dextran sulfate


dex·tran sul·fate

the sodium salt of sulfuric acid esters of the polysaccharide dextran; it contains not less than 10 units per mg and not less than 14% of sulfate; an anticoagulant.

dextran sulfate

A high-molecular weight, branched-chain polysaccharide polymer of d-glucose that is permeable to water and forms a viscid gelatinous material; it is synthesised commercially or naturally by glycosyl transferases on the surface of certain bacteria, and had been claimed to have anti-HIV activity (by inhibiting HIV-1 and HIV-2 binding to CD4+ cells). Therapeutic trials showed no such efficacy.