A novel method for differentiating dextran sulfate from related sulfated polysaccharides.

A method is described for unequivocal identification of dextran sulfate, based on combined chemical desulfation and dextranase enzymolysis of dextran sulfate moieties to isomaltose, a specific indicator of dextran-type precursors. The method was developed using high-resolution (300 MHz) 1H NMR spectroscopy for assurance of the molecular transformations, identification, and estimation of the hydrolysis products. Overall conversion of approximately 80% of highly sulfated and moderately sulfated dextran sulfates was realized. Both 2-D 1H and 13C NMR spectra of a dextran sulfate (MW 500,000) clarified the extent of sulfation (75%) at C-4 and confirmed that sulfation at positions C-2 and C-3 was virtually complete. Estimation of the hydrolysis products (isomaltose, major; alpha-D-glucose, minor) is not restricted to 1H NMR now that the desulfation-enzymolysis methodology has been established; rather, it can be performed using HPLC or GLC (with derivatization).

Characterization and differentiation of some complex dextran sulfate preparations of medicinal interest.

Dextran sulfate samples from different sources were examined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to differentiate the samples on the basis of extent and sites of sulfation. The anomeric (H-1) signal proved to be a good indicator ranging from no sulfation (as in dextran) to virtually complete sulfation at positions 2 and 3, whereas the relative intensity of the H-4 signal afforded a measure, conversely, of the degree of sulfation at position 4. Three different dextran sulfate tablet formulations were found by NMR to contain similar dextran sulfate material that was characterized by a high degree of sulfation at positions 2 and 3. Position 4 of dextran appears to be less readily amenable to substitution. Quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) analysis of aqueous dispersions of the bulk dextran sulfate samples and formulated tablets permitted additional particle size and homogeneity differentiation. None of the dextran sulfate materials showed either anti-factor Xa activity or marked anticoagulant activity.

Sulfation of some chemically-modified heparins. Formation of a 3-sulfate analog of heparin.

A modified form of heparin containing residues of nonsulfated alpha-L-idopyranosyluronic acid (7) in place of the normal 2-sulfate (1) was sulfated with sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine in dimethylformamide at 0 and 25 degrees. Examination of the reaction products by n.m.r. spectroscopy showed that sulfation occurred selectively at C-3 of residue 7, to give a new polymer that may be described as a 3-sulfate analog of heparin. A slower substitution reaction led subsequently to sulfation at C-3 of 2-deoxy-2-sulfamino-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl 6-sulfate residues (2), although this was accompanied by partial N-desulfation of 2. An analogous pattern of O-sulfation-N-desulfation was observed for the residues of 2 in two other modified heparins, one containing residues of 2,3-anhydro-alpha-L-gulopyranosyluronic acid and the other residues of alpha-L-galactopyranosyluronic acid, in place of residues of 1. The galacto diastereomer exhibited relatively low regioselectivity, as it was found to be sulfated at C-2 or C-2.3, or both. Selective resulfation of free amino groups gave the products that were examined for anticoagulant activity and susceptibility to enzymolysis by heparinase. Antithrombin-binding affinity measurements were also carried out. Although none of the materials had significant anti-Xa activity, nor were they affected by heparinase, their patterns of binding to antithrombinagarose were not dissimilar to that of heparin.

Marked stereoselectivity in the binding of copper ions by heparin. Contrasts with the binding of gadolinium and calcium ions.

Heparin forms a complex with cupric ion (Cu2+) at a level of less than or equal to 10(-3) mol of the metal ion per dimeric unit of the polymer, as evidenced by paramagnetic relaxation effects on its 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra. No interaction occurred with heparin derivatives modified either by desulfation of the residues of alpha-L-iduronic acid 2-sulfate, or by hydrolysis of the sulfamino group of the residues of 2-deoxy-2-sulfamino-alpha-D-glucose 6-sulfate, although binding was induced by N-acetylation of the latter derivative. Under the same experimental conditions, no alternative type of glycosyluronic acid structure tested, including the other glycosaminoglycans, showed significant relaxation enhancement by Cu2+. These results are in contrast to those obtained with gadolinium ion (Gd3+), another paramagnetic probe, or with calcium ion (Ca2+), which promotes chemical-shift displacements. The binding selectivities of those two cations are much broader than that of Cu2%, although they also differ notably in their relationship to the structure of heparin.

Physicochemical characterization of the First World Health Organization International Standard for low molecular weight heparin derivatives.

High-field (300 MHz) 1H NMR spectral analysis and particle size distribution analysis employing the quasielastic light scattering (QELS) technique were performed on samples of the 1st International Standard for low molecular weight (LMW) heparin derivatives recently selected by the World Health Organization (WHO). We propose that the results of these analyses, which showed that the material is highly homogeneous in particle size and retains spectral features characteristic of its porcine mucosal origin, form an appropriate basis for physicochemical comparison between the "Standard" and other LMW heparin preparations.