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.