Aldehyde functionalized hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is an important component of the natural extracellular matrix which plays a vital role in various cellular and tissue functions. It represents some unique properties such as excellent gel-forming properties and chemical modification ability through hydroxyl and carboxyl groups that make them useful for tissue engineering applications. Aldehyde functionalized hyaluronic acid, or partially oxidized hyaluronic acid, contains two aldehyde groups in the repeating unit of HA. The dialdehyde groups are capable of reductive coupling with primary amines, providing a platform for a wide range of chemical modifications for a variety of applications.

HA is increasingly used for a many biomedical applications because it promotes cell migration, angiogenesis, cell viability, and proliferation. Aldehyde functionalized HA can be used to develop hydrogels for tissue engineering, regenerative medicing, bioprinting, and drug delivery applications.