ABSTRACT
Sugars are attracting much attention not only because of their functions as energy sources in living organisms and also due to their involvement in various biological processes such as development, differentiation, carcinogenesis, and immunity. In the body, starch and glycogen are the main energy sources along with glucose and sucrose, whereas cellulose, hemicellulose, chitin, and polysaccharides in cell walls help support organisms and provide structural framework. Similarly, glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides on the cell surface or between cells are involved in cell identication interactions, cell differentiation, and immune response.1 Thus, the development of a simple, rapid, and selective method for the recognition of sugars in water is a key issue, given the importance of sugars in life processes.
