Fig. 7.

Application of the multivalent inhibitors for binding to various receptors on the pathogens for inhibiting their adhesion to the surface of cell. Comparison of the multivalent binding of virus to the surface of cell (a) and monovalent inhibition by a conventional drug (b). Treatment with monovalent therapeutics (in red) even at high doses could not prevent cellular binding of virus. c: Ligand-decorated multivalent inhibitor binds to the surface of virus with access to the limited numbers of receptors because of its rigidity. d: Highly-adaptive star-like and dendritic polymers which can more efficiently prevent virus adhesion as compared to the monovalent ligands. e: Ligand-decorated coiled linear polymer capable of stretching and obtaining various conformations for accessing higher numbers of receptors and shielding some of them from inappropriate interactions. f: Ligand-decorated multivalent scaffold capable of interaction with a virus and shielding it efficiently. Adapted from Ref. [193].