Display of molecules on silently genetically encoded nanoscale carriers for determining synergistic molecular interactions

A method of identifying one or more molecular interactions between at least two ligands and a target molecule, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of silent carriers, each comprising one of a plurality of unique nucleic acid codes therein, wherein each silent carrier is externally chemically identical;
• (b) attaching a first glycan ligand to one set of silent carriers comprising a first nucleic acid code to form a first set of carriers;
• (c) repeating step (b) to produce N sets, where N>2, wherein each set comprises a different glycan ligand, or a different density of glycan ligand, and each set comprises a different nucleic acid code;
• (d) pooling the N sets to form a first mixed library comprising a liquid glycan array;
• (e) contacting the first mixed library with the target molecule and identifying the set of ligands {M} which bind to the target molecule;
• (f) repeatedly creating a pooled set of binding glycans, omitting one binding glycan or one density of binding glycan, to form different mixed libraries, and contacting each mixed library with the target model;
• and
• (g) determining, using the different nucleic acid codes, which binding glycans have lesser or greater affinity for the target molecule in the absence of the omitted glycan.