Design and synthesis of a native heparin disaccharide grafted poly‑2‑aminoethyl methacrylate glycopolymer for inhibition of melanoma cell metastasis

Numerous studies have proved that heparin, a sub-group of glycosaminoglycan, possesses great potential as anti-metastasis agent. However, the native strong anti-coagulant activity which causes serious side effects, such as bleeding, has limited its clinical applications for safety concern. To overcome this problem, we synthesized a panel of novel glycopolymers that mimic heparin structure with substantially reduced anti-coagulant activity by a simple grafted-on strategy. The influence of molecular weight & distribution, substituting degree and sulfonic density on cytotoxicity were determined by systematic MTT analysis to select the candidates with highly bio-compatibility. Among these glycopolymers, a sulfated poly‑2‑aminoethyl methacrylate grafted with heparin disaccharide (abbreviated as SGPHD) has shown potent efficacy in inhibition of heparanase activity and microvascular endothelial cell proliferation in vitro. Further experiments demonstrated that SGPHD inhibited B16 murine melanoma cell migration, invasion and adhesion to platelets or microvascular endothelial cells, thus, presented as a possible anti-metastatic agent by providing a whole course protection during tumor metastasis. The results will have significant impacts for the further rational design of glycopolymer medicine. •Several native heparin disaccharide grafted poly-2-aminoethyl methacrylate glycopolymers were synthesized.•The influence of molecular weight & distribution, substituting degree and sulfonic density on cytotoxicity were determined to select the candidates with highly bio-compatibility.•A highly sulfated poly-2-aminoethyl methacrylate grafted with heparin disaccharide provided a whole course protection during tumor metastasis through systematic anti-metastasis assay.•The results will have significant impacts for the further rational design of glycopolymer medicine.