Mercaptopyrimidine-templated gold nanoclusters for antithrombotic therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Thrombotic disorders pose significant health risks.
• Existing anticoagulants like heparin can cause adverse bleeding events.
• Development of novel antithrombotic agents with improved safety profiles is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate mercaptopyrimidine-templated gold nanoclusters (DAMP-AuNCs) as a potential anticoagulant candidate.
• To elucidate the anticoagulant mechanisms of DAMP-AuNCs.
• To evaluate the in vivo antithrombotic efficacy and biosafety of DAMP-AuNCs.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of DAMP-AuNCs.
• In vitro assessment of thrombus formation inhibition via fibrinogen interaction.
• In vivo evaluation using a carrageenan-induced mice tail thrombosis model.

Main Results:

• DAMP-AuNCs demonstrated significant inhibition of thrombus formation.
• The antithrombotic effect was comparable to heparin in vivo.
• DAMP-AuNCs exhibited excellent blood compatibility with negligible bleeding side effects.

Conclusions:

• DAMP-AuNCs represent a novel class of antithrombotic agents.
• These gold nanoclusters offer a promising therapeutic strategy for thrombosis with enhanced biosafety.
• The study highlights the potential of DAMP-AuNCs in antithrombotic drug design.