# LC-MS System to Determine the Molecular Mass of Synthesized Heparan and Chondroitin Sulfate Oligosaccharides

> **NIH NIH R42** · GLYCAN THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION · 2020 · $119,500

## Abstract

This fast-track STTR application proposes to synthesize structurally defined heparan
sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides for biological research. Glycan
Therapeutics is a biotech company specialized in synthesizing sulfated carbohydrates
using innovative enzyme-based methods. This proposal is focused on the synthesis of
large authentic oligosaccharides in the size range of 10-mers to 16-mers, as well as
ultra-large click oligosaccharides in the size range of 30 saccharide residue long. A
highly experienced research team, including Dr. Yongmei Xu (University of North
Carolina), Dr. Robert Linhardt (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute), and Dr. Vijay
Pagadala (Glycan Therapeutics), will carry out the study. Heparan sulfate and
chondroitin sulfate are members of the glycosaminoglycan family present in large
quantities on mammalian cell surfaces and in the extracellular matrix, displaying a wide
range of biological functions. This proposal is designed to serve two purposes: (i) to
develop a reliable and cost-effective method to synthesize structurally defined heparan
sulfate and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides and structurally controlled
polysaccharides to support glycoscience research; and (ii) to simplify this technology to
allow nonglycoscientists to utilize this technology in a standard biochemistry laboratory
setting. We anticipate that this proposal will provide valuable technical advances to
glycoscience research. Three specific aims are proposed: Aim 1 is to synthesize a
library of structurally defined heparan sulfate oligosaccharides with a size of up to
hexadecasaccharides (16-mers); Aim 2 is to develop novel chemoenzymatic methods to
synthesize chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides; Aim 3 is to prepare structurally
controlled click heparan sulfates and chondroitin sulfate oligosaccharides.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9955007
- **Project number:** 3R42GM128484-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** GLYCAN THERAPEUTICS CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Yongmei Xu
- **Activity code:** R42 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $119,500
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-05-01 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9955007

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9955007, LC-MS System to Determine the Molecular Mass of Synthesized Heparan and Chondroitin Sulfate Oligosaccharides (3R42GM128484-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9955007. Licensed CC0.

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