Glycolipid Engineering Service

Glycolipids, a unique class of glycosylated lipids, are critical components of cellular membranes and signaling interfaces. Their amphiphilic structure, consisting of carbohydrate headgroups and hydrophobic lipid tails, not only mediates membrane dynamics but also modulates immune recognition, pathogen interactions, and intercellular communication. With growing interest in glycofunctionalized therapeutics, diagnostics, and biomaterials, engineering custom glycolipids has become a powerful approach for precise molecular tailoring. At Creative Biolabs, our glycolipid engineering service provides integrated, high-performance solutions for the synthesis, structural modification, and functional characterization of glycolipids across research, diagnostic, and preclinical development pipelines.

Fig.1 Glycolipid-driven immune modulation.1

Glycolipid Engineering Service Overview

Our flexible and modular service framework supports both single-component and multivalent glycolipid designs tailored for complex biological functions and formulation requirements.

Custom Glycolipid Synthesis

We support de novo synthesis of glycolipids including:

• Rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, trehalolipids, mannosylerythritol lipids
• Synthetic glycosylceramides and glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPI anchors)
• Tailored acyl chain length, glycosidic linkage types, and headgroup sugar structures

Our synthesis workflows include microbial biosynthesis (e.g., Pseudomonas, Candida, Ustilago) for native or engineered glycolipids, and total chemical synthesis routes, including isotopically labeled and clickable lipid analogs for advanced bioconjugation strategies. Interested in custom structures or unusual glycoforms? Contact our specialists to discuss feasibility and lead times.

Glycosylation Site Design & Lipid Scaffolds

We offer structure-guided optimization of lipid substrates to enhance glycosylation efficiency and biological functionality:

• Selection and screening of lipid backbones (e.g., ceramide, phospholipids, cholesterol derivatives)
• Strategic incorporation of reactive handles or recognition motifs for site-directed glycosylation
• Engineering of glycolipid moieties on liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, polymers, or self-assembled monolayers

Our design process ensures compatibility with host cell glycosylation machinery or with downstream chemoenzymatic remodeling steps. If you have a specific scaffold in your mind, we are willing to help you engineer and test its compatibility with your glycosylation goals.

Chemoenzymatic Remodeling & Derivatization

Our post-synthetic functionalization workflows enable:

• Remodeling of natural glycolipids using highly selective glycosyltransferases and glycosidases
• Installation of terminal fucose, sialic acid, galactose, or modified sugar residues
• Introduction of azido, alkyne, biotin, or fluorescent groups for conjugation or tracking

These bio-orthogonal derivatizations maintain native glycolipid orientation and function while enabling downstream coupling to peptides, proteins, polymers, or surfaces. If you are looking to functionalize your lipids post-synthesis, please do not hesitate to ask about our chemoenzymatic remodeling kits.

Glycolipid Analysis & Profiling

Equipped with an advanced glycan analysis platform, we support complete structural validation and functional performance analysis:

• MS-based analysis (MALDI-TOF, LC-MS/MS), NMR spectroscopy, and glycan release profiling
• HPLC or TLC-based purity and identity verification
• Surface tension, micelle formation, and critical micelle concentration (CMC) assays
• Lipid bilayer insertion and vesicle stability studies
• Glycan recognition profiling via lectin arrays and cell-based assays

Need analytical support only? Our profiling service is available as a stand-alone offering.

Highlighted Applications

Glycolipid-Based Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents

Custom glycolipids such as mono- and di-rhamnolipids and sophorolipids have demonstrated potent effects against bacterial and fungal biofilms, particularly on abiotic surfaces in healthcare and food systems. We assist with:

• Chain length/glycosidic linkage optimization for biofilm disruption
• Incorporation into antimicrobial coatings, hydrogels, or emulsions
• Activity screening against multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains or environmental pathogens

Immunomodulatory and Adjuvant Design

Microbial glycolipids structurally resemble pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), activating host PRRs like TLR2, Mincle, or Dectin-1. We develop:

• Glycolipid analogs with selective immune-stimulatory profiles
• Lipid antigens for CD1d-restricted NKT cell activation
• Carriers that co-deliver antigens with glycolipid adjuvants

Glycolipid-Functionalized Nanocarriers

We functionalize nanocarriers with glycolipids to exploit receptor-mediated uptake and enhance tissue targeting. Applications include:

• Liposomes with ganglioside mimics for brain or immune cell targeting
• Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) with mannosylated lipids for dendritic cell uptake
• PEGylated glycolipids for stealth delivery with immune-modulating properties

Why Choose Creative Biolabs?

• Full-spectrum support: from design and synthesis to purification and validation
• Multidisciplinary team with expertise in glycobiology, lipid chemistry, and nanotechnology
• Batch-to-batch reproducibility and scalable production models
• Flexible contract models for R&D, diagnostic development, and preclinical validation

How to Start Your Project?

• Send us your project requirements to receive a customized quote within 48 hours
• Schedule a free consultation with our experts to discuss optimal scaffold design and strategy
• Inquire about our pilot production service for milligram-to-gram scale validation batches

Let Creative Biolabs accelerate your glycolipid research and innovation. We help you move from concept to application with confidence. Contact us today to speak with a specialist.

FAQs

Reference

1. Daniotti, Jose Luis, Ricardo D. Lardone, and Aldo A. Vilcaes. "Dysregulated expression of glycolipids in tumor cells: from negative modulator of anti-tumor immunity to promising targets for developing therapeutic agents." Frontiers in oncology 5 (2016): 300. Distributed under Open Access license CC BY 4.0, part A was trimmed and only part B was retained. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2015.00300

Resources

• Glycosylation of Expressed Proteins/Peptides
• Glycosylated Antibody Engineering
• Glycosylated Oligonucleotide Engineering
• Glycosylation of Small Molecule Drugs
• Glycosylated Polymer Engineering

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