chemosensors for sugar molecules

The selective recognition and sensing of sugar molecules, particularly monosaccharides, disaccharides, and various glycosides, represent a pivotal area of research within supramolecular and analytical chemistry. Carbohydrates play vital roles in cellular recognition, metabolic regulation, and disease pathogenesis, rendering their real-time, non-enzymatic detection highly desirable for clinical diagnostics and biotechnology. This review comprehensively examines synthetic optical chemosensors categorized by their active functional groups, including boronic acids, ureas, thioureas, and crown ethers. Particular emphasis is devoted to signal transduction mechanisms such as photoinduced electron transfer (PET), intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), and aggregation-induced emission (AIE). Furthermore, molecular recognition strategies for distinct glycoside architecture—including glucosides, galactosides, and fructosides—are systematically analyzed under various solvent conditions. By evaluating key binding thermodynamic parameters ($K_a$) and stereochemical discrimination mechanisms, this review outlines the ongoing challenges associated with saccharide sensing in competitive aqueous media and highlights emerging opportunities for next-generation bio-analytical applications.