Complex sugars (CS) are key ligands for modulating the pharmacological properties of proteins, triggering specific cellular responses, and enabling targeted vectorization in biotherapies. There is therefore strong interest in developing new, rapid, and efficient methods for protein functionalization with CS, as a complement to current enzymatic or metabolic engineering approaches, which are generally limited to the grafting of simple sugars. We have recently developed an innovative electrochemical bioconjugation strategy that allows the site-selective anchoring of a chemical handle onto tyrosine residues of proteins by applying a simple electrical potential in solution. This electro-bioconjugation reaction occurs within minutes, providing a fast and biocompatible process for the functionalization of viral vectors, bacteria, and even whole cells, without compromising their viability (Nat. Commun., 2023, 14, 5122; Chem. Sci., 2021, 12, 15374-15381; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2018, 140, 17120-17126). In this project, the successful candidate will develop the chemical synthesis of CS conjugates, functionalized with a dedicated chemical handle. These compounds will then be grafted electrochemically onto viral vectors and immune cells, with applications in gene therapy and anticancer immunotherapy.

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