Carbohydrates in Drug Design and Discovery: (Volume 43 Drug Discovery Series)

In recent years there has been increasing evidence of the importance of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates in biomedical applications, and the use of synthetic ligands based on carbohydrates as drugs has received much attention. Focussing on drug discovery from key targets and placing an emphasis on the multi-disciplinary approaches necessary to challenge these issues, this book comprehensively covers the new and recent discoveries in the area of carbohydrate drug discovery. Carbohydrates in Drug Design and Discovery is split into five sections, beginning with a introduction and perspective on the current market. The book then goes on to discuss new synthetic methods in glycobiology, the use of glycobiology in chemical biology and glycobiology in drug discovery. Providing a worldwide perspective on this broad area, and providing examples of therapeutics already developed using these methods, this book provides a comprehensive introduction, discussion and update on this fast developing field for medicinal chemists and biochemists working in industry and academia.

Table of Contents:
Tumor associated carbohydrate antigens; Lipopolysaccharides as microbe-associated molecular patterns; Carbohydrate protein interactions at the host-pathogen interface; Glyconanotechnology and disease; Glycodendrimers for drug discovery; Chemical glycobiology of infection; Glycosylated antitumor ether lipids; Synthesis of novel molecules for glycobiology and glycomedicine; The development of innovative strategies towards glycovaccines; Carbohydrates and glycomimetics in neurodiseases; Glycosyl-containing inhibitors of Matrix Metallo Proteinases; Design and synthesis of novel molecules as mechanistic probes for carbohydrate-mediated biological recognition; The development of the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine using a synthetic antigen; Carbohydrate-Protein Interactios: A 3D view by NMR and modeling; Inhibition of enzyme activity (glycosides and gycosyl hydrolase enzymes) using multivalent analogs; Mycobacterium tuberculosis and C-type lectins; New tools for chemical medicine: From synthesis to applications

Review :
gives a nice overview of the relevance of carbohydrates in the inspiration process for drug design and development. Overall, this book presents an interesting set of examples (although not exhaustive) of the new frontiers opened by carbohydrates in medicinal chemistry, with a special focus on anticancer and antibacterial agents. It is a useful resource for medicinal chemists, as well as for experts in the field of carbohydrate chemistry and biology who might want to have an updated perspective on new directions in the search for new carbohydrate-based therapeutics.