BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Mimicking Mucins

May 1, 2008 7:00 AM UTC

Researchers have developed synthetic glycopolymers that model the binding behavior of mucins on the surfaces of living cells. The technique, which avoids the difficulties associated with studying mucins in their complex native state, could lead to improved cancer therapies that target mucins and other glycoproteins.

Such 'mucin mimics' could fill an important technical gap, if mimics with the functional-as well as the physical-properties of glycoproteins could be designed...