title: Heparin-Mimicking Polymers: Synthesis and Biological Applications.
abstract: Heparin is a naturally occurring, highly sulfated polysaccharide that plays a critical role in a range of different biological processes. Therapeutically, it is mostly commonly used as an injectable solution as an anticoagulant for a variety of indications, although it has also been employed in other forms such as coatings on various biomedical devices. Due to the diverse functions of this polysaccharide in the body, including anticoagulation, tissue regeneration, anti-inflammation, and protein stabilization, and drawbacks of its use, analogous heparin-mimicking materials are also widely studied for therapeutic applications. This review focuses on one type of these materials, namely, synthetic heparin-mimicking polymers. Utilization of these polymers provides significant benefits compared to heparin, including enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects as a result of fine-tuning heparin-binding motifs and other molecular characteristics. The major types of the various polymers are summarized, as well as their applications. Because development of a broader range of heparin-mimicking materials would further expand the impact of these polymers in the treatment of various diseases, future directions are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles , 607 Charles E. Young Dr East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Samantha J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Paluck
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles , 607 Charles E. Young Dr East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Thi H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the California NanoSystems Institute, University of California-Los Angeles , 607 Charles E. Young Dr East, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States.
authors.forename: Heather D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Maynard
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001778:Blood Coagulation Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006493:Heparin / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D011108:Polymers; D006493:Heparin