Heparin is a naturally occurring,
highly sulfated polysaccharide
that plays a critical role in a range of different biological processes.
Therapeutically, it is mostly commonly used as an injectable solution
as an anticoagulant for a variety of indications, although it has
also been employed in other forms such as coatings on various biomedical
devices. Due to the diverse functions of this polysaccharide in the
body, including anticoagulation, tissue regeneration, anti-inflammation,
and protein stabilization, and drawbacks of its use, analogous heparin-mimicking
materials are also widely studied for therapeutic applications. This
review focuses on one type of these materials, namely, synthetic heparin-mimicking
polymers. Utilization of these polymers provides significant benefits
compared to heparin, including enhancing therapeutic efficacy and
reducing side effects as a result of fine-tuning heparin-binding motifs
and other molecular characteristics. The major types of the various
polymers are summarized, as well as their applications. Because development
of a broader range of heparin-mimicking materials would further expand
the impact of these polymers in the treatment of various diseases,
future directions are also discussed.