Unchain My Blood: Lessons Learned from Self-Assembled Dendrimers as Nanoscale Heparin Binders

Domenico Marson; Erik Laurini; Suzana Aulic; Maurizio Fermeglia; Sabrina Pricl

doi:10.3390/biom9080385

Unchain My Blood: Lessons Learned from Self-Assembled Dendrimers as Nanoscale Heparin Binders

Biomolecules. 2019 Aug 20;9(8):385. doi: 10.3390/biom9080385.

Authors

Domenico Marson¹, Erik Laurini², Suzana Aulic¹, Maurizio Fermeglia¹, Sabrina Pricl¹

Affiliations

¹ Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy.
² Molecular Biology and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MolBNL@UniTS), Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy. erik.laurini@dia.units.it.

Abstract

This review work reports a collection of coupled experimental/computational results taken from our own experience in the field of self-assembled dendrimers for heparin binding. These studies present and discuss both the potentiality played by this hybrid methodology to the design, synthesis, and development of possible protamine replacers for heparin anticoagulant activity reversal in biomedical applications, and the obstacles this field has still to overcome before these molecules can be translated into nanomedicines available in clinical settings.

Keywords: amphiphilic dendrons; anticoagulant activity reversal; dendrimers; heparin; molecular simulations; protamine replacers; self-assembled dendrimers.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Binding Sites
Dendrimers / chemistry*
Heparin / blood
Heparin / chemistry*
Humans
Nanoparticles / chemistry*

Substances

Dendrimers
Heparin