A novel DTPA cross-linking of hyaluronic acid and metal complexation thereof

Macromolecular conjugates of a natural polysaccharide, hyaluronic acid, with diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-metal complexes were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, NMR, SEC-MALLS and ICP analysis. Several parameters of the cross-linking reaction as molecular weight of starting HA, temperature, equivalent of DTPA bis-anhydride, concentration of HA, presence of transacylation catalyst DMAP and reaction time were studied. The mechanism for the reaction was suggested and relationship between the molecular weight assigned by SEC-MALLS, reaction parameters and rheological properties of the final cross-linked products were investigated.