Isolation, purification, and characterization of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine use as a hemostatic agent.
BACKGROUND
A new polymeric material, poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) fiber, has been identified and is effective in achieving hemostasis in surgical procedures and trauma. The p-GlcNAc material is purified from large-scale cultures of a marine microalga.


METHODS
Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine materials have been formulated as films, sponges, gels, and microspheres. The polymer's structure has been characterized by chemical composition, carbohydrate analysis, spectroscopic techniques, intrinsic viscosity, and electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Carbohydrate analyses indicate that the primary sugar present in p-GlcNAc is N-acetyl glucosamine. Elemental analyses yield percentage values for carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen that support that the polymer is fully acetylated. Molecular weight determinations indicate that the polymer has a molecular weight of 2.0 x 10(6) Da. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and circular dichroism spectral data have defined a unique tertiary structure. Biologic testing demonstrated that p-GlcNAc materials are fully biocompatible.


CONCLUSIONS
The p-GlcNAc fiber has a unique beta-tertiary structure.
Vournakis
John N
JN
Marine Polymer Technologies, Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, USA. johnv@webmpt.com
Demcheva
Marina
M
Whitson
Anne
A
Guirca
Radu
R
Pariser
Ernst R
ER
D000117:Acetylglucosamine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D002686:Chitin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048271:Chitosan; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D017377:Diatoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005782:Gels; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008863:Microspheres; D008970:Molecular Weight; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014783:Viscosity
D002241:Carbohydrates; D005782:Gels; D006490:Hemostatics; C113831:poly-N-acetyl glucosamine; D002686:Chitin; D048271:Chitosan; D000117:Acetylglucosamine