Simulation of Cell Recognition As Studied by Using Macrocyclic Sacchraide Clusters

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We constructed a gene delivery system using a calix[4]resorcarene-based glycocluster compounds as hosts/carriers. The major achievements are as follows.(1) Glycoclusters form micelle-like nanoparticles, which are agglutinated with phosphate ions. This is entropy-driven via dehydration of glycoclusters and anions.(2) Glycolcusters also strongly bind to plasmid DNAs to give "glycoviruses" having a size of ca. 50 nm. They are capable of transfection of various cells via endocytosis to express encoded proteins.(3) Endocytosis is size-dependent and is optimized at around 50 nm. Glycoviruses having terminal galactose residues undergo further aggregation to lower the transfection activities. On the other hand, they are capable of targeting the hepatic cells via receptor-mediated specific pathway. The overall activity, however, is kept low due to the size factor.(4) The partially galactose-functionalized glyovirus is free from aggregation and show a high affinity as well selectivity to the hepatic cells both in vitro and in vivo (mouse).(5) We are thus successful in constructing a highly hepatocyte-targeting gene delivery system using a non-aggregating galactose-virus having a manipulated mode of galactose functionalization.(6) In view of the remarkable roles of proteoglycans in the extracellular matrices, we also prepared condroitin-sulfate functionalized macrocyclic clusters. They show a remarkably potent inhibition effect toward fibronectin-integrin mediated cell adhesion, probably as a result of stabilization of protein complexes from undergoing aggregation