Advances in Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and Mimetics

Dear Colleagues,

Research involving glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), negatively charged biomacromolecules, has gained prominence in recent years. This is in part due to advances in the field, particularly with respect to their isolation, chemical and enzymatic synthesis, and structural characterization. Furthermore, the field has seen an increase in the number of tools available to study the interactions of these molecules with their protein targets, with computational approaches becoming more routine given the challenges with obtaining GAGs in pure form and the increased access to high computing power. The development of molecules that mimic the structure and function of natural GAGs is also witnessing an upsurge. These molecules, which are touted to be easier to synthesize/prepare and be more homogenous, are in some instances thought to be superior to their parent molecules in terms of function. 

Considering the vast potential of GAGs and their mimetics as well as the challenges associated with GAG research, the advancements in this field deserve special attention. As suggested by the title, this Special Issue encompasses fundamental science discoveries and applications of GAGs and GAG-like molecules and will cover topics on (1) the synthesis/preparation of GAGs and GAG-like molecules, (2) the structural characterization of GAGs and GAG-like molecules, (3) the interaction of GAGs and GAG-like molecules with cellular targets, and (4) therapeutic and other applications of GAGs and GAG-like molecules. 

Dr. Daniel Afosah
Dr. Rami A. Al-Horani
Guest Editors

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