Photo-Switchable Supramolecular Glycochips for Capturing Suspension Tumor Cells and Real-Time Profiling of Cell Surface Glycosylation

Abstract

A photo-switchable supramolecular glycochip was fabricated via host-guest complexation between surface-immobilized azobenzene and galactose-modified pillar[5]arene. This platform captures suspension tumor cells through multivalent carbohydrate-protein interactions for the construction of QCM cell sensors. Photoisomerization of the azobenzene unit reversibly controls the assembly and disassembly of the supramolecular glycochip, enabling reagent-free regeneration. The system allows real-time analysis of cell surface glycosylation under physiological conditions.