Isolation, purification, and characterization of poly-N-acetyl glucosamine use as a hemostatic agent.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

A new polymeric material, poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (p-GlcNAc) fiber, has been identified and is effective in achieving hemostasis in surgical procedures and trauma. The p-GlcNAc material is purified from large-scale cultures of a marine microalga.

METHODS:

Poly-N-acetyl glucosamine materials have been formulated as films, sponges, gels, and microspheres. The polymer's structure has been characterized by chemical composition, carbohydrate analysis, spectroscopic techniques, intrinsic viscosity, and electron microscopy.

RESULTS:

Carbohydrate analyses indicate that the primary sugar present in p-GlcNAc is N-acetyl glucosamine. Elemental analyses yield percentage values for carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen that support that the polymer is fully acetylated. Molecular weight determinations indicate that the polymer has a molecular weight of 2.0 x 10(6) Da. Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, and circular dichroism spectral data have defined a unique tertiary structure. Biologic testing demonstrated that p-GlcNAc materials are fully biocompatible.

CONCLUSION:

The p-GlcNAc fiber has a unique beta-tertiary structure.

• Authors: John N Vournakis, Marina Demcheva, Anne Whitson, Radu Guirca, Ernst R Pariser
• Journal: The Journal of trauma (J Trauma) Vol. 57 Issue 1 Suppl Pg. S2-6 (Jul 2004) ISSN: 0022-5282 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15280743 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carbohydrates
• Gels
• Hemostatics
• poly-N-acetyl glucosamine
• Chitin
• Chitosan
• Acetylglucosamine

Topics

• Acetylglucosamine (chemistry, isolation & purification, therapeutic use)
• Carbohydrates (analysis)
• Chemistry, Pharmaceutical
• Chitin (analogs & derivatives, chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Chitosan
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Circular Dichroism
• Diatoms (chemistry, isolation & purification)
• Gels
• Hemostasis, Surgical (methods)
• Hemostatics (chemistry, isolation & purification, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Materials Testing
• Microscopy, Electron
• Microspheres
• Molecular Weight
• Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
• Protein Structure, Tertiary
• Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
• Viscosity