Heart attacks and heart diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide; they account for 29% of all deaths around the world according to WHO's raport of 2008. Anticoagulation therapy is often recommended to patients suffering from heart conditions. Heparin is very often used in these cases because it acts immediately. However, substances like heparin – preventing arteries from clogging –  must be used with cautiousness due to the high risk of bleeding. Unfortunatelly, there is no effective antidote to heparin especially to its low molecular weight variety.  The Nanotechnology of Polymers and Biomaterials team (Faculty of Chemistry) led by Maria Nowakowska has conducted a research on the substances which would neutralize the influence of heparin. Tests on animals, conducted with the support of the Chair in Pharmacology, revealed that the substances act similarly to protamines (used as heparine antidotes) with the difference that they do not cause allergies.        

For more information on the research, go to: www.neutralizacja-heparyny.pl