Mannosylated brush copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ε-caprolactone) as multivalent lectin-binding nanomaterials

A class of linear and four-arm mannosylated brush copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) and poly(ε-caprolactone) is presented here. The synthesis through ring-opening and atom transfer radical polymerizations provided high control over molecular weight and functionality. A post-polymerization azide–alkyne cycloaddition allowed for the formation of glycopolymers with different mannose valencies (1, 2, 4, and 8). In aqueous media, these macromolecules formed nanoparticles that were able to bind lectins, as investigated by concanavalin A binding assay. The results indicate that carbohydrate–lectin interactions can be tuned by the macromolecular architecture and functionality, hence the importance of these macromolecular properties in the design of targeted anti-pathogenic nanomaterials.