ABSTRACT
Hyaluronan (HA) is a natural component of animal extracellular matrix (ECM) and is present in cartilage, vitreous humor of the eye, synovial fluid, skin etc. It is a high molecular weight linear polysaccharide. Its main functions are shock absorbing, lubrication and as a filler. However, beyond these physical functions it also has biological functions as there are several cellular receptors that can interact with HA. It also interacts with the other components of the ECM either via biochemical and biophysical routes. The molecular size of HA is implicated in its diverse biological functions. Due to its established biocompatibility and biodegradability, HA has been widely used for the development of tissue engineering products and drug-delivery systems. Many of these biomaterials are designed for regulation of immune responses or for repairing chronically inflamed tissues and for these reasons it is necessary to consider the potential effects of various forms of HA on immune cells and inflammation itself. This chapter aims to provide an overview of the structure and roles of HA and its implication in interaction with immune cells and potential immunomodulatory systems.
