Selective heparan sulfate-glycopolymers for targeted growth factor binding in tissue repair

Background

Successful wound healing and tissue regeneration require precise control over the biological activity of growth factors. Many current biomaterials used for these applications lack specificity and can inadvertently disrupt critical biological systems such as the coagulation cascade, leading to adverse effects.

While some efforts have been made to mimic naturally occurring molecules like heparan sulfate, these materials often use short saccharide units that fail to achieve the selectivity needed for complex protein interactions. The inability to distinguish between beneficial growth factors and essential clotting proteins limits the therapeutic utility and safety of existing solutions, often necessitating frequent reapplication due to rapid degradation.

Technology overview

This technology introduces heparan sulfate-glycopolymers (HS-GPs), synthetic polymers designed to selectively bind growth factors without affecting the coagulation system. These polymers are created using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and feature heparan sulfate hexasaccharide side chains grafted onto the polymer backbone. This extended saccharide structure enables highly selective, multivalent interactions with specific proteins such as fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), enhancing regenerative signaling without triggering blood clotting.

The hexasaccharide chains are significantly longer than those used in prior art, which typically include monosaccharide or disaccharide motifs. As a result, these materials demonstrate an unprecedented level of selectivity for therapeutic targets. By enabling growth factor recruitment while avoiding interference with the clotting cascade, this platform offers a new approach for safe and effective tissue repair.