SULFATED HYALURONIC ACIDS - A CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION

This review focuses on the possibility of modifying hyaluronic acid by the insertion of sulphate groups in order to obtain heparin-like comp ounds with controllable properties. In particular, the physicochemical and biological behaviour of sulphated hyaluronic acid (HyalS(x)) with various degrees of sulphation and different molecular weights has bee n particularly investigated. The mobilization of endothelial cells was investigated by the use of copper(II) complexes with HyalS(x) and the results were compared with those from the corresponding complex with heparin. New materials containing HyalS(x) are proposed for biomedical applications. (C) 1998 SCI.