Vito Ferro
School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Science,
https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/2332
Heparin, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from animal sources, is the most commonly used parenteral anticoagulant drug, but suffers from significant safety and supply issues. In this presentation, the preparation of heparin mimetic homo- and copolymers will be discussed. The polymers were prepared via the reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization in water of commercially available (non-carbohydrate) sulfonated and carboxylated monomers. The anticoagulant activities of the polymers were assessed by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin clotting time (TCT), and for the more promising polymers, thrombin generation, anti-factor Xa and anti-factor IIa assays. Sulfonated homopolymers displayed low cytotoxicity and significant anticoagulant activity in APTT, TCT and thrombin generation assays. In addition, copolymers of sulfonated and carboxylated monomers displayed unprecedented anti-factor IIa activity. This study demonstrates the potential of RAFT polymers as alternative anticoagulants to heparin for biomedical applications.
Ospite: Francesco Peri