Date: 01/10/2025

According to the book “Heparin — A Century of Progress”, heparin is widely recognized as one of the most important anticoagulants in medicine, used for decades in hospital procedures and therapies that require precise control of blood clotting.

However, the potential of this molecule goes far beyond the traditional clinical setting. Recent scientific advances have shown that its unique properties, which combine anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory action with interaction with different biomolecules, open the way for applications in areas as diverse as tissue engineering, oncology, virology, and even dermocosmetics.

Exploring these new frontiers is essential to understanding the global relevance of heparin and how it fits into a chain of innovation that connects research, technological development, and the supply of qualified inputs.

In this article, we discuss studies and applications of heparin in biomaterials and tissue engineering, oncological and virological research, dermocosmetics and wound healing, as well as controlled drug delivery technologies with advanced transport systems and nanomaterials.

See the topics covered:

What is heparin?

Heparin was discovered over 100 years ago by Jay McLean, who identified the substance in liver extracts during research into coagulation physiology (McLean, 1916). Since then, heparin has become one of the most widely used and studied drugs in the world and is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organization.

Heparin is a naturally occurring sulfated glycosaminoglycan. It is extracted from the intestinal mucosa or the lungs of pigs or cattle.

From a pharmacological point of view, heparin is widely known for its potent anticoagulant activity. It acts mainly by binding to antithrombin III, accelerating the inhibition of coagulation factors such as thrombin (Hirsh et al., 2001).

This action has established the molecule as one of the pillars in the clinical management of thrombosis, embolism, and procedures requiring controlled anticoagulation.

Heparin has been shown to benefit patients with allergic inflammation, bronchial asthma, and ulcerative colitis (Young E. - 2006). This versatility explains its growing interest in areas beyond traditional hospital medicine. Therefore, we will analyze other forms of application beyond anticoagulation.

Learn about other ways to apply heparin

Although widely used in clinical practice as an anticoagulant, as we have seen, heparin has attracted growing interest in areas of science and technology beyond hospital medicine.

Recent research highlights properties ranging from potential in biomaterials to applications in oncology, virology, dermocosmetics, and advanced drug delivery systems. Let's take a look at each of these areas now:

● Application in COVID-19 and pulmonary inflammation

According to the study by Unesp in Botucatu and FAPESP, enriched unfractionated heparin was administered by inhalation to 27 patients with severe COVID-19 during the pandemic. In just seven days, there was significant resolution of pulmonary inflammation and a reduction in the need for supplemental oxygen, with no changes in coagulation parameters or adverse hemorrhagic events.

● Biomaterials and tissue engineering

Heparin has been incorporated into prosthetic coatings, stents, and other medical devices due to its ability to reduce thrombogenicity and modulate local inflammatory processes. This explains why biomaterials functionalized with heparin have been explored as safe and biocompatible alternatives.

A classic example of this potential was described by Lee (2000), who promoted the heparinization of glutaraldehyde-treated bovine pericardium. The objective was to obtain a chemical modification of the biological tissue through the direct coupling of heparin. The results showed that the heparinized tissue presented greater resistance to digestion by collagenase, greater durability, and absence of cytotoxicity when compared to tissue treated only with glutaraldehyde.

● Research in oncology and virology

In the treatment of cancer patients at risk, heparin and its derivatives have been shown to have additional anticancer functions beyond their anticoagulant effect. Although widely used to prevent thromboembolic events in these patients, heparin may aid in cancer treatment through its antimetastatic effects.

Taken together, studies suggest that heparin and its derivatives confer survival benefits in certain types of cancer, although full therapeutic efficacy depends on understanding the underlying mechanisms. Among the effects already observed, the following stand out:

● suppression of tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting tumor growth factors and angiogenesis;
● reduction in lymphatic vessel formation, limiting metastatic spread;
● reversal of multidrug resistance in experimental models;
● inhibition of cancer cell adhesion to the vascular endothelium, a critical step in the metastasis process;

This evidence indicates that heparin acts on different fronts of the tumor microenvironment, combining anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, and antimetastatic properties, which justifies its potential as an adjuvant in cancer therapies, as highlighted in research conducted by Prof. Marcelo Lima and colleagues (Lima et al., 2017).

Dermocosmetics and healing

In addition to its classic pharmacological use, heparin has gained ground in dermatological formulations, mainly in topical gels intended for the treatment of bruises, inflammation, and microcirculatory disorders. These effects are largely due to its ability to modulate skin inflammatory processes and promote vascular protection.

One study indicates that topical application of heparin has beneficial effects in the management of different types of wounds, including burns, skin ulcers, and traumatic injuries. Its use has been shown to be effective in reducing pain, edema, and local inflammation, promoting a more suitable environment for healing.

Furthermore, heparin is found in ointments used to treat bruises and is recognized for its importance, being included in the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines that help save more than 100 million lives every year.

Another noteworthy point is the role of heparin in wound healing. Clinical and experimental studies indicate that topical application of heparin promotes tissue repair, reduces inflammation, and improves the quality of the scar formed (Saliba, 2011; Barreto et al., 2010; Young, 2008).

A clinical trial involving 100 patients with second-degree burns covering 5 to 45% of the body surface area demonstrated significant results with the use of topical heparin. Patients treated with an aqueous heparin solution (200 IU/mL), applied two to four times a day in the first few days and then once a day for up to a week, had a significantly reduced healing time of about 15 days compared to 25 days in the control group.

In addition, there was less pain intensity, reduced analgesic consumption, less need for grafting, reduced hospital stay, and even lower mortality rates, reinforcing the potential of heparin as a relevant therapeutic option in burn management.

These findings reinforce the potential of heparin as a complementary therapeutic agent not only in hospital settings but also in dermocosmetics aimed at skin regeneration and health.

● Controlled drug release technologies

In the field of nanotechnology, heparin has been studied as a component of smart drug delivery systems. According to Zhang 2021, combining heparin with nanomaterials allows for the development of vehicles capable of releasing drugs in a controlled manner, increasing therapeutic efficacy and reducing adverse effects.

This application is particularly promising in cancer therapies, where targeted administration is essential to minimize systemic toxicity.

The role of MBRF Ingredients in supplying inputs for human health

The pharmaceutical supply chain is essential for enabling medicines and technologies that depend on high-quality, traceable raw materials. In the case of heparin, each stage from procurement to standardization requires technical rigor to ensure efficacy, safety, and regulatory compliance on an international scale.

In this scenario, MBRF Ingredients acts as a strategic link by providing reliable and sustainable inputs that meet the requirements of the Human Health sector. The company has a highly efficient traceability system in place, which ensures control of the entire production chain, from slaughter to the finished and marketed heparin.

In addition, it uses dedicated raw material transportation, which is rigorously sanitized and subjected to frequent analysis to prevent cross-contamination. To ensure quality, controls are implemented at all stages of the production process, with identification analyses, anticoagulant activity, and impurity verification performed by reference laboratories in the field of heparin. All reports are evaluated by qualified professionals, ensuring that technical specifications are strictly met.

Final considerations

Heparin remains one of the most important inputs in modern pharmacology, not only for its established role as an anticoagulant, but also for its potential in relevant areas such as tissue engineering, oncology, virology, dermocosmetics, and innovative therapies. These advances demonstrate how a classic molecule can be continuously explored in new areas of research and clinical application.

In this context, the supply of safe and traceable raw materials is a critical element in transforming scientific knowledge into effective therapeutic solutions. By investing in technical rigor, traceability systems, and internationally recognized quality practices, MBRF Ingredients reaffirms its contribution to a safer and more innovative global health chain.

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