Distinguishing glycan isomers by voltammetry. Modification of 2,3-sialyllactose and 2,6-sialyllactose by osmium(VI) complexes

Carbohydrate components in glycoproteins play a critical role in health and disease and specificity of glycoprotein biomarkers can be greatly enhanced by analysis of their sugar components containing frequently different isomers. We show that two glycan isomers, 2,3-sialyllactose and 2,6-sialyllactose (important in cancer), can be distinguished voltammetrically after their modification with osmium(VI) complexes. Using SWV at different frequencies and CV at different scan rates we found conditions for simple discrimination between these isomers at mercury and carbon electrodes.