title: Effects of amphiphilic star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol) polymers with a cholic acid core on human red blood cell aggregation.
abstract: Elevated red blood cell (RBC) aggregation increases low-shear blood viscosity and is closely related to several pathophysiological diseases such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and hereditary chronic hemolytic conditions. Non-ionic linear polymers such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and Pluronic F68 have shown inhibitory effects against RBC aggregation. However, hypersensitivity reactions in some individuals, attributed to a diblock component of Pluronic F68, have been reported. Therefore, we investigated the use of an amphiphilic star-shaped PEG polymer based on a cholic acid core as a substitute for Pluronics to reduce RBC aggregation. Cholic acid is a natural bile acid produced in the human liver and therefore should assure biocompatibility. Cholic acid based PEG polymers, termed CA(PEG)(4), were synthesized by anionic polymerization. Size exclusion chromatography indicated narrow mass distributions and hydrodynamic radii less than 2 nm were calculated. The effects of CA(PEG)(4) on human RBC aggregation and blood viscosity were investigated and compared to linear PEGs by light transmission aggregometry. Results showed optimal reduction of RBC aggregation for molar masses between 10 and 16 kDa of star-shaped CA(PEG)(4) polymers. Cholic acid based PEG polymers affect the rheology of erythrocytes and may find applications as alternatives to linear PEG or Pluronics to improve blood fluidity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biorheology and Medical Ultrasonics, University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (CRCHUM), Montréal, Québec, Canada H2L 2W5.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Janvier
authors.forename: Julian X X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Herbert J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Meiselman
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cloutier
mesh_terms: D019826:Cholic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012212:Rheology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D019826:Cholic Acid