Synthetic Hydrogels with Covalently Incorporated Saccharides Studied for Biomedical Applications–15 Year Overview

Glycosylated materials have attracted special attention in biomedical field because of the unique properties of the individual carbohydrates in recognition mechanisms in many biological events. Sugar residues decorating a polymer surface can be regarded as multivalent ligands for interaction with various glycoproteins. This phenomenon provides the basis for several biomedical applications; of these, ligand-based targeted therapy is the most frequently cited. Materials functionalized with individual carbohydrates can be used for the selective binding of lectin proteins. Carbohydrate–lectin interactions underpin the development of diverse biosensor devices and bioassays aimed at pathogen detection. Because of the high content of hydroxyl groups and the consequent high hydrophilicity, saccharide-based monomers are perfect candidates for incorporation into hydrogels. Such functionalization allows synthetic materials to acquire unique properties and enhance their performance. This review covers developments over the past 15 years in the field of the synthesis of chemically crosslinked nano-, micro- and bulk hydrogels with covalently incorporated mono-, di- or trisaccharides. A brief view on the potential biomedical applications of these unique hydrogels is provided with particular emphasis on carriers for delivery of bioactive molecules, bioactivated materials for cell culture and tissue engineering as well as capture systems for pathogenic microorganisms.