Heparin function

The mechanism whereby heparin functions as an anticoagulant, and the architectural features of the molecule which are associated with the activity, have not beeii fully elucidated. In the following Sections, an attempt has been made to integrate and evaluate the work done to date on the structure of heparin in relation to its activity. The suggestions subsequently made are not necessarily the only interpretations of the knowm data. 

Benoit DSW, Anseth KS (2005) Heparin functionalized PEG gels that modulate protein adsorption forhMSC adhesion and differentiation. Acta Biomater 1 461 70 Benoit DSW, Dumey AR, Anseth KS (2007) The effect of heparin-functionalized PEG hydrogels on three-dimensional human mesenchymal stem cell osteogenic differentiation. Biomaterials 28 66-77... 

Mosmann T (1983) Rapid colorimetric assay for cellular growth and survival- application to proliferation and cyto-toxicity assays. J hnmun Met 65 55-63 Nie T, Baldwin A, Yamaguchi N et al (2007) Production of heparin-functionalized hydrogels for the development of responsive and controlled growth factor delivery systems. J Control Release 122 287-296... 

Moreover, heparin-functionalized thermoresponsive cell culture surfaces have an affinity interaction with heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), which is a potent mitogen for hepatocytes [41]. An HB-EGF-bound heparin-functionalized thermoresponsive surface was utilized for creating hepatocyte sheets with maintaining hepatic functions during cultivation [42]. The addition of HB-EGF in the cell culture media was es-sentialfor the survival of hepatocytes. When the medium contained less than 10 ng/cm of soluble HB-EGF, the hepatocytes were not able to adhere and form their cell sheets. Hepatocytes adhered well and formed their sheets on the HB-EGF-bound heparin-functionalized... 

Fibrin hydrogels were complexed with heparin-functionalized PLGA nanoparticles for the release of VEGF for revascularization purposes [128]. 

Benoit, D. S., and K. S. Anseth. 2005. Heparin functionalized PEG gels that modulate protein. Biochem Eng Biotechnol 94 1-22. 

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