(1) boronic acid (BA) receptors, (2) SERS, and (3) ML program. (Scheme shown in Figure ) BA can reversibly bind with cis-diol-containing carbohydrates, leading to the formation of boronate esters . It is worth noting that BA binding is not highly specific to a particular glycan structure. Thus, the classic yes/no confirmative response (e.g., fluorescence) in the staining assay is not sufficient to distinguish different glycan structures. To further identify the glycan structures, the sensor monitors molecular fingerprint spectra of BA-glycan reaction complex.