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This book presents basic and advanced principles underlying the multivalent
interactions that are prevalent in biological systems. To illustrate important or
complex concepts, the book provides up-to-date examples of synthetic multivalent
molecules, their design, and their biological benefits. Functional roles
displayed by such molecules of both natural and synthetic origin are well
documented in biology, where they exert unique and crucial activities at a
level not readily achievable by monovalent molecules. The concept of multivalent
design is now accepted as an e¤ective strategy—in particular, for designing
ligands, inhibitors, and drugs that influence biological systems potently
and selectively.
Over the past 15 years, diverse diciplines have generated a growing interest
in the biomedical application of multivalent design. The goal of this book is to
share the findings in this exciting area of research by providing a systematic
summary of experimentally tested case studies of multivalency. I believe that a
single book serves best to collect such scattered research material in one place
and to discuss it in a consistent and introductory format.
The book focuses on practical examples of synthetic multivalent molecules
reported broadly in the literature. It consists of five chapters. In Chapter 1
I introduce the multivalent molecule and its structural elements, describe the
mechanistic basis that accounts for the benefits of multivalent interaction, and
provide a short summary of biological functions displayed by multivalent
molecules. In Chapters 2 to 4 I provide practical examples derived from biological
targets in viral, bacterial, and mammalian cells, respectively. In each
chapter I review in a similar format the design concept, synthesis, and biological
activity of multivalent molecules: in particular, those of synthetic origin. |
