<unk>  70 is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines, the most important medications needed in a health system. Medicinally it is used as an antithrombotic (antiplatelet), to reduce blood viscosity, and as a volume expander in hypovolaemia. Microsurgery These agents are used commonly by microsurgeons to decrease vascular thrombosis. The antithrombotic effect of<unk>  is mediated through its binding of erythrocytes, platelets, and vascular endothelium, increasing their electronegativity and thus reducing erythrocyte aggregation and platelet adhesiveness.<unk> s also reduce factor VIII-Ag Von Willebrand factor, thereby decreasing platelet function. Clots formed after administration of<unk> s are more easily lysed due to an altered thrombus structure (more evenly distributed platelets with coarser fibrin). By inhibiting α-2 antiplasmin,<unk>  serves as a plasminogen activator, so possesses thrombolytic features. Outside of these features, larger<unk> s, which do not pass out of the vessels, are potent osmotic agents, thus have been used urgently to treat hypovolemia . The hemodilution caused by volume expansion with<unk>  use improves blood flow, thus further improving patency of microanastomoses and reducing thrombosis. Still, no difference has been detected in antithrombotic effectiveness in comparison of intra-arterial and intravenous administration of<unk> .<unk> s are available in multiple molecular weights ranging from 3 kDa to 2 MDa. The larger<unk> s (>60,000 Da) are excreted poorly from the kidney, so remain in the blood for as long as weeks until they are metabolized. Consequently, they have prolonged antithrombotic and colloidal effects. In this family,<unk> -40 (MW: 40,000 Da), has been the most popular member for anticoagulation therapy. Close to 70% of<unk> -40 is excreted in urine within the first 24 hours after intravenous infusion, while the remaining 30% are retained for several more days. Other medical uses *<unk>  is used in some eye drops as a lubricant. and in certain intravenous fluids to solubilize other factors, such as iron (in a solution known as Iron<unk> . *Intravenous solutions with<unk>  function both as volume expanders and means of parenteral nutrition. Such a solution provides an osmotically neutral fluid that once in the body is digested by cells into glucose and free water. It is occasionally used to replace lost blood in emergency situations, when replacement blood is not available, but must be used with caution as it does not provide necessary electrolytes and can cause hyponatremia or other electrolyte disturbances. *<unk>  also increases blood sugar levels. *<unk>  can be used in an ATPS for PEGylation Laboratory uses *<unk>  is used in the osmotic stress technique for applying osmotic pressure to biological molecules. * It is also used in some size-exclusion chromatography matrices; an example is Sephadex. *<unk>  has also been used in bead form to aid in bioreactor applications. *<unk>  has been used as an immobilization agent in biosensors. *<unk>  preferentially binds to early endosomes; fluorescent-labelled<unk>  can be used to visualize these endosomes under a microscope. *<unk>  can be used as a stabilizing coating to protect metal nanoparticles from oxidation and improve biocompatibility. *<unk>  coupled with a fluorescent molecule such as fluorescein isothiocyanate can be used to create concentration gradients of diffusible molecules for imaging and allow subsequent characterization of gradient slope. * Solutions of fluorescently-labelled<unk>  can be perfused through engineered vessels to analyze vascular permeability *<unk>  is used to make microcarriers for industrial cell culture * Orally-administered<unk>  sodium sulphate is used to induce colitis in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease.
Dextran
Acemannan
Icodextrin
Macrogol
Geritol
Oxycyte
Chitosan
Methyl cellulose