Journal
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
Volume 199, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2023.112452
Keywords
Anionic block copolymer; Anticoagulation; Blood coagulation; Cationic block copolymer; Heparin mimetic
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Thrombosis is a major cause of death and finding safer and more effective treatments is crucial. Current anticoagulant medications have limitations, leading to the need for new alternatives. Block copolymers have shown promise as potential anticoagulants, with anionic and neutral blocks being the most promising candidates.
Thrombosis is a leading cause of death worldwide, necessitating the search for more effective and safer treatments. Current parenteral anticoagulant medications indicated for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis include polyanionic heparins. Despite their well-established status, these medications have drawbacks and fail to meet the criteria for an ideal anticoagulant. The predictability and control of heparin's biological activity pose challenges due to the chaotic structure of this polymer, characterized by a mixture of larger and smaller molecules with a loosely defined linear architecture. Consequently, cases of heparin overdose are common. Protamine sulphate can halt bleeding caused by unfractionated heparin but concurrently elicits significant adverse effects. Although novel antidotes for anticoagulants have been developed, bleeding during anticoagulation therapy remains a concern. Over the past two decades, research into heparin mimetics has witnessed a significant surge. This intensification is underscored by statistical evidence indicating an increase in thrombotic episodes, highlighting the necessity for new anticoagulant alternatives. This review outlines the efforts to replace heparins and their antidotes with block copolymers. We have concentrated on studies involving well-defined synthetic anionic and cationic block copolymers, which are obtained by free radical polymerization techniques. Block copolymers comprised of anionic poly(sodium 4-styrenesulphonate) or poly(2-acryloylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid) blocks and a neutral poly(ethylene glycol) block seem to be the most promising candidates for future anticoagulants. Complementary polycationic antidotes to regulate anticoagulant activity have also been proposed; however, further research focusing on structure-activity relationships and safety is necessary to confirm their utility.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available