Coagulant effects of chitosan composites with amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, cysteine) in vitro

Abstract

Introduction. One of the problems of modern medicine and physiology is the normalization of blood clotting processes in both healthy individuals and patients, especially in the conditions of hypocoagulation. The polysaccharide chitosan is known for its combination of hemostatic, antioxidant, wound healing, etc., properties. The aim was to obtain the most effective compound of chitosan (CHTZ) with amino acids in terms of the coagulant properties and to study its effect on the hemostasis system in vitro. Methods. The coagulant properties of three new composites (compounds) of CHTZ with the amino acids, aspartic acid (AA), glutamic acid (GA), and cysteine (C), were studied in in vitro experiments. The coagulation study methods included the tests for primary hemostasis (platelet aggregation test) and secondary hemostasis (activated partial thromboplastin time, APTT; thrombin time, TT; and prothrombin time, PT). Blood samples were withdrawn from rats under zolethyl-xylazine anesthesia (zolethyl 15 mg/kg, xylazine 8 mg/kg body weight, i.m.). Results. All the studied compounds produced a hemostatic effect as compared to the control saline. The values of activated platelet aggregation exceeded the values in the control group maximally by 13, 16 and 25% under the action of the compounds CHTZ-AA, CHTZ-GA and CHTZ-C, respectively. These composites also significantly enhanced plasma hemostasis. Thus, CHTZ-C maximally reduced the TT by 32% and the PT by 10% vs. control. The CHTZ-AA composite suppressed the APTT by 14% and the PT by 19%, while the CHTZ-GA composite shortened the PT by 25% relative to the control. Conclusion. The CHTZ-C composite was the best coagulant by the effect on primary hemostasis; the best effects on plasma hemostasis were noted for CНTZ-GА by the effect on the external coagulation pathway, CНTZ-AА by the effect on the internal coagulation pathway, and CTZ-C by the effect on the general blood coagulation pathway.