flexible supramolecular platforms like rotaxanes and polymers have been proposed as challenging alternatives to more rigid designs. Finally, nanoparticles are being exploited for this aim as they present important advantages from the biological and synthetic points of view.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Avda. Països Catalans 16, 43007 Tarragona, Spain.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martos
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Castreño
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002384:Catalysis; D006801:Humans; D007287:Inorganic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007287:Inorganic Chemicals; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011506:Proteins