Recent advances in the fabrication and detection of lectin microarrays and their application in glycobiology analysis

Lectin microarrays are increasingly used as screening tools with a high potential for glycobiology analysis, providing a high-sensitivity profiling of complex glycan features in a short time, without the need for the release of glycan. The application of the technology for the rapid differential glycan profiling of target samples resulted in the discovery of new glycan-related biomarkers for disease detection and particular types of glycobiology studies. Additionally, lectin microarrays might offer many opportunities for further innovation, and their range of applications in the life sciences promises to be greatly expanded. Herein, we describe the advances in the fabrication and detection of lectin microarray technologies and their application, which herald even more exciting breakthroughs in the coming decade.