Unraveling the Potential of Small Molecule Heparin Glycomimetics in Neuroregenerative Therapeutics.

ABSTRACT: Heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are essential regulators of neurotrophic signaling. However, their therapeutic applications are hindered by structural heterogeneity, batch variability, and anticoagulant activity. Thus, there is a need for well-defined glycomimetics that replicate the function of native HS in regenerative medicine. Here, we synthesized HS glycomimetics through a modular strategy that enables the installation of sulfate groups at the designated positions along the sugar backbone. These glycomimetics selectively bind and stabilize neurotrophins, such as fibroblast growth factors (FGF-1, FGF-2) and nerve growth factor (NGF), in a sulfation-dependent manner with dissociation constants in the low micromolar range. They exhibit no anticoagulant activity

SUBMITTER: Ozkan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12715788 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature