Recognition and protection of glycosphingolipids by synthetic nanoparticle receptors

Abstract

Nanoparticle receptors were synthesized through micellar imprinting to bind glycosphingolipids with 20–140 μM binding affinities, meanwhile distinguishing glycan composition, the number of acyl chains, and hydroxylation of acyl chains in the lipids. The strong binding enabled the receptors to protect their target glycolipids dispersed in lipid membranes from enzymatic degradation.