Complexation of magnesium and calcium ions with heparin

The acid-base properties of unfractionated heparin (H₄L) and the complexation of biometal ions (Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺) with heparin in aqueous solutions have been studied by pH titration, using mathematical modeling methods in data processing. The heparin concentration is taken to be equal to the concentration of heparin disaccharide units. The formation constants of the protonated heparin species H_iL (i = 1, 2) have been estimated. The most abundant Mg²⁺-heparin and Ca²⁺-heparin complex species have been identified, and their formation constants have been estimated.