Cyclodextrin derivative of hyaluronan

Conversion of hyaluronan (HA) to its beta-cyclodextrin derivative (HA-beta- CD) was accomplished by direct coupling of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) mole cules with carboxylic acid groups of the HA macromolecule. The intermolecul ar dehydration, yielding the HA-beta-CD derivative, was performed by the ac tion of diethyl azodicarboxylate and triphenylphosphine under mild, neutral conditions. The physico-chemical characteristics of the novel (bio)materia l, determined both in solution and solid state, were compared with those of native HA. The specific action of a hyaluronidase was exploited to advanta ge in studying the depolymerization kinetics of the two types (HA and HA-be ta-CD) of macrobiomolecules. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights rese rved.