Isolation, synthesis and medicinal applications of Heparin

Abstract

Heparin is a highly sulphated and most negatively charged natural biopolymer belonging to the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) family. This is about a 100-year-old anticoagulant drug. This is equally important for non-anticoagulant diseases also and is the reason for the recent burgeoning of interest in the molecule. Heparin has been isolated from both animal and non-animal sources; however, porcine mucosa remains the FDA-approved source for heparin. For the synthesis, chemical, chemoenzymatic, and biotechnological approaches have been studied. In recent times, the focus is more on synthesizing LMWH, ULMWH, and bioengineered heparins. This article is a compilation about the isolation, synthesis, and medicinal applications of heparin.