ABSTRACT
Hyaluronan (HA) is a natural polysaccharide that has attracted considerable interest as a biomaterial due to its unique physicochemical properties (high molecular weight, hydrophilicity, inherent biodegradability and biocompatibility)and ability to form complex interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM) components and cells. However, being a water soluble polymer, chemical modifications are required to generatestable biomaterials. This chapterdescribes several strategies for creating HA hydrogels through covalent and supramolecular crosslinking and highlights furtherbiofunctionalization to promote diverse cellular functions, such as survival, adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation.
