Used in biochemical research as a synthetic analog of sialylated glycoconjugates to study cell surface interactions, particularly in the investigation of sialic acid-dependent recognition processes such as pathogen binding and immune response modulation. Serves as a substrate or inhibitor in enzymatic assays involving neuraminidases and sialyltransferases. Also employed in the development of glycan arrays for high-throughput analysis of lectin specificity and in designing inhibitors for viral adhesion, especially in influenza and other sialic acid-binding viruses.