Heparin biological activity

The relationship between structure and anticoagulant activity of heparin was a conundrum that puzzled Stacey. He did not solve the problem, but demonstrated that certain structural features of heparin (for example, extensive release of amino groups) alone were not responsible for the biological activity. 

Micro emulsions based on a heparin-chitosan complex suitable for oral administration based on ingredients acceptable to humans were studied with or without biologically active ingredients. Appropriate mixing and modifications of these microemulsions lead to nanometer-sized heparin-chitosan complexes [108]. 

The importance of anionic charge-density is emphasized by the biological activities of heparin fractions having low affinity for antithrombin,496,497 and of heparinoids.10 Although consistently lower than ob-... 

The fluorescent labelling of heparin with F-D by this technique did not observably alter the biologic activity of the heparin as regards to its binding to antithrombin and catalysis of antithrombin s neutralization of activated coagulation factors. F-D labelled heparins also bound to other known heparin-binding proteins in a saturable and reversible manner, as demonstrated by the dot-blot assay technique (Figure 6). 

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