Glycodendrimer sialic acid

Whereas glycodendrimers bind the influenza hemagglutinin in the micromolar range, a corresponding non-dendritic active substance requires millimolar concentrations to block the sialic acid-cleaving enzyme [39]. 

A G4 PAMAM dendrimer conjugate80 (Fig. 16) has been synthesized, and in vivo studies have demonstrated its ability to protect against experimental infection by influenza A X-31 H3N2 virus in mice. In this case the glycodendrimer not only showed increased binding affinity due to the multivalency, but also facilitated the delivery of sialic acid, preventing enzymatic breakdown in vivo, and diminishing the cytotoxicity. 

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