Design of Glycopolymers Carrying Sialyl Oligosaccharides for Controlling the Interaction with the Influenza Virus

We designed glycopolymers carrying sialyl oligosaccharides by "post-click" chemistry and evaluated the interaction with the influenza virus. The glycopolymer structures were synthesized in a well-controlled manner by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and the Huisgen reaction. Acrylamide-type monomers were copolymerized to give hydrophilicity to the polymer backbones, and the hydrophilicity enabled the successful introduction of the oligosaccharides into the polymer backbones. The glycopolymers with different sugar densities and polymer lengths were designed for the interaction with hemagglutinin on the virus surface. The synthesized glycopolymers showed the specific molecular recognition against different types of influenza viruses depending on the sugar units (6′- or 3′-sialyllactose). The sugar density and the polymer length of the glycopolymers affected the interaction with the influenza virus. Inhibitory activity of the glycopolymer against virus infection was demonstrated.