Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins: Reduced Size Particulate Systems for Improved Therapeutic Outcomes

• Published in: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 23; no. 7; p. 1757
• Main Authors: Akhtar, Fahad, Wan, Xinyu, Wu, Gang, Kesse, Samuel, Wang, Shaoda, He, Shuying
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 18.07.2018; MDPI
• Subjects: Animals; Anticoagulants; Bioavailability; Coagulation; encapsulation; Fabrication; Heparin; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight - chemistry; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight - therapeutic use; Humans; low molecular weight heparins; Nanoparticles - chemistry; Nanoparticles - therapeutic use; Obstructions; Particle Size; Pharmacology; Physicochemical properties; polymers; Review; stability; Weight reduction; encapsulation; polymers; bioavailability; stability; low molecular weight heparins
• ISSN: 1420-3049; 1420-3049
• DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071757

A wide range of diseases have been treated using low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs), the drug of choice for anticoagulation. Owing to their better pharmacokinetic features compared to those of unfractionated heparin (uFH), several systems incorporating LMWHs have been investigated to deliver and improve their therapeutic outcomes, especially through development of their micro- and nano-particles. This review article describes current perspectives on the fabrication, characterization, and application of LMWHs-loaded micro- and nano-particles to achieve ameliorated bioavailability. The valuable applications of LMWH will continue to encourage researchers to identify efficient delivery systems that have specific release characteristics and ameliorated bioavailability, overcoming the challenges presented by biological obstructions and the physicochemical properties of LMWHs.