Importance of local glycan heterogeneity for in vivo cancer targeting

[Display omitted] •Heterogeneous glycoalbumins containing two non-identical N-glycans were prepared.•Local glycan heterogeneity affected the cancer accumulation.•Glycan pattern recognition is promising method for cancer targeting. The preparation of heterogeneous glycoclusters on human serum albumin, containing two structurally non-identical N-glycans, is reported. In agreement with the cell-based interaction data, the trivial structural difference in local glycan heterogeneity can affect the in vivo distribution and cancer accumulation.