Schizophyllans carrying oligosaccharide appendages as potential candidates for cell-targeted antisense carrier

Schizophyllans carrying beta-lactoside and alpha-mannoside appendages were prepared from native schizophyllan through NaIO4 oxidation followed by reductive amination using aminoethyl-beta-lactoside and alpha-mannoside, respectively. The resulting schizophyllans form stable macromolecular complexes with polynucleotides, such as poly(C) and poly(dA). Specific affinity between these macromolecular complexes and saccharide-binding proteins was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance and agarose gel staining assays. beta-lactoside-appended schizophyllan enhanced an antisense activity in hepatocytes which express lactoside-binding proteins on their cell surfaces.