CARB 64 |
| Hyaluronic acid is important biopolymer playing significant role in human tissues and body fluids. It helps in nutrient transportation and affects cell behavior through interactions with specific proteins in the extracellular matrix and binding sites on the cell surface. Consequently, it is a promising candidate for targeted drug delivery. To improve its transport capability for non-polar molecules it has been modified by grafting alkyl chains. We report on solution behavior of dodecyl-modified hyaluronanes with degree of substitution between 3-5 and relative molecular weight within the range 32-97 000. Solutions were studied by viscosimetry, rheology, tensiometry and pyrene fluorescence. Viscosimetry and fluorescence confirmed aggregation behavior within the range 0.1 - 0.3 g/l, weakly dependent on the molecular weight. Surface activity of the modified hyaluronane is much higher than that of native biopolymer. Critical concentration from tensiometry is lower pointing to more complex aggregation mechanism than is known for classical surfactants. |
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General Posters
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster
Sci-Mix
Division of Carbohydrate Chemistry |