Polysaccharide conjugates of biomolecules
Compounds that are modified polysaccharides having pendant aldehyde functionalities are disclosed. Each of the aldehyde functionalities is attached through a linker to a position corresponding to a hydrogen atom of a different hydroxyl group of unmodified polysaccharide. Also disclosed is a method for introducing an amine-reactive functionality into a dextran. The method comprises (a) reacting the dextran with an alkylating agent having a functionality that reacts with an hydroxyl group of the dextran thereby forming an alkylated dextran wherein the alkylating agent has an olefin group and (b) treating the alkylated dextran to convert the olefin group to an amine-reactive functionality. A polysaccharide can be conjugated to a biomolecule by carrying out the above method and reacting the amine-reactive functionality with an amine functionality on the biomolecule to produce polysaccharide conjugated to the biomolecule.
1. A compound produced by reaction of a polymer comprising a sequence of repeating monosaccharide units, each of which is independently selected from monosaccharide units of the formula:
wherein one of the A's is a bond to the C1 glycosidic carbon of another of said units and the other A's are independently selected from the group consisting of H and QL, wherein L is a linking group linking O and Q and Q is C(H)=O with the proviso that at least two of the A's in said polymer are QL with a polylpeptide.
2. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide is a biomolecule.
3. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide is a receptor.
4. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide is a binding pair member.
5. The compound according to claim 1 wherein the polypeptide is an antibody.