Sultana Razia, Kamihira Masamichi
Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Science, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2024 Oct 12;17(10):1362. doi: 10.3390/ph17101362.
Heparin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide, has fascinated researchers and clinicians for nearly a century due to its versatile biological properties and has been used for various therapeutic purposes. Discovered in the early 20th century, heparin has been a key therapeutic anticoagulant ever since, and its use is now implemented as a life-saving pharmacological intervention in the management of thrombotic disorders and beyond. In addition to its known anticoagulant properties, heparin has been found to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-tumorigenic activities, which may lead to its widespread use in the future as an essential drug against infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and in various medical treatments. Furthermore, recent advancements in nanotechnology, including nano-drug delivery systems and nanomaterials, have significantly enhanced the intrinsic biofunctionalities of heparin. These breakthroughs have paved the way for innovative applications in medicine and therapy, expanding the potential of heparin research. Therefore, this review aims to provide a creation profile of heparin, space for its utilities in therapeutic complications, and future characteristics such as bioengineering and nanotechnology. It also discusses the challenges and opportunities in realizing the full potential of heparin to improve patient outcomes and elevate therapeutic interventions.
肝素是一种天然存在的多糖，近一个世纪以来一直吸引着研究人员和临床医生，因其具有多种生物学特性，并已被用于各种治疗目的。肝素于20世纪初被发现，从那时起一直是一种关键的治疗性抗凝剂，目前其应用已成为治疗血栓性疾病及其他疾病的一种挽救生命的药理学干预措施。除了其已知的抗凝特性外，肝素还被发现具有抗炎、抗病毒和抗肿瘤活性，这可能使其在未来作为一种对抗COVID-19等传染病的基本药物以及在各种医学治疗中得到广泛应用。此外，包括纳米药物递送系统和纳米材料在内的纳米技术的最新进展，显著增强了肝素的内在生物功能。这些突破为医学和治疗中的创新应用铺平了道路，扩大了肝素研究的潜力。因此，本综述旨在提供肝素的创建概况、其在治疗并发症中的应用空间以及生物工程和纳米技术等未来特性。它还讨论了在充分发挥肝素潜力以改善患者预后和提升治疗干预措施方面所面临的挑战和机遇。
