title: Gel-like structure of a hexadecyl derivative of hyaluronic acid for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
abstract: Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide with viscoelastic and mechanical properties that are crucial for the normal functioning of osteoarticular junctions. It is demonstrated that introduction of a hexadecyl side chain into HA yields an injectable polysaccharide capable of forming physical hydrogels, which are stable at very low polymer concentrations, whereas native hyaluronic acid forms viscous solutions at concentrations that are ten times higher. Characterization of this system showed that the driving force for its gel-like behavior is the occurrence of hydrophobic interactions involving aliphatic side chains, despite the low degree of substitution, as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations of HYADD4 and HA hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica I-00133 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Finelli
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiessi
authors.forename: Devis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Galesso
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Renier
authors.forename: Gaio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paradossi
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D036681:Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid