Hydrolytic Degradation of Heparin in Acidic Environments: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Reveals Details of Selective Desulfation

Heparin is a complex glycosaminoglycan, derived mainly from pig mucosa, used therapeutically for its anticoagulant activity. Yet, owing largely to the chain complexity, progressive effects of environmental conditions on heparin structure have not been fully described. A systematic study influence acidic hydrolysis length and substitution has therefore conducted. Changes in sulfation pattern, monitored via 2D NMR, revealed initial de-N-sulfation molecule (pH 1/ 40 °C) unexpectedly identified secondary sulfate iduronate as more labile than 6-O-sulfate glucosamine residues under these 60 °C). Additionally, loss groups, rather depolymerization, accounted most reduction molecular weight. This provides an alternative route producing partially 2-O-de-sulfated derivatives that avoids using conventional basic may be value optimization processes associated with production pharmaceuticals.