title: [Medical application of hyaluronic acid and its derivatives].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the recent advances of hyaluronic acid and its derivatives in medical application.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent original articles related to hyaluronan derivatives and their medical applications were retrieved extensively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hyaluronic acid and its derivatives play important roles in visosurgery, arthritis therapy, prevention of adhesion, drug delivery, soft-tissue dilation, and percutaneous embolization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Development of hyaluronan derivatives may widen their medical application.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Qisheng Biotechnology Institute, Shanghai, P. R. China 201106.
authors.forename: L X
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011182:Postoperative Care
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid