Biomimetic Carbohydrate‐Binding Agents (CBAs): Binding Affinities and Biological Activities

Mimicking nature in carbohydrate recognition—that is, by using noncovalent interactions exclusively—is a hot topic that has attracted the interest of many scientists in the last 30 years. Carbohydrates are challenging ligands of high biological relevance, playing central roles in several physiological and pathological processes. Carbohydrate‐binding agents (CBAs) of proteic nature, such as lectins, have been extensively used in glycobiology to target carbohydrates, but intrinsic drawbacks conferred on them by their proteic nature limit their therapeutic development. Biomimetic CBAs, artificial small molecules designed for molecular recognition of carbohydrates through noncovalent interactions, have been shown to be effective alternatives in recognising carbohydrates in physiological media, opening the way to biological applications. Herein, we describe the recent achievements in this continually developing field, focusing on those biomimetic CBAs for which biological investigations have been carried out. Prime suspect: Glycans are ubiquitous in living systems and play a central role in the aetiology of all major human diseases. Biomimetic carbohydrate‐binding agents (CBAs), a class of artificial receptors that mimic the binding ability of natural receptors, can effectively recognise saccharides in the biological context, opening the way to practical applications and therapeutic developments.