Carbohydrate-based designer molecules

Abstract

Carbohydrates, one of the basic building blocks in nature's arsenal, is relatively less explored for therapeutic applications than others like amino acids and nuc1eotides. However, the structural and functional diversities of carbohydrate molecules and their mynad possible concoctions provide unlimited challenges and opportunities to chemists. With the advent of new techniques, like combinatorial chemistry and high throughput screening processes, chemists are now in a position to reap the fullest benefits of these multifaceted building blocks to create diversities emulating nature's principles. Concerted efforts of chemists worldwide in this direction will hopefully provide crucial leads in discovering new drugs and materials.