Fibrin solubilizing properties of certain anionic and cationic detergents

The fibrinolytic (fibrin dissolving) properties of several anionic, cationic, nonionic and zwitterionic detergents were assessed in an in vitro fibrin agarose assay. Of the 4 anionic detergents tested, only sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was found to be fibrinolytic. SDS was fibrinolytic either in the absence or presence of factor XIII. Four other cationic detergents were found to possess similar fibrinolytic properties. These cationic detergents were cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), mix alkyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (MTAB), hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HTAB) and cetylpyridium chloride (CPC). The nonionic (digitonin, triton X-100/tween 20) and zeitterionic (CHAPS, zeittergent 3-08) detergents were not fibrinolytic. Detergents mediated fibrinolysis, unlike that of tissue type plasminogen activator and urokinase, was independent of the presence of plasminogen. Non-detergents such as polyethylene glycol and highly charged compounds such as poly-1-lysine and poly-1-glutamic acid were not fibrinolytic. Fibrinolytic activity was observed for SDS and the cationic detergents at concentrations ranging from 0.1-10 percent. The effects of these fibrinolytic detergents (SDS, CTAB, MTAB, HTAB and CPC) on clot formation and on pre-formed clots were then assessed, using freshly drawn human venous blood. Incorporation of these detergents into blood inhibited the formation of clots in a concentration dependent manner. The detergents were also able to dissolve pre-formed clots in a similar fashion. SDS was found to be most potent in these properties.