title: Structural investigations of cross-linked hyaluronan.
abstract: Structural properties of several cross-linked hyaluronan derivatives, obtained by scanning electron microscopy, monodimensional NMR microscopy and small angle X-ray scattering of synchrotron radiation, are presented and compared with those observed for non-modified hyaluronic acid, used as a reference material. The experimental results, obtained in different media, showed a consistent picture of the synthesized matrices. In particular, the presence of zones of denser polymeric material observed by electron microscopy resulted in a higher transversal relaxation rate of the bulk water protons as well as in a decrease of the diffusion coefficient obtained by NMR microscopy. Moreover, the presence of polymer junction zones gave rise to the appearance of a well-defined correlation peak in the pattern of intensity of the scattered X-radiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Trieste, Italy. gamini@bbcm.univ.trieste.it
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamini
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paoletti
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toffanin
authors.forename: Fulvio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Micali
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michielin
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bevilacqua
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008422:Materials Testing; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid