PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF HYALURONAN AND ITS HYDROPHOBIC DERIVATIVES - A CALORIMETRIC AND VISCOMETRIC STUDY

The physico-chemical properties of a series of hyaluronan derivatives were studied with the aim of exploring some aspects of the role of electrostatic interactions on the aggregation of these chains in aqueous solution. Experimental data were obtained from calorimetric measurements of the dilution process in water. The data were analysed in terms of the structural charge parameter, xi, with the polyelectrolyte counterion condensation theory. In addition, intrinsic viscosity data of the hyaluronan derivatives were obtained at several different values of the ionic strength and discussed on the basis of the effect of charge density change upon the elongation properties of the polyelectrolyte chains.