The rate and evenness of the substitutions on hyaluronan grafted by dodecanoic acid influenced by the mixed-solvent composition

In this work, low molecular weight (17 kDa) hyaluronan was modified by dodecanoyl substituents. The activation of dodecanoic acid was mediated by benzoyl chloride towards the preparation of a mixed anhydride, which reacts in a second step with HA in water mixed with an organic solvent. The effect of the cosolvent was studied and showed an even distribution of substituents and higher reaction rate in water: 1,4-dioxane compared to water:tert-butanol where substituents occupy adjacent positions. The chemical characterization of the prepared derivatives was elucidated by NMR, FTIR spectroscopy, thermal analyses, and gas chromatography, while the distribution of substituents was evaluated by enzymatic degradation. Molecular-dynamics simulations reveal opposite solvent separations around HA and dodecanoyl chains, that is stronger in water:tert-butanol solution. The resulting incompatibility of solvation-shells of the two entities repels the reaction intermediates from the HA chain and drives them towards the already bound substituents, explaining the observed differences in the distribution evenness. Thus, the influence of the solvent on the reaction selectivity is observed by shielding reactive sites around HA. Therefore, a control of the distribution of the substituents was obtained by defining the concentration of HA and used cosolvent. •Hyaluronan esterification by dodecanoic acid is affected by solvent composition.•At low concentration of HA an even distribution of substituents is obtained.•Modified molecules are water soluble up to 20% degree of substitution.•Reaction yield is higher in water:1,4-dioxane than in water:tert-butanol mixture.•Substituent distribution is more even in water:1,4-dioxane than water:tert-butanol.