Sulphated hyaluronic acids: a chemical and biological characterisation

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