Structural and conformational differences of acylated hyaluronan modified in protic and aprotic solvent system

► Acylation of hyaluronan (HA) in aqueous (DMSO/H2O) and nonaqueous (DMSO) solutions. ► Reaction solvent influences structural arrangement of acylated HA. ► Large hydrophobic domains occurred in acylated HA prepared in DMSO/H2O solution. ► Much less hydrophobic domains occurred in acylated HA prepared in DMSO solution.