Antiaggregation

Antiaggregation refers to methods, materials, or agents that prevent the formation of aggregates among particles, molecules, or cells. It is used across disciplines to maintain dispersion, solubility, or functional consistency, and is the opposite of aggregation, which results from attractive forces, hydrophobic interactions, or screening of charges that promote clumping.

In colloidal and materials science, antiaggregation strategies aim to keep suspensions stable. Mechanisms include steric stabilization with adsorbed polymers or surfactants, electrostatic stabilization through charge, and combined steric-electrostatic effects. Surface coatings, dispersants, and optimized formulation conditions reduce attractive interactions and prevent sedimentation, coagulation, or flocculation. Applications include nanoparticle inks, pigments, catalysts, and drug-delivery systems.

In biochemistry and pharmacology, antiaggregation targets protein or peptide aggregation that can impair function or cause disease. Approaches include adjusting pH, ionic strength, and temperature; adding excipients such as arginine or sugars; using molecular chaperones or small-molecule stabilizers; and engineering biomolecules to resist aggregation. The goal is to keep molecules soluble and active during production, storage, and use.

Antiaggregation also appears in medicine as anti-platelet therapy, where agents inhibit platelet aggregation to prevent thrombosis. Drugs such as aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitors, or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists exemplify this use. In manufacturing or coatings, antiaggregation additives may be employed to minimize clumping of powders during handling or processing.