Biomedical Engineering Reference
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promising. It is clearly uncertain how the host response to these
polymers has interacted with the differentiation process of adipo-
genesis
in vivo
. Previous studies of ours have shown clearly that
exposure to various inflammatory environments prevents normal
preadipocyte differentiation.
This chapter will describe some of our experiences in defining
polymers, which control the host inflammatory response, and the
application of that technology in gels forsoft-tissue regeneration.
5.2 Hyaluronan as a Base Polymer for
Regenerative Therapies
Hyualuronic acid (or hyaluronan) occurs within the extracellular
matrix compartment of most tissues and is well known for being
actively angiogenic.
12
It is found within developing tissue and is
implicated in tissue morphogenesis.
13
-
15
A major stumbling block
is that naturally occurring hyaluronan is a viscous fluid with limited
retention and withoutsignificantmechanical properties (Fig. 5.1).
By chemical modification of the free carboxyl groups on the glu-
curonic acid component of the hyaluronan chain, it has been clearly
Figure 5.1.
Naturally occurring hyaluronan in itsnative state.
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