The researchers from the Medical University of Bialystok (Justyna Swieton, Joanna Miklosz, Aleksandra Frackiewicz, Karol Depczynski, Anna Gromotowicz-Poplawska, Dariusz Pawlak, Andrzej Mogielnicki, and Bartlomiej Kalaska), along with co-authors from Jagiellonian University, University of Hyogo, and Adamed Pharma S.A., published the article „Synthesis, biological evaluation and reversal of sulfonated di- and triblock copolymers as novel parenteral anticoagulants” in Advanced Healthcare Materials (https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202402191, IF = 10).
Anticoagulants play a key role in the prevention of heart attacks and strokes. Unfortunately, their effects are difficult to predict and are associated with the risk of bleeding, including life-threatening intracranial hemorrhages. This is a concern with heparins, which are anticoagulants with a heterogeneous structure that require monitoring after intravenous administration to patients.
Scientists at UMB are working to improve the safety of pharmacotherapy by developing novel candidates for anticoagulants. In the current study, they have found a potent anticoagulant activity of sulfonated copolymers containing poly(sodium styrene sulfonate) (PSS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blocks in their structure, which was related to the number of sulfonate groups and molecular weight. PEG47-PSSS32, one of the most promising copolymers, inhibited blood clotting in rodents after subcutaneous and intravenous administration by modulating the activity of fibrinogen and coagulation factor XII.
Furthermore, by using a heparin-binding copolymer (HBC), which was previously discovered by them (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2016.06.009, IF = 6.4), the anticoagulant activity of PEG47-PSSS32 was completely reversed in both rat and human plasma. These results open new perspectives for developing advanced biomaterials that may find application in treating thromboembolic disorders.
The research was supported by the Medical University of Bialystok (B.SUB.24.331).
