Chemically or physically treated proteoglycans have been finding various
applications including pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic fields.
Important medical applications include wound healing technology, prosthetic
and biomedical devices. The incorporation of chemical functional groups
into proteoglycans produces new functional proteoglycans as biodegradable,
bioresorbable biomaterials while maintaining its own biofunctional activity.
The author's approaches are
1) surface immobilization of or fixation of heparin or artificial device
or extracorporeal circulatory system provided antithrombogenic activity
using heparin partially derivatized with photoreactive phenylazide,
grafted with thermoresponsive water-soluble polymer or endcapped with
alkyl group.
2) In situ hydrogelation or hydrogelled film using hyaluronic acid
partially derivatized with photodimerizable groups such as cinnamate
or thymine ensured tissue adhesion prevention.
3) Ant-proliferative agent which is an alkylated heparin reduced intimal
hyperplasia as applied for percutaneous treatment. The local delivery
of alkylated heparin into diseased sites of vessels minimized thrombus
formation, prolonged residence in tissues, and tissue permeation.
These chemically modified heparin and hyaluronic acid function well
by appropriate treatments such as photo-irradiation or thermal treatments,
resulting in gelation on living tissues as well as fabricated artificial
organs.