The degradation of hyaluronan (HA) of different molecular weights (Mw 14.3, 267.2 and 1160.6 kDa, measured for fresh solutions, before degradation) was studied in aqueous solutions by SEC-MALLS determination of molecular mass, polydispersity and conformation parameters. The solutions were stored either at laboratory or refrigerator temperatures for two months. After this period the weight average molecular weight decreased by 90% for 14.3 kDa, 95% for 267.2 kDa and 71% for 1160.6 kDa hyaluronan (room temperature) or 5.6% for 14.3 kDa, 6.2% for 267.2 kDa and 7.7% for 1160.6 kDa hyaluronan (refrigerator temperature). The hyaluronan aqueous solutions studied did not contain sodium azide or other protectants against microorganisms, because the aim of our study was to assess the degradation in solutions to be used in medicine or cosmetics (without any compounds that are poisonous or toxic for the human body). The solvent used to prepare the samples was pure water. The polydispersity of all the samples remained unaltered during the entire degradation at both temperatures. This indicates a non-random mechanism of degradation.

Materials Research Centre Faculty of Chemistry Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 118 612 00 Brno Czech Republic

Materials Research Centre Faculty of Chemistry Brno University of Technology Purkyňova 118 612 00 Brno Czech Republic; Institute of Chemistry Timisoara of the Romanian Academy 24 Mihai Viteazul Bvd Timisoara 300223 Romania

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Hyaluronan-Arginine Interactions-An Ultrasound and ITC Study