Precise Synthesis of Highly Branched <i>Angelica dahurica</i> Polysaccharides up to 66 Units Reveals a Minimal Motif for Wound Repair

J Jialin Wang Y Yang Ruan N Na Zhao S Sixu Lu R Rui Ge (State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences) J Jing Ling (Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University) C Chandler K. Wells (Department of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin Austin USA) W Wenbin Shen G Guizhong Xin (State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China) C Chaofeng Zhang (Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Leibniz International Joint Research Centre of Materials Sciences of Anhui Province) L Lian‐Wen Qi (State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China) X Xin‐Shan Ye (State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Peking University Beijing China) X Xianjin Qin (Department of Chemistry)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Polysaccharides derived from Angelica dahurica exhibit potent wound healing activity, yet the pronounced structural heterogeneity of natural extracts has obscured the identity of the active motif and hindered clinical translation. Here we report a convergent, one‐pot [22+22+22] glycosylation strategy based on glycosyl donor preactivation that enables the precise chemical synthesis of a 66‐unit A. dahurica polysaccharide. This approach facilitates the efficient assembly of a comprehensive glycan library spanning tetrasaccharides to the full‐length 66‐mer polysaccharide, allowing for systematic biological evaluation. Functional screening identifies the reducing end hexasaccharide as the minimal active motif responsible for wound healing activity. Mechanistic analyses reveal that the synthetic hexa‐ and dodecasaccharides promote fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and migration, while concurrently reprogramming macrophage polarization. Crucially, gram‐scale synthesis of both glycans enables definitive in vivo evaluation, demonstrating significantly accelerated wound closure through attenuation of excessive inflammation and promotion of organized collagen deposition. Collectively, these findings establish a general paradigm for deconvoluting heterogeneous natural polysaccharide extracts through de novo synthesis of structurally well‐defined glycans as precision‐engineered wound healing therapeutics.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 26
Published June 22, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (13)

J

Jialin Wang

Y

Yang Ruan

N

Na Zhao

S

Sixu Lu

R

Rui Ge

State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences

J

Jing Ling

Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University

C

Chandler K. Wells

Department of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin Austin USA

W

Wenbin Shen

G

Guizhong Xin

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China

C

Chaofeng Zhang

Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Leibniz International Joint Research Centre of Materials Sciences of Anhui Province

L

Lian‐Wen Qi

State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicine and School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy China Pharmaceutical University Nanjing China

X

Xin‐Shan Ye

State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs Peking University Beijing China

X

Xianjin Qin

Department of Chemistry