A study on the nature of intermolecular links in the cryotropic weak gels of hyaluronan

► Hydrogen bonding rather than microcrystallization in HA cryotropic weak gel is verified. ► Protonation of the polyanion of HA is indispensable to the association of HA chains. ► Hydrogen bonding between -COOH and -NHCOCH3 plays a crucial role on such bridging.