Physicochemical Characterization of the First World Health Organization International Standard for Low Molecular Weight Heparin Derivatives

High-field (300 MHz) 1H NMR spectral analysis and particle size distribution analysis employing the quasielastic light scattering (QELS) technique were performed on samples of the 1st International Standard for low molecular weight (LMW) heparin derivatives recently selected by the World Health Organization (WHO). We propose that the results of these analyses, which showed that the material is highly homogeneous in particle size and retains spectral features characteristic of its porcine mucosal origin, form an appropriate basis for physicochemical comparison between the “Standard” and other LMW heparin preparations.