Cell surface Glycans: from recognition technologies and functional editing to medical applications

Cell-surface glycans play essential roles in cell communication, immune recognition, and disease progression. Their medical applications are supported by two important technological pillars: glycan recognition and glycan editing. This Review focuses on three key directions: recognition technologies, namely, in situ imaging and glycomic profiling, for detecting and profiling glycans; functional editing technologies, including genetic, enzymatic, chemical, and metabolic approaches, for precisely remodelling glycans; and medical applications driven by the synergy between recognition and editing, with a focus on four areas: biomarkers, lectin-based therapies, precision glycan editing, and cancer immunotherapy. Throughout the Review, five representative glycan classes-high-mannose N-glycans, mucin-type O-GalNAc, heparan sulfate, ganglioside GM3, and glycoRNAs-are used as recurring examples wherever possible. This Review offers an integrated perspective to navigate the process by which glycan recognition and editing technologies collectively drive the translation of cell-surface glycan research into clinical practice.