Chapter 9 - Hyaluronic acid-based nanosystems for drug delivery applications

Abstract

This chapter focuses on nano-sized drug delivery systems composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) conjugates, synthesis methods for such conjugates as well as characterization of the different delivery systems that include HA conjugates in their structures. Due to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and nonimmunogenic properties, HA is used extensively for a range of medical applications, such as tissue engineering, eye surgery, and drug delivery. Over the years, drug delivery research has resulted in many new HA-based carrier systems with enhanced or modulated therapeutic activity of HA for more efficient and targeted delivery of the bioactive molecules. The conjugations reviewed in this chapter include HA-drug conjugates, HA-coated nanoparticles, HA conjugates formed with hydrophobic or polymeric moieties that allow self-assembly into particles, as well as ionic complexes of HA with cationic polymers. The delivery systems are characterized in terms of their in vitro and in vivo performance, and different preparation methods for conjugates are compared.