Graphene oxide modified with aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles and heparin: a potent targeted anticoagulant

Graphene oxide (GO) modified with 29-mer thrombin-binding-aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles (TBA₂₉-Au NPs/GO) can synergistically inhibit the thrombin-mediated cleavage of fibrinogen to fibrin. To further improve anticoagulation efficiency in human plasma, TBA₂₉-Au NPs/heparin/GO has been prepared from TBA₂₉-Au NPs/GO and heparin that can also bind thrombin. The dose-dependence of thrombin clotting time (TCT) delay caused by TBA₂₉-Au NPs/heparin/GO is 21.4, 17.0 and >100 times higher than that caused by the TBA₂₉-Au NPs, TBA₂₉-Au NPs/GO and commercially available drugs (heparin, argatroban, hirudin or warfarin), respectively.