Determination of the distribution of molecular masses of sodium hyaluronate by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

Sodium hyaluronate, or hyaluronic acid (HA), is a glucosaminoglucan used in pharmaceuticals in ophthalmic surgery and for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The average molecular mass of the HA polymer used in these products is often in the range 1(.)10(6)-5(.)10(6). Size-exclusion chromatography has been used for analysis of molecular masses, including the distribution, up to about 3(.)10(6). In this work, an anionic exchange chromatography method is presented by which the peak molecular mass and an estimation of the distribution of the molecular masses of HA is possible in the range 0.1(.)10(6)-5(.)10(6). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.