[The relation between the physicochemical structure and the anticoagulant effects of polysulfated chitosan...

Rabbit experiments have revealed that there is a relationship between the chemical structure and anticoagulative effects of polysulfated chitosan derivatives. Sixteen chitosan polymers with a polarization rate of 71 to 547 and substitution by sulfur from 0.62 to 1.86 which were intravenously injected showed heparin-like action. The anticoagulant activity of chitosan samples depended on the degrees of polymerization and sulfation. The most active (30-52 U/mg) and long-acting (250-350 min) products had a polymerization in the range 180-240 and sulfation no less than 1.5, the half-life being 37-50 min, and the elimination constant being 1.38.10(-2) to 1.88.10(-2)min-1.