A Redox-Switchable Supramolecular Carbohydrate Chip for Capture and Real-Time Glycosylation Analysis of Living Suspension Cells

Real-time analysis of aberrant glycosylation on living suspension cancer cells is critical for early cancer detection and therapeutic development, yet the lack of non-destructive immobilization methods for these cells limits the advancement of cell-based biosensors. Herein, a supramolecular carbohydrate chip (SMCC) is presented that enables efficient capture of living cancer cells via multivalent glycan–protein interactions. Based on redox-switchable ferrocene–pillar[6]arene host–guest chemistry, this platform supports real-time binding kinetic analysis of lectin–glycan interactions on cell surfaces under physiological conditions. The chip can be regenerated electrochemically, allowing multiple assay cycles while preserving cell viability. This approach provides a versatile tool for dynamic glycosylation monitoring and cancer biomarker research, with potential applications in drug discovery and clinical diagnostics.