Patent ID: 8247381

Claim:
A branched water-soluble polymer having the formula: in which R 16 , R 16′ , R 17 , R 18 and R 19 are members independently selected from H, OH, NH 2 , NHAc and: wherein Z 2 is a member selected from O, S, CH 2 and S R 11 is a water-soluble polymer, and the index “a” represents an integer from 0 to 20, with the proviso that at least two of R 16 , R 16 ′, R 17 , R 18 and R 19 have a structure according to Formula I; and R 15 is a member selected from H, a nucleotide sugar, and a bond to a carrier molecule, wherein the carrier molecule is a member selected from a peptide, glycopeptide, lipid, glycolipid, protein, glycoprotein, saccharide, hormone, receptor, antigen, transition state analog, cofactor, drug, dye, nutrient, growth factor, solid support, virus, and microorganism.