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The Role of the Conformational Profile of Polysaccharides on Skin Penetration: The Case of Hyaluronan and Its Sulfates
Author(s) -
Cilurzo Francesco,
Vistoli Giulio,
Gennari Chiara G. M.,
Selmin Francesca,
Gardoni Fabrizio,
Franzè Silvia,
Campisi Monica,
Minghetti Paola
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemistry and biodiversity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1612-1880
pISSN - 1612-1872
DOI - 10.1002/cbdv.201300130
Subject(s) - permeation , chemistry , stratum corneum , hyaluronic acid , penetration (warfare) , sulfation , polysaccharide , corneocyte , biophysics , transcellular , polymer , lipophilicity , human skin , chromatography , organic chemistry , biochemistry , membrane , medicine , pathology , operations research , biology , engineering , genetics
The literature data suggest the capacity of biomacromolecules to permeate the human skin, even though such a transdermal permeation appears to be governed by physicochemical parameters which are significantly different compared to those ruling the skin permeation of small molecules. On these grounds, the present study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro diffusion properties through the human epidermis of hyaluronic acid and their sulfates. Low‐ and medium‐molecular‐weight hyaluronic acids and the corresponding derivatives at two degrees of sulfation were then tested. In vitro studies evidenced that the sulfated polymers permeate better than the corresponding hyaluronic acid, despite their vastly greater polarity, while the observed permeation markedly decreases when increasing the polymer's molecular weight regardless of the sulfation degree. Using a fluorescent‐labeled polysaccharide, it was also evidenced that hyaluronans have a great affinity for corneocytes and likely cross the stratum corneum mainly through a transcellular route. The molecular‐dynamics study revealed how the observed permeations for the investigated polysaccharides can be rationalized by monitoring their conformational profiles, since the permeation was found to be directly related to their capacity to assume extended and flexible conformations.