Preparation and characterization of adipic acid dihydrazide derivatives of yeast mannans

Adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) as one of the most widely used homobifunctional linkers in bioconjugate chemistry was used to prepare active forms of originally neutral mannans from the three pathogenic yeasts (Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata). A combination of the simple analytical methods (elemental analysis, colorimetric assays: Park–Johnson assay, trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid assay, and size exclusion chromatography) was applied for exhaustive structural characterization of the products. Significant cross-linking effect of ADH was revealed, despite the high excess of ADH involved in the reaction.