Composition comprising polyglucosamine-glyoxylate solutions mixed with hyaluronan

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method which allows direct formation of gel-like solutions of polyglucosamine at neutral pH≈7 to 8, eliminating the need of prior dissolution of polyglucosamine in acidic environment; and to a homogeneous liquid combination of polyglucosamine-glyoxylate with hyaluronan.

1 . A composition comprising a polyglucosamine, glyoxylate and hyaluronan. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyglucosamine is at least one of chitin, chitosan, polyglucosaminoglycans, chondroitin, heparin, keratan and dermatan. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyglucosamine is chitosan. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein the concentration of chitosan ranges from 0.1% to 5.0%. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the concentration of chitosan ranges from 1.0% to about 3.0%. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said chitosan has a degree of deacetylation (DDA) ranging between 70% and 100% and a molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 50 kDa to 1000 kDa. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein said chitosan has a DDA of 80% to 99%, and a Mw of 200 kDa to 500 kDa. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one material or compound selected from the group consisting of cells, stem cells, peptides, growth factors, human blood, platelet-rich plasma, nucleotides, bone, bone-derived materials, calcium phosphates, calcium carbonates, bioglasses, ceramics, drugs, cytolines, osteogenic agents, osteoinductive agents and imaging agents. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is for treating a tissue or organ within a mammalian or human body. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the tissue or organ comprises articular cartilage, fibrocartilage, meniscus, intervertebral discs, bone tissues, muscular tissues, nerve and spinal cord soft-tissues, skin or dermal tissues. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is for treating body joint functions or cartilage defects. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , the composition is for treating inflammatory joint conditions, osteoarthritis, vitreous humor of the eye, cataract, or corneal grafts. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein the inflammatory joint conditions are caused by arthritis. 
     
     
         14 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of preparing a composition of polyglucosamine, comprising the step of dissolving the polyglucosamine in a solution of glyoxylate at a pH between of 7 and 8. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the polyglucosamine is at least one of chitin, chitosan, polyglucosaminoglycans, chondroitin, heparin, keratan and dermatan. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the polyglucosamine is chitosan. 
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of mixing the composition with a negatively charged polyelectrolyte. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the negatively charged polyelectrolyte is hyaluronan (HA) or alginate. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the negatively charged polyelectrolyte is hyaluronan (HA). 
     
     
         27 . (canceled)