Rheology of hyaluronic acid

TLDR

The study measured the dynamic viscoelastic properties of hyaluronic acid solutions across 0.02–1.67 cps, examining how temperature, concentration, pH, and ionic strength affect shear moduli. The solutions transitioned sharply from viscous to elastic behavior with increasing frequency, showed no entanglement coupling between 2.0–4.0 mg/ml, and displayed markedly enhanced elasticity at pH 2.5 due to molecular stiffening.

Abstract

Abstract The dynamic viscoelastic properties of hyaluronic acid solutions have been measured over the frequency range 0.02–1.67 cps. The effects of varying temperature, hyaluronic acid concentration, pH, and ionic strength on the dynamic shear moduli were studied. The solutions exhibited a sharp transition from viscous to elastic behavior as the strain frequency increased. No entanglement coupling of the hyaluronic acid molecules was evident over the concentration range 2.0–4.0 mg./ml. Solutions at pH 2.5 showed a pronounced elastic behavior relative to both higher and lower pH's. This effect was attributed to a stiffening of the hyaluronic acid molecule at this pH.