The role of carbohydrates in drug discovery: from natural sugars to synthetic glycomimetics

Abstract

Carbohydrates have evolved from structural biomolecules to active scaffolds in drug discovery. This paper highlights the main aspects of the role of carbohydrates in modern drug design and the importance of their chemical functionalisation. Herein, we discuss their structural features, including their stereochemical complexity, high functionality, and involvement in biological recognition processes, and their importance in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and glycoconjugates