Hylan Preparation and Method of Recovery Thereof From Animal Tissues

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved chemically modified hyaluronan preparation (hylan) characterized by novel chemical, physicochemical and rheological properties, and novel methods for obtaining such preparation.

2. The Prior Art

Hyaluronan, sometimes hereinafter also referred to as a hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occuring high molecular weight glycosaminoglycan having a repeating disaccharide unit of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamino-2-acetamido-2-desoxy-D-glucose joined by .beta.1.fwdarw.3 glucosidic bond. The disaccharides are joined to form an unbranched uncrosslinked polysaccharide chain by .beta.1.fwdarw.4 glucosidic bonds.

HA is found in animal tissues such as umbilical cord, vitreous, synovial fluid, rooster and chicken combs, skin, etc. The molecular weight of purified HA has been reported in the literature to be within the range of 50,000 to 8,000,000 depending on the source, method of isolation and method of determination of molecular weight (Balazs, E. A., Fed. Proceed. 17, 1086-1093 (1958).

Several methods have been suggested for recovery and purification of HA from animal tissues and bacterial cultures. Among these are enzymatic digestion of proteins (E. D. T. Atkins, C. F. Phelps and J. K. Sheehan, Biochem. J. 128, 1255-1263, (1972); R. Varma, R. S. Varma, W. S. Alten and A. H. Wardi, Carbohydr. Res. 32, 386-395, (1974); treatment with ion exchange resins (T. C. Laurent, J. Biol. Chem. 216, 253-271, (1955); E. R. Berman, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 58, 120-122 (1962); precipitation with cationic surfactants (T. C. Laurent, M. Ryan, and A. Pietruszkiewicz, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 42, 476-485 (1960)); treatment with trichloroacetic acid (H. Hofmans, O. Schmut, H. Sterk, and H. Koop, Naturforsch. 34c, 508-511 (1979); D. Schmut, and H. Hofmans, Biochim Biophys. Acta 673, 192-196 (1981)); preparative density gradient sedimentation (P. Silpanata, J. R. Dunstone, A. G. Ogston, Biochem. J. 109, 43-50 (1968)); and electrodeposition (S. Roseman, D. R. Watson, J. F. Duff, and W. D. Robinson, Annals Rheumatic Diseases, 15, 67-68 (1955)). One can also use a method which contains several different treatments, e.g., enzymatic digestion and precipitation with cetylpyridinium chloride (J. E. Scott, Biochem. J., 62, 31 (1956)).

The principal problem encountered in recovering HA from any biological source involves separating the polymer (HA) from proteins and other biological polymers which are extracted from the tissue along with the HA. Depending upon the raw material, the amount of undesirable polymers can be very large, exceeding by many times the amount of HA. The methods of HA recovery cited above are all used for the preparation of HA in laboratories but can hardly be used for large scale production of HA because of various drawbacks inherent in each of those methods.

The most advanced method for HA recovery and purification on an industrial scale is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,973 (E. A. Balazs). According to this method, an ultrapure HA with a protein content of less than 0.5% by weight and a molecular weight more than 1,200,000 is obtained by water extraction from rooster combs or human umbilical cord. Proteins and other substances are removed with several chloroform extractions at varying pH values. In a chloroform extraction of the water extract an interface layer is formed in which denatured proteins and other substances are collected. Some substances, e.g., fats, are solubilized, probably in the chloroform phase. The process can also include a treatment with a proteolytic enzyme, e.g. pronase. By combining several quite elaborate treatments a process has been developed which allows one to obtain a pyrogen-free, non-inflammatory fraction of HA. This product is presently being marketed as a 1% solution under the trademark Healon.RTM. and is used in viscosurgery where it protects tissues against mechanical damage, provides space and permits manipulation of tissues during surgery (E. A. Balazs, Healon, J. Wiley and Son, N.Y., 1983, pp 5-28).

FIG. 1 is a graph showing viscosity vs. shear rate dependence for a 1% (wt.) solution of HY in aqueous 0.15M NaCl (V=viscosity; S=shear stress);

FIG. 2 is a graph giving the results of an oscillation test for a 1% (wt.) solution of HY in aqueous 0.15M NaCl (V=viscosity; F=phase angle; G'=dynamic storage moduli; G"=loss moduli);

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relaxation curve for a 1% (wt.) solution of HY in aqueous 0.15M NaCl;

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the distribution of ESD for a 1% (wt.) solution of HY (limiting viscosity number 4,300 cc/g.) in aqueous 0.15M NaCl;

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the distribution of ESD for a 1% (wt.) solution of HA (limiting viscosity number 3,562 cc/g.) in aqueous 0.15M NaCl;

FIG. 6 is a graph showing viscosity vs. shear rate dependence for a jelly-type product according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the results of an oscillation test for a jelly-type product according to the invention (V=viscosity; F=phase angle, G'=dynamic storage moduli; G"=loss moduli);

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relaxation curve for a jelly-type product according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is an autoradiograph of an electrophoretic gel of .sup.14 CH.sub.2 O containing hylan proteins;

FIG. 10 is an electrophoretic analysis of hylan proteins; and

FIG. 11 is a graph showing viscosity vs. shear rate for the product described in example 13.

In one aspect, the present invention provides, in addition to those described in the parent application, novel methods for the in situ chemical modification of HA in animal tissues prior to its extraction therefrom.

In another aspect, the invention provides, in addition to those described in the parent application, novel methods for recovery and purification of the chemically modified HA from animal tissues.

In still another aspect, the invention provides novel ultra-pure, pyrogen-free, non-inflammatory chemically modified HA, that is, hylan containing about 0.0002 to 0.05% by weight of aldehyde cross-linking groups covalently bonded to the hyaluronan polymer chains.

The following detailed description of the invention is identical to the description in parent application, Ser. No. 710,929, except to the extent that it is hereinafter expanded upon and amplified immediately preceding the examples beginning at page 28.

The present invention is based on our discovery that HA can be chemically modified in situ before it is extracted from animal tissues by treatment of the tissue with a substance that reacts with proteins and HA in aqueous media. Among these substances are formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde, glyoxal, etc. It has been found that this in situ chemical modification produces substantial changes in the primary structure of the HA macromolecule, in molecular size, inter-and intramolecular interactions and in the resulting rheological properties of solutions made from the modified product. It is, therefore, warranted to give this chemically modified HA a new name. We have chosen to call this material Hylan (hereinafter referred to as HY). When HA is extracted from an animal tissue, usually, a large amount of proteins go into solution along with it. The amount of protein can vary substantially depending upon the nature of the tissue and the parameters of the extraction. In extraction of HA from rooster combs, the weight ratio of HA to proteins can vary from 1:0.5 up to 1:4 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,303,676, E. A. Balazs). As a result, the first problem in recovery of pure HA from animal tissue is the removal of proteins. We have found that the above mentioned preliminary treatment of the tissue provides a water extract of HY with a substantially lower protein content than in the absence of such treatment.

The precise nature of the chemical events occurring during the treatment of the tissue is not fully understood and, therefore, the invention should not be limited by any specific chemical reaction. It is believed that, as a result of chemical reactions between proteins in the tissue and a reagent in the treating mixture, the proteins become denatured and immobilized in the tissues and are therefore insoluble in the subsequent aqueous extraction.

Any substance which reacts with proteins in a water-containing medium can be used for the purpose of the present invention. We have found that the most advantageous substance is formaldehyde. Other aldehydes such as glutaraldehyde or glyoxal also can be used in the method according to the present invention.

The treatment of the tissue can be carried out in a water solution of the reagent. However, if this is done, there will be a substantial loss of HY because of its good solubility in water. For this reason, it is preferable to carry out the treatment of the tissue in a mixture of water and a water-miscible organic solvent. The solvent should not react with the reagent used for the protein immobilization. Among these solvents are lower ketones such as acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, alcohols such as ethanol or isopropanol, aprotic solvents such as dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide or dimethylsulfoxide and others. When such a solvent is mixed with a tissue which contains a large amount of water, usually 80-90% or more by weight, a water-solvent mixture is formed. The water-solvent ratio in the mixture can be adjusted to any desired level by changing the solvent/tissue ratio or by adding water to the mixture. The preferable water/solvent ratio is determined by HY solubility in the sense that the HY should not be soluble in the mixture used for the treatment of the tissue. The HY solubility depends upon the type of solvent used, water/solvent ratio, the presence and concentration of any electrolyte in the mixture and the pH of the mixture. The HY solubility can be substantially reduced by introducing an electrolyte into the mixture. Any type of electrolyte can be used which is soluble in the water-solvent mixture and which provides the desired pH of the mixture. For example, when acetone is used as a solvent sodium acetate can be conveniently used as a soluble electrolyte.

The composition of the mixture for treating the tissue can vary over a broad range depending upon the nature of the tissue, the type of solvent used, the type of electrolyte, etc. As mentioned above, HY from the tissue should not be soluble in the treating mixture but the latter should contain enough water to allow the tissue to swell so as to facilitate the reaction between the reagent and the tissue polymers. We have found that in the case of rooster combs as a source of HY, the composition of the mixture, taking into account the water from the combs, can be in the following range, % by weight: water 10-50, solvent 40-85, electrolyte 0-20, reagent 0.2-10. Several different solvents can be used in the same treating mixture, if desired. We have found it to be advantageous to use small amounts of water-immicsible solvents, such as chloroform, in the treating mixture. The content of these solvents in the mixture can be from 0.5 to 10% by weight.

The pH of the treating mixture can be varied depending upon the nature of the reagents, composition of the mixture, temperature and time of the treatment. In recovery of HY from animal tissues according to the present invention, the following considerations are very important. Some of the reagents, formaldehyde, for example, can react with hydroxyl groups of HA macromolecules at low pH to give a cross-linked polymer, insoluble in water. A prolonged treatment in a medium with a relatively high pH leads to the degradation of HA and only a low molecular weight polymer can be recovered. We have found that when an aldehyde type of reagent is used according to the present invention the best results are obtained with pH close to neutral, for example, in the range from 4 to 10.

The ratio of the treating mixture to the tissue can vary over broad limits. The lower limit is determined, usually, by the provision that the tissue, which is quite bulky in the case of rooster combs, should at least be fully covered with the mixture. The upper limit can be chosen based on economical consideration. In treatment of rooster combs according to the present invention, the ratio of the treating mixture to the tissue (calculated on dry weight of the tissue) is usually more than 10:1.

The temperature affects the efficiency of the treatment according to the present invention. However, since HY is susceptible to hydrolysis at elevated temperature, it is preferable to carry out the treatment at room temperature or below in order to obtain a high molecular weight product.

The time needed to perform the treatment depends upon many factors including the composition of the mixture, the nature of the tissue, temperature, etc. It is assumed that the limiting factor in the treatment is the diffusion of the reagent into the tissue slices. For this reason, the size of these slices is an important parameter. We have found that in treatment of rooster combs sliced into pieces of 1-3 mm thickness, the time of the treatment can be in the range of 4-24 hours.

The tissue treated as described above is then washed with a solvent or a solvent/water mixture to remove the excess treating mixture from the tissue. It is convenient to use the same solvent as is used in the mixture for the tissue treatment. One can use any number of washings but, it has been found that one washing gives satisfactory results.

The washed tissue is then directly extracted with water to recover the HY. We have found that the efficiency of the extraction depends upon the water/tissue ratio, pH of the extracting media, temperature and time. We have also found that the efficiency of the extraction of the treated tissue can be substantially increased by first drying the treated tissue to remove the solvent which was used in the treating and washing steps. The best results are obtained when the tissue is dried to 1/4 to 1/2 of its original weight.

The water/tissue ratio in the extraction step is chosen based on several considerations. First of all, there should be enough of the liquid phase to cover the tissue during extraction. On the other hand, the amount of water should not be too large in order to have as high a concentration of HY in the extract as possible so as to reduce the amount of precipitant in the next step of the process. We have found that in the case of rooster combs the preferred ratio of water to tissue is from 2 to 5 based on the weight of the untreated combs.

The pH of the extracting media can be kept neutral, acidic or alkaline depending upon the desired quality of the end product. We have found that in order to obtain ultra high molecular weight product, the pH of the extracting media should be in the range of 6-8.5. A higher pH leads to an increase in the HY concentration in the extract but, at the same time, to a decrease in the molecular weight of the product and to changes in other polymer properties which will be discussed below in more detail. In any case, by controlling the pH during the extraction step, one can conveniently regulate the properties of the end product in a desired direction.

It is preferable to extract the treated tissue at a temperature less than 25.degree. C. because the degradation of HY at higher temperatures can substantially decrease the molecular weight of the polymer.

The time needed for extracting the maximum amount of HY from the treated tissue varies substantially with other parameters of the extraction, such as pH, liquid/tissue ratio and intensity of stirring. We have found that in the extraction of rooster combs with water, good results can be obtained when the treated combs are extracted for from 6 hours to several days.

The mixture of treated tissue and extracting media can be stirred during the extraction or left without any stirring. Clearly, stirring will increase the diffusion rate of HY molecules from the tissue into the extract. On the other hand, vigorous stirring can lead to degradation of HY and, hence, to a decrease in the molecular weight. In addition, we have found that vigorous stirring causes tissue disintegration which makes it difficult to separate the tissue from the extract. Therefore, it is preferable to carry out the extraction step without or with very slow and gentle stirring.

After extraction, the tissue is separated from the extract using any of several conventional methods including filtration, centrifugation, decantation and the like. We have found that the most simple and economical way is filtration. Depending upon the kind of tissue used as a starting meterial, it may be preferable to use a two-step filtration. Thus, in the case of rooster combs, large pieces of tissue can be easily separated by filtration through a nylon mesh and the fine purification of the extract can be achieved by filtration through any dense filter media, e.g., a cellulosic material.

The HY concentration in the extract depends upon many factors including pH during extraction, time, liquid/tissue ratio, and intensity of stirring. Usually it is in the range of from 0.3 to 3.0 mg/ml and, sometimes, even higher. In some cases, when the HY concentration in the extract is on the lower side, we have found it desirable to run a second extraction of the tissue. We have also found that the product precipitated from the second extract usually has a higher molecular weight as compared to the HY from the first extract. This can be explained by the fact that low molecular weight fractions of HY diffuse more easily from the tissue into the extract and the product precipitated from the first extract is enriched with these fractions.

One can use more than two extractions to achieve as high a yield as possible, but the concentration of HY in an extract decreases with each consecutive extraction.

HY can be recovered from the filtrates by any method known in the prior art. The most convenient method is precipitation with a water-miscible solvent such as acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, etc. The precipitation can be done in the presence of an acid such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, etc., or in the presence of neutral electrolytes such as sodium acetate, sodium chloride and their salts. HY and its salts are usually precipitated as a white fiber-like material or a powder. The precipitate can be washed with the same solvent which is used for precipitation, or with any other solvent mixture which will not dissolve the product, for example, ether. The washed product can be dried with any conventional means or can be stored under a layer of a solvent such as acetone, ethanol, etc. Alternately, the filtrate can be freeze-dried.

It is clear that any additional steps known in the prior art and used in HA purification can be included in the process according to the present invention without limiting its scope. For example, to remove pyrogens or inflammatory agents, extraction by well known solvents, such as chloroform, in which HY is insoluble but lipoproteins, glycolipids or glycolipoproteins are soluble or separated, can be used.

The process according to the present invention allows one to obtain HY products with properties varying over a broad range. The following properties were evaluated. The cited methods were used to characterize the products obtained according to the present invention.

The HY concentration in solutions was determined by hexuronic acid assay using the automated carbazole method (E. A. Balazs, K. O. Berntsen, J. Karossa and D. A. Swann, Analyt. Biochem. 12, 547-558 (1965)). The hexosamine content was determined by the automated colorimetric method (D. A. Swan and E. A. Balazs, Biochem. Biophys. Acta 130, 112-129 (1966)). Protein content of HY solutions was determined by the phenol reagent method (Lowry et al., J. Biol. Chem 193, 265-275 (1951)).

The formaldehyde content in the product was determined by hydrolysis of about 0.1 g of the sample in 10 ml of 10% aqueous sulfuric acid for 2 hours with boiling followed by steam distilling free formaldehyde off the solution obtained and determing formaldehyde in the distillate using a colormetric method with chromotropic acid (M. J. Boyd and M. A. Logan, J. Biol. Chem., 146, 279 (1942)).

The limiting viscosity number (intrinsic viscosity) defined as lim (n/no-1)/c where n and no are the viscosities of the solution and the solvent respectively, and c the concentration of HY in g/cc. The measurements were carried out in aqueous 0.20M NaCl solutions in an Ubbelohde capillary type dilution viscosimeter. The viscosity-average molecular weight is calculated by the equation [n]=0.0228M.sup.0.81 (R. C. Cleland and J. L. Wang, Biopolymers 9, 799 (1970)).

The weight-average molecular weight is determined by the low angle laser light scattering method using a Chromatix KMX-6 instrument equipped with a helium-neon laser set at 632.8 nm. The weight-average molecular weight is also calculated from the sedimentation and diffusion constants determined in an analytical ultra-centrifuge.

The dynamic light scattering method is used to evaluate the aggregation of the molecules in relatively concentrated solutions of HY. This method gives the distribution of equivalent spherical diameters (ESD) in solution.

Rheological properties were evaluated with the Bohlin Rheometer System which is a computerized rheometer which can operate in three modes: viscometry, oscillation and relaxation. The following parameters are measured for the HY solution: viscosity for the broad range of shear rates, dynamic viscosity, dynamic storage moduli and dynamic loss moduli for various oscillation frequencies and relaxation time.

As mentioned above, the product according to the present invention (HY) is a new polymer, obtained as a result of an in situ chemical reaction between HA and a cross-linking agent, such as formaldehyde. We have found, by chemical analysis of HY, that the content of the combined formaldehyde in products obtained from the rooster combs treated with a formaldehyde-containing mixture, was in the range of from 0.005 to 0.02 wt. % calculated on the weight of polymer, depending upon the various parameters of the treatment.

The presence of the combined formaldehyde in the product was also proved by an experiment in which the treatment was carried out with radiolabeled formaldehyde .sup.14 CH.sub.2 O (see example 12 below). The results of the experiment show that the product obtained according to the invention contained combined formaldehyde which could not be removed by repeated precipitations or by exhaustive dialysis of the polymer solutions. This is strong evidence for the evidence of covalent bonding of formaldehyde to the polymeric molecules of the product. In order to find out whether formaldehyde is specifically combined with HA, the latter was treated with bacterial or leech hyaluronidases, enzymes specifically degrading HA. The results of this treatment showed that a noticable amount of formaldehyde was covalently attached directly to the HY macromolecules.

The protein content in the product obtained according to the present invention is usually not more than 0.5% as calculated on the weight of a dry polymer and can be as little as 0.1% and even less.

The chemical modification of hyaluronic acid by covalent attachment of a cross-linking agent to its macromolecules, in other words the changes in the primary structure of the polymer, substantially affect its physicochemical parameters such as molecular weight and molecular size, intermolecular interaction, and rheological properties of polymer solutions, as well.

HY obtained according to the present invention can have a very high molecular weight. Thus, the limiting viscosity number can be higher than 7,000 cc/g which corresponds to a viscosity average molecular weight of around 6.times.10.sup.6. The weight average molecular weight from the light-scattering data can reach a value of 13.times.10.sup.6. We have found that this discrepancy between the weight-average and the viscosity-average molecular weights to be quite meaningful as is discussed below. It should be understood that a polymer with substantially lower molecular weight, e.g., 1.times.10.sup.6 or less, can be easily obtained with the method according to the present invention, if desired. Similarly, a polymer with any desired molecular weight can be obtained if HY, at any stage of its recovery and purification, is exposed to agents which are known to break the glucosidic bond of the polysaccharide chain. Such well known agents are specific enzymes, e.g., hyaluronidase, free radical generating systems, shear forces, heat, strong alkalies and acids, etc.

The partial specific volume (psv) of HY in solution depends upon the ionic strength of the solution. It was determined by densitometry for HY solution in water containing 0.15M of NaCl in the concentration range from zero to 0.5 mg/ml and was found to be 0.627 cc/g.

The distribution of ESD for a sample of HY dissolved in 0.15M NaCl solution in 1% solution is presented in FIG. 4. It is apparent from the data presented that HY exists in a very highly aggregated form, although these aggregates are stable and do not sediment.

The rheological properties of a typical ultra-high molecular weight product prepared according to the present invention are presented in FIGS. 1-3. We have found that this product forms solutions (0.5 wt % and higher) with remarkable viscoelastic properties.

The following parameters characterize the elastic properties of the polymer solutions in the best way: dynamic storage moduli (G'), the frequency of "cross-over point" (a point at which dynamic storage module G' becomes greater than dynamic loss moduli G"), phase angle and relaxation time.

HY forms very viscous solutions in water or water solution of electrolytes. The viscosity of the solution depends upon the polymer concentration, electrolyte content, temperature and decreases with shear rate, i.e., the HY solutions have substantial pseudoplasticity.

When the rheological properties of HY solutions are considered, one should understand that these properties are greatly dependent upon the molecular weight of the product, as in the case of any other polymer. It was mentioned above that HY can be obtained with a molecular weight varying over a broad range and the rheological properties will vary accordingly. Thus, we have found that for the ultra-high molecular weight product (limiting viscosity number higher than 4500 cc/g) the viscosity of 1 wt % solution in 0.15M NaCl solution in water is up to 1000 Pa.s and even higher at shear rate 0.055, whereas it is only about 2 Pa.s for 1 wt % solution of polymer with limiting viscosity number about 1000 cc/g. We have found that the elastic properties of HY solutions also depend upon the polymer molecular weight. Thus, the dynamic storage module G' for a 1 wt % solution of ultra-high molecular weight HY in 0.15M NaCl is about 40 Pa at a frequency 0.01 Hz, whereas it is only about 0.2 Pa for a solution of HY with limiting viscosity number about 1000 cc/g. The frequency of the "cross-over point" which characterizes in a very good way the ratio between elastic and viscous properties of polymer solutions is usually less than 0.025 Hz for 1 wt % HY solutions in 0.15M NaCl at 25.degree. C. when molecular weight of the polymer is in the range from about 1.5.times.10.sup.6 to 8.times.10.sup.6 and higher.

The physicochemical and rheological properties of an HY sample and its solution were compared with the same properties of an HA product obtained according to a well known method and are presented in Table 1 and in FIGS. 4 and 5. The product used for comparison is HA recovered from rooster combs by water extraction followed by deproteinization with the so-called Sevag procedure, which entails several chloroform extractions (G. Blix, O. Shellman, Arkiv for Kemi, Mineral Geol. 19A, 1 (1945).

The data presented in Table 1 and in FIG. 4 show distinctive differences between HY and HA. First, the viscosity-average molecular weight and weight-average molecular weight for the known product have approximately the same values (the weight-average molecular weight is slightly lower), whereas for the product according to the invention the weight-average molecular weight is about four times higher than the viscosity-average molecular weight. Second, the greater value for psv of HY solution as compared to HA proves that HY macromolecules have a larger size. Third, the aggregation of HY macromolecules in solution provides substantially larger aggregates as compared to HA solutions which suggest not only larger size of HY macromolecules but also much stronger intermolecular interaction. Finally, HY solutions are substantially more viscous and elastic than equiconcentrated solutions of HA. Though the increased viscosity can be attributed to a higher viscosity-average molecular weight, the observed dramatic increase in elasticity, hardly can be explained by the same reason.

All these observations lead us to a conclusion that the chemical modification of hyaluronic acid in situ prior to its extraction from the tissue, though resulting in only minor changes in the chemical composition of the polymer provides, at the same time, some dramatic changes in the physicochemical parameters and rheological properties. This can only occur when the change in chemical composition corresponds to some major changes in the macromolecular structure.

The shape and conformation of HA macromolecules in solution have been studied by various methods and there is a large body of literature on this subject. These studies indicate that the macromolecules have an extended random coil configuration and entangle with each other a relatively small (e.g., 0.1%) concentration of the polymer in the solution. At higher concentration the solution is believed to contain a continuous three-dimensional network of polymeric chains. The glucosidic linkages in the HA macromolecules have been found to possess a considerable stiffness. Several mechanisms, such as solvent-solute interaction, interaction with small amounts of proteins present in many HA preparations, and inter-chain interactions were proposed to explain these phenomena. (See, e.g., E. A. Balazs, Physical Chemistry of Hyaluronic Acid, Fed. Proceed., 17, 1086-1093 (1958).) Some authors have proposed a double helical structure for HA macromolecules and suggested that double helical segments could play the role of cross-links providing the unusual rheological properties of HA solutions (C. M. Dea, R. Moorhous, D. D. Rees, S. Arhott, J. M. Guss and E. A. Balazs, Science, 179, 560-562 (1972); S. Arnott, A. R. Mitra and S. Raghunatan, J. Mol. Biol. 169, 861-872 (1983)).

Taking into consideration these studies and observations, we have come to a hypothesis that the product according to the present invention (HY) can contain an additional number of cross-links introduced during the treatment of the tissue with a protein cross-linking immobilizing agent. The agents used according to the present invention, such as formaldehyde, are very reactive towards various chemical groups, their reactivity depending substantially on such reaction conditions as pH, temperature, concentration, etc. The hydroxyl groups of hyaluronic acid evidently do not react with these agents under the treatment conditions since the product obtained after treatment is always soluble in water and, hence, does not have substantial degree of cross-linked polymer. The amount of additional cross-links introduced into the polymer during the treatment is probably small enough not to cause the insolubility of polymer, but significant enough to markedly increase interaction between macromolecules and consequently the elasticity of the polymer solution. Several candidates for such reaction with a treating agent are the acetamido groups of hyaluronic acid, nonacetylated amino groups which can be present in small amounts in hyaluronic acid, and amido, amino and other reactive groups of proteins which are present in the intercellular matrix of the tissue during the treatment. It is hardly probable that the acetamido groups of HA themselves can provide intermolecular cross-linking. In the studies of the reaction of proteins with formaldehyde (see, e.g., J. F. Walker, Formaldehyde, Reinhold Publ. Corp., N.Y., 1953, pp 312-317), it was found that amide groups of a protein themselves could not provide cross-linking and one of the most probable reactions in the cross-link formation is a reaction of formaldehyde with amino groups giving N-methylol amino groups which, in turn, react with amide groups.

Accordingly, two mechanisms are possible for introducing a limited number of cross-links into HA macromolecules. The first mechanism involves the reaction between a cross-linking agent, such as formaldehyde, and acetamido and free amino groups of HA, the existence of which in HA is quite probable (E. A. Balazs, Fed. Proceed. 25, 1817-1822 (1966)).

The second possible mechanism suggests the participation of proteins or polypeptides in the cross-linking reaction. Reports persist in the literature that proteins or polypeptides are covalently linked to the HA molecule (Yuko Mikum-Takagaki and B. P. Toole, J. Biol. Chem. 256 (16), 8463-8469 (1981)) or can be associated with HA molecules in another way. In this case, cross-links can be formed between one HA macromolecule and a protein moiety and another HA macromolecule, or between a protein covalently attached to two HA macromolecules.

None of these mechanisms should be considered as limiting the present invention. It should be understood that other mechanisms for introduction of small amounts of covalent cross-links into the product according to the present invention are possible.

In any case, the essential feature of the present invention is the chemical modification of HA in the tissue during the process of its recovery, presumably by introducing small numbers of cross-links in the HA macromolecules, the degree of modification being enough to substantially increase the elastic characteristics of the polymer solutions without any adverse effect on the beneficial properties of HA, such as its ability to give highly viscous solutions in aqueous medium, biocompatibility, etc.

The chemically modified hyaluronic acid, HY, prepared according to the present invention can be successfully used for many applications in the biomedical field and in cosmetics, for example, as a tool in viscosurgery, for coatings to improve the biocompatibility of various materials, as a component of various pharmaceutical preparations, in skin care products, etc. The improved properties of this polymer, such as an increased elasticity, give substantial benefits when HY is used.

HY can also be used as a starting material for new products obtained through additional chemical modification, such as cross-linking with conventional cross-linking agents. We have found that the special properties of chemically modified HA according to the present invention and its solutions provide an opportunity to obtain the above mentioned additionally modified products which also possess some unusual properties. Thus, we have found that a water-insoluble jelly-like material can be obtained from the product according to the invention by cross-linking with divinyl sulfone in alkaline solution. This material is a highly swollen gel. The concentration of the polymer in the gel depends upon the composition of the liquid phase which can be water or water solutions of various low-molecular weight substances, such as electrolytes. In the case of physiological salt solution (0.15M NaCl in water), the polymer concentration can be in the range from 0.15 to 0.40 wt %. This material possesses very interesting rheological properties (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7). Thus, the elastic component of the complex dynamic moduli (G') is higher than the loss moduli (G") for all tested frequencies. At the same time, the material behaves like a pseudo-plastic body at low shear rates, i.e., it has a substantial viscosity which decreases with shear rate. This material is also characterized by a very long relaxation time. We strongly believe that this is a unique structure of solutions of HY obtained according to the present invention which makes it possible to obtain the above described jelly-type product with these special rheological properties. In other words, the chemical changes in HA occurring in the recovery process according to the present invention affect not only the structure and properties of HY but also the properties of products obtained therefrom. Accordingly, we have found that when HA obtained according to methods known in the art, namely, by protein removal with chloroform extractions, was used as a starting material for cross-linking with divinyl sulfone, an insoluble material was obtained with rheological properties substantially worse than those of the present invention.

It should be understood that many other modified materials can be obtained through additional modification of the product obtained according to the present invention, such as strongly cross-linked gels, insoluble films, coatings, etc.

The following material which discusses certain novel aspects and ramifications of the invention is intended to expand, amplify and in some instances, modify the pre-existing detailed description of the invention.

We have already shown in the parent application that the pH of the extracting media strongly affects the yield of hylan in a way such that an increase in pH towards the alkaline condition results in a greater yield but, at the same time, brings the molecular weight down because of hylan degradation. We have now found that an increased yield of hylan can be achieved when the temperature during the extraction is kept substantially below ambient (i.e. 20.degree. C.) temperature, preferably, below 15.degree. C., even more preferably, below 5.degree. C., which allows one to keep the molecular weight of the hylan at a substantially high level. The time of the extraction can vary from several hours to several days depending upon the desired yield and molecular weight of the polymer, and also upon the alkali concentration and the temperature. We have found that the pH can vary from 9.5 to 14 and even higher.

The alkaline conditions during the extraction can be created by using various alkaline substances including inorganic alkalis such as sodium or potassium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, sodium or potassium carbonate, or organic bases such as triethylamine, triethanolamine, etc. We have found that in some cases it may be preferable to use a mixture of alkaline substances, e.g., a mixture of sodium and ammonium hydroxides.

It has also been found that a sterile, non-inflammatory and essentially pyrogen-free product can be easily obtained by using the process according to the present invention. We have now found that this type of product is obtained much more readily when washed, whole rooster or hen combs are treated with an alkaline solution for a relatively short time. This extra step is performed after the initial washing of the combs as described in the original parent application. The best results are obtained when the concentration of the inorganic alkali, e.g., sodium hydroxide is from 0.05M to 4M, preferably, from 0.1M to 1M, and most preferably from 0.15 to 0.25M. The time of the treatment depends upon the alkali concentration and can vary from 5 min. to several hours, preferably, from 10 min. to 1 hour. It should be understood that any type of alkaline substance can be used, including inorganic and organic bases, providing that these substances can create a pH in the treatment solution higher than 12. One can use a solution of an alkali in water or in a mixture of water with a water-miscible solvent such as acetone, ethanol, isopropanol, etc. The treated combs can be washed from alkali with water or with a weak solution of an acid followed with water. The thusly treated combs are then subjected to treatment in the aldehyde-containing mixture according to the procedure described in the parent application.

We have also discovered that the content of the combined formaldehyde in hylan products obtained according to the present invention can be substantially less than was stated in the parent application. The lowest level we have been able to detect in some of the samples is around 0.0002 wt. %.

In order to obtain more information pertaining to the chemistry of the hylan formation a second experiment (example 20) with radio-labeled formaldehyde was carried out which differs in some respects from the experiment described in the parent application. The results of these two experiments allow one to draw the following conclusions:

1. Small amounts of formaldehyde are stongly, supposedly, covalently bound to hylan macromolecules. This formaldehyde cannot be removed by repeated precipitations, washing with a solvent, drying or dialysis.

2. Substantial amounts of this bound formaldehyde are removable by dialysis after the polysaccharide moiety of the hylan is digested with hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate degrading hyaluronidases. It is very probable that this formaldehyde is bound to dialyzable peptides or combinations of peptides with oligosaccharides. Some of this formaldehyde can be removed by lyophilization which indicates that it is bound loosely.

3. The strong evidence of the reaction of formaldehyde with the protein moieties in hylan was obtained by autoradiography. It should be especially mentioned, that the most significant incorporation of formaldehyde is observed in the protein band which is always present in hylan samples and is one of the major bands in the electrophoretic patterns of hylan.

The other basically new aspect of the invention is the direct use of hylan solutions obtained in the filtration step of the process according to the invention without precipitation and redissolving. Because this approach eliminates the precipitation step usually involving large amounts of organic solvents the product obtained is substantially cheaper than normally produced hylan. It is preferable to use the process with alkaline extraction since the concentration of hylan in the filtrate and, hence, the yield is substantially higher as compared to the extraction at neutral pH. The excess alkali in the product can be neutralized with any acid including inorganic acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, phosphoric, etc., or organic acids such as acetic, citric, p-aminobenzoic, stearic, etc., or with polymeric acids such as poly (acrylic acid), poly (vinyl sulfonic acid), etc. The choice of acid depends upon the final use of the product. Thus, when the hylan solution is used in cosmetic formulations, the use of poly (acrylic acid) provides for obtaining of gels; the use of stearic acid is convenient in preparing cosmetic emulsions (creams, lotions, etc.), and the use of p-aminobenzoic acid can provide formulations with sunscreening properties. However, the choice of a specific acid does not impose any particular limitations on this aspect of the present invention.

The following examples illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, without however, being a limitation thereof.

Rooster combs were extensively washed with a 1% water solution of cetylpyridinium chloride, then with deionized water and, finally, were frozen. The frozen combs were cut with a slicer to pieces about 1-2 mm in thickness. A mixture containing 1000 g of acetone, 100 g of 37% formalin and 50 g of sodium acetate was prepared and 1000 g of sliced combs were added to it. The mixture of combs and the treating liquid (pH 6.7) was kept for 24 hours at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. with slow stirring. The liquid was then separated from the combs by filtration through a nylon screen. The treated combs were then washed with 500 g of acetone and dried in air to a final weight of 500 g. The dried combs were mixed with 2.5 l of deionized water and the extraction was carried out for 72 hours at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. with slow stirring. The combs were separated from the extract by filtration through a nylon mesh fabric and the extract was additionally filtered through cellulosic type filter material ("Micro-media".RTM. M70, Ertel Engineering Co.). The HA concentration in this first extract was 0.92 mg/ml. 2 l of the extract was mixed with 4 l of acetone and 20 g of sodium acetate. A white fibrous precipitate formed which was collected, washed with acetone and dried in a vacuum-oven at 35.degree. C. 1.75 g of product were obtained. Hexosamine/hexuronic acid ratio for the product was found to be 1.+-.0.05. The formaldehyde content in the product was found to be 0.0150%. Thus, the product was identified as Hylan. The protein content in the product was 0.35% and the limiting viscosity number was 4,320 cc/g.

The combs after the first extraction were mixed with 2.5 l of deionized water and the extraction was carried out for 48 hours at an ambient temperature. The combs were separated and the extract was filtered as described above. The HA concentration in the second extract was 0.65 mg/ml. 1.26 g of the product was recovered from the extract by precipitation as described above This fraction was also characterized as chemically modified sodium hyaluronate with the formaldehyde content being 0.014%. The protein content was 0.27% and limiting viscosity number was 4,729 cc/g. Rheological properties of 1 wt % solution in aqueous 0.15M NaCl solution in water were evaluated. These data are given in Table 1.

A third water extraction of the combs was also performed as described above. The HA concentration in the third extract was 0.33 mg/ml and 0.60 g of HA was recovered from this extract, with protein content 0.20%, limiting viscosity number 4,830 cc/g and formaldehyde content 0.0115%.

Thus, a total of 3.61 g of chemically modified sodium hyaluronate was recovered from 1 kg of rooster combs.

1 kg of sliced rooster combs prepared as in Example 1 were mixed with a mixture of 1 kg of acetone and 150 g of 40 wt % solution of glutaraldehyde in water. The pH of the mixture was 6.9. The mixture was kept for 16 hours at ambient temperature (about 20.degree. C.) with slow stirring (about 1 rpm). Then the combs were separated from the liquid, washed with acetone and dried in air to one-half of the original weight. The dried combs were extracted with 3 l of deionized water for 96 hours at a temperature about 20.degree. C. The extract was separated from the combs and filtered as described in Example 1. The HA content in the extract was 1.4 mg/ml. The product, after precipitation with acetone according to Example 1, had protein content of 0.42% and limiting viscosity number 3,700 cc/g.

The procedure described in Example 2 was repeated with the exception that the same amout of 40 wt % solution of glyoxal in water was used instead of glutaraldehyde solution. The HA concentration in the extract was 0.92 mg/ml. The protein content in the product 0.5% and limiting viscosity number was 3,930 cc/g.

Rooster combs were washed, frozen, sliced and treated with the acetone-formaldehyde mixture according to Example 1. The combs, after being dried to one-half of the original weight, were extracted with 2.5 l of 0.05M sodium hydroxide solution in water (pH greater than 11) for 120 hours at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. The extract was separated and filtered as described in Example 1. The HA concentration in the extract was 3.6 mg/ml. A white product was precipitated with acetone-sodium acetate mixture, washed with acetone and dried. 7.5 g of a product with protein content 0.2% and limiting viscosity number 1,310 cc/g was recovered.

Rooster combs were washed, frozen, sliced and 1 kg of combs were mixed with a mixture containing 1 kg of isopropanol, 100 g of 37% formalin, 50 g of sodium acetate and 100 g of chloroform. The treatment was carried out with slow stirring for 16 hours at a temperature about 20.degree. C. The extraction and precipitation were carried out as described in Example 1. The HA concentration in the extract was 0.68 mg/ml. Protein content in the product was 0.46% and limiting viscosity number was 4,900 cc/g.

Rooster combs were washed, frozen, sliced, treated with acetone-formaldehyde mixture, washed with acetone, dried and extracted with water as described in Example 1. The extract was mixed with a mixture of 2 l of acetone and 1 l of chloroform. 1.9 g of white fiber-like product with protein content 0.05% and limiting viscosity number 4,400 cc/g was obtained.

1 kg of sliced combs prepared as described in Example 1 were treated with a mixture containing 1 kg of acetone, 50 g of 37% formalin, and 50 g of sodium acetate for 24 hours at a temperature about 20.degree. C. with slow stirring. The extract was separated and filtered, and the product was precipitated as described in Example 1. 1.6 g of white product with protein content 0.45%, limiting viscosity number 5,300 cc/g and combined formaldehyde content of 0.008% was obtained.

The procedure described in Example 1 was repeated with the exception that after the acetone-formaldehyde treatment the combs were dried to one-third of their original weight, and the first extraction with water was carried out for 96 hours.

The HA concentration in the first extract was 1.05 mg/ml. The product precipitated from this extract had a protein content 0.25% and limiting viscosity number 4,930 cc/g. Oscillation test of a 1 wt % solution of this product in aqueous 0.15M NaCl solution gave a "cross-over point" at a frequency of 0.020 Hz.

The HA concentration in the second extract was 0.58 mg/ml. The fraction obtained from this extract had a protein content of 0.19% and limiting viscosity number 7,300 cc/g. The combined formaldehyde content was 0.01%. The frequency of the "cross-over point" in the oscillation test was 0.005 Hz.

In total, 3.5 g of chemically modified HA were recovered with the three consecutive extractions.

Rooster combs were washed, frozen, sliced and 1 kg of the slices were mixed with 1 kg of acetone, 200 g of 37% formalin and 100 g of chloroform. The pH of the mixture was adjusted to 4.0 with hydrochloric acid. The HA concentration in the first extract was 0.58 mg/ml. The product was recovered from the extract by precipitation with acetone-sodium acetate according to Example 1. The protein content in the product was 0.12%, the limiting viscosity number was 4,025 cc/g. The combined formaldehyde content in the product was 0.02%. The frequency of the "cross-over point" in the oscillation test for a 1 wt % solution of the product in aqueous 0.15M NaCl solution was 0.006 Hz.

Rooster combs were washed, frozen, sliced and 1 kg of the slices were treated with acetone-formaldehyde mixture as described in Example 1 with the exception that the pH of the mixture was adjusted to 11.0 with sodium hydroxide. The combs were dried and extracted with water according to Example 1. The HA concentration in the extract was 0.69 mg/ml. The product was precipitated from the extract according to Example 1 with the exception that isopropanol was used instead of acetone. 1.3 g of white, fibrous material was obtained which had a protein content 0.45%, limiting viscosity number 5,050 cc/g and a formaldehyde content 0.012%. The frequency of the "cross over point" in the oscillation test for a 1 wt % solution of the product in aqueous 0.15M NaCl solution was 0.012 Hz.

This example illustrates obtaining a jelly-type material from hylan. 0.88 g of the product precipitated from the second extract in Example 1 was mixed with 28.3 g of aqueous 0.05N NaOH solution in water and the mixture was stirred for 60 minutes at room temperature. To the viscous solution which was obtained, a mixture of 0.26 g divinyl sulfone and 1.0 g of aqueous 0.5N NaOH was added. The resulting mixture was stirred for 10 minutes and then left for 50 minutes at room temperature. An elastic, colorless and clear gel was obtained. The gel was put into 0.5 l of 0.15M saline solution and left overnight. Then, the excess liquid was removed from the highly swollen gel and 0.5 l of fresh saline solution was added to the gel and the mixture was left on a shaker for 24 hours. The excess liquid was decanted from the swollen insoluble material. A jelly-type clear material was obtained. The HA concentration in the product was determined as 0.275% by weight. The rheological properties of the material are illustrated in FIGS. 5,6 and 7.

Radiolabeled paraformaldehyde (.sup.14 CH.sub.2 O) with a specific activity of 500 m Ci/g (I2CN Radiochemicals) was mixed in an amount corresponding to 5.0 mCi with 1.0 ml of 37 wt % solution of formaldehyde in water to which 0.1 ml of 1N sodium hydroxide solution in water was added. The mixture was put into a tightly stoppered container and warmed to 60.degree. C. to dissolve the paraformaldehyde. Then the mixture was cooled to 0.degree. C. and neutralized with 0.1 ml of aqueous 1N acetic acid. The radioactivity of the solution obtained was measured in 10 ml of Hydrofluor.RTM. liquid scintillation counting medium (National Diagnostic) using a Searle Isocap 300 liquid scintillation counter with computer correction for efficiency based on the external standard method. The formaldehyde concentration was determined by a colormetric method with chromotropic acid. The measured specific activity of the solution obtained was 0.555 mCi/mmole CH.sub.2 O. The labeled formaldehyde solution was mixed with 7.5 g of acetone, 1 g of chloroform and 0.5 g sodium acetate. 7.5 g of sliced rooster combs were mixed with the solution and the treatment was carried out for 18 hours at a temperature about 20.degree. C. The combs were separated from the liquid, washed several times with acetone and dried in air to one-half of their original weight. 15 ml of double distilled water were added to the combs and the extraction was allowed to proceed for 96 hours at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. The extract was separated from the combs and filtered through several layers of filter paper (Whatman.RTM. number 1). The same procedure was repeated to obtain a second extract of the combs. HY was precipitated from the extracts as a white fiber-like material by adding to the extracts CH.sub.3 OONa in an amount to give a 1 wt % solution and 4 volumes of 95% ethanol. The fiber-like material was separated, washed extensively with acetone, dried and then redissolved in water to give a solution with HY concentration about 1 mg/ml. The HY was reprecipitated from this solution as described above and again thoroughly washed with acetone and dried. The dry material was once again redissolved in distilled water to give a solution containing 0.84 mg/ml of HY. The specific activity of this solution was measured as giving 194 dpm/.mu.g HA. Exhaustive dialysis of this solution against 0.05M phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, containing 0.15M NaCl reduced the radioactivity to 103 dpm/.mu.g HY. Exhaustive dialysis of this solution against 4M guanidium hydrochloride reduced the activity to 101 dpm/.mu.g HY which indicated that formaldehyde remained in the product even after treatment of the solution under protein dissociative conditions. Based on this measured radioactivity of the product and the specific activity of the starting formaldehyde solution, the content of formaldehyde in relation to HY was calculated as about 0.2 wt %. To evaluate how much of the radiolabeled formaldehyde was associated with HY susceptible to enzymatic degradation with streptomyces hyaluronidase, another solution of the product was prepared which contained 0.8 mg/ml of HY and had the activity of 1,250 dpm/10 .mu.l of solution. To 2 ml of this solution 0.1 ml of citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 5.6) containing 33 TRU of Streptomyces hyaluronidase (Miles Laboratories, Inc., specific activity 2,000 TRU/mg HA, proteolytic activity less than 5.times.10.sup.14 units per TRU) was added. To another 2 ml portion of the same solution 0.1 ml of the buffer without the enzyme was added. Both portions were dialyzed for 20 hours against 1000 volumes of the citrate-phosphate buffer. The volumes of the two samples after dialysis were the same. The non-enzyme-treated sample had an HY concentration of 0.76 mg/ml and radioactivity was 552 dpm/10 .mu.l. The HY concentration in the enzyme treated sample was reduced below detectable levels (10 .mu.g/ml and the radioactivity was 414 dpm/10 .mu.l of solution. Thus, the hyaluronidase susceptible radioactivity corresponded to 20 dpm/.mu.g of HY, which corresponded to 0.049 wt % of formaldehyde associated with enzymatically digestable HY. Such labeled samples of the product were further analyzed by gel permeation chromatography on a 1.6.times.90 cm glass column packed with glyceryl - CPG 3000, pore size 2869.+-.8.3% (Electronucleonics, Inc.). Degassed 0.02M Borate buffer (pH 7.5) containing 0.15 M NaCl was used for elution. The excluded volume of the column (Vo) was determined with a sample of HY with molecular weight 4.times.10.sup.6 and the total column volume (vt) was determined with sucrose. Elution was carried out at a flow rate of 10 ml/hr at 6.degree. C. 5 ml fractions were collected and analyzed for HY concentration and radioactivity. It was found that radioactivity coelutes with HY in the void volume, and that enzymatic digestion removes both HY and the radioactivity from the void volume fractions. Calculation showed that the specific activity associated with the void volume HY was 14.6 dpm/.mu.g HY which corresponds to 0.036 wt % of formaldehyde in the polymer. This figure is in a good agreement with the figure obtained in the dialysis experiment.

The following, new examples as directed to those new aspects of the invention covered by the instant (continuation-in-part) application.

This example illustrates obtaining ultra-high molecular weight, sterile, pyrogen-free and non-inflammatory hylan.

Chicken combs were extensively washed with a 1% solution of cetylpyridinium chloride in 0.15M aqueous sodium chloride, then with deionized water and then finally were kept in a 1% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution at room temperature for 15 minutes. Finally, the combs were washed with deionized water and frozen The frozen combs were cut with a slicer to pieces about 1-2 mm in thickness. 1 kg of the thus prepared combs was mixed with a treatment solution containing 2.5 l of isopropanol, 0.1 l of chloroform 0.07 l of 37% formalin and 0.05 l of a 50% aqueous solution of sodium acetate in a glass container which was sterilized by autoclaving and depyrogenated by heat at 200.degree. C. for 4 hours. All labware used in this example was treated the same way for sterilization and depyrogenation. The treatment of the combs in the above solution was carried out for 24 hours at a temperature of about 20.degree. C. with slow stirring. The liquid was then separated from the combs by filtration through a Buchner funnel without any filtering aid. The treated combs were then washed with 2 l of isopropanol, separated from the solvent as described above and put into a glass column with a stainless steel screen at the bottom. All the above described and the following procedures were carried out in a laminar flow hood to prevent bacterial contamination. A slow stream of nitrogen filtered through a 0.2 mm membrane was blown through the column for about 4 hours to dry the combs from the residual solvents. Then the combs were mixed with 2.5 l of sterile, pyrogen-free water in a glass beaker and extracted at a temperature not higher than 16.degree. C. for 24 hours. The pH in the extraction step was kept at 10.5 with the addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide when necessary. The combs were separated from the extract by filtration through a Buchner funnel. The extract was additionally filtered through a cellulosic type filter material ("Micro-media".RTM. M70, Ertel Engineering Co.) sterilized by autoclaving. The hylan concentration in the filtrate was 0.45 mg/ml. 20 gm of sodium acetate were disolved in 50 ml of water and added to 2 l of the filtrate. A white fibrous precipitate formed when the filtrate was mixed with 4 l of isopropanol with slow stirring. The fibers were separated from the liquid, washed with 1 l of fresh isopropanol for 24 hours, then separated from the liquid and dried in a vacuum oven equipped with a cold trap at ambient temperature for 72 hours at a residual pressure not higher than 50 mtorrs.

The combs after the first extraction were extracted a second time in essentially the same manner with the exception that the time of the extraction was 96 hours. The second extract was filtered as described above. The hylan concentration in the filtrate was 0.83 mg/ml. The fibrous product was isolated from the second filtrate and dried as described above. The yield of the products in each extraction and the following properties were evaluated: hexosamine/hexuronic acid ratio, protein content, combined formaldehyde content, limiting viscosity number, sterility, pyrogenicity, and rheological properties. The procedures used were those as described above, i.e., in the parent application. In order to increase the sensitivity of the formaldehyde determination, that procedure was modified in the following manner: the fibrous product was dissolved in water to a concentration of about 1 wt. % and freeze-dried with formation of a foam-like, light material which was subsequently pressed into a very dense tablet. This tablet was additionally dried at 80.degree. C. for 4 hours at a residual pressure of about 100 mtorrs and used as a sample in formaldehyde determination. The weight of the sample was about 2 gm which brought the sensitivity of the method to about 10 times higher as compared to the original method. The properties of the two products were as follows in Table II:

The dependence of viscosity on shear rate in the low shear rate region is shown in FIG. 11.

To evaluate the "biological purity" of the products, 1 wt. % solutions in sterile, pyrogen-free 0.15M aqueous sodium chloride were prepared. Sterility of the solutions was determined according to USP XXI standards and both solutions were found to be sterile. The pyrogen content was determined according USP XXI by LAL (Limulus Amebocytae Lysate) Test and expressed in EU (endotoxin units) per ml. For both solutions it was less than 6 EU/ml. In addition, inflammatory activity of the solutions was evaluated using the Owl Monkey Eye Test described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,973 (Feb. 27, 1979) and the solutions were found to be essentially non-inflammatory.

Thus, ultra-high molecular weight sterile, pyrogen-free, and non-inflammatory hylan with considerably smaller amounts of combined formaldehyde as compared to the parent application was obtained.

This example illustrates obtaining high molecular weight hylan with increased yield.

Chicken combs were extensively washed with 1% aqueous cetylpyridinium chloride solution, then with deionized water and, finally, frozen. The frozen combs were sliced into pieces of 1-2 mm thickness. 500 gm of sliced combs were put into a mixture of 600 ml of isopropanol, 50 ml of 37 wt. % formalin and 25 gm. of sodium acetate and kept in this mixture for 24 hours at a temperature not higher than 25.degree. C. Then the combs were separated from the liquid and left to dry in air for about 2 hours. The thus dried combs were mixed with 1.2 l of 0.04N aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide which was preliminarily cooled to about 4.degree. C. The pH of the mixture was about 12. The extraction was carried out for 5 days at a temperature about 4.degree.-6.degree. C. Then, the combs were separated from the extract and the latter was filtered through the cellulosic filter media M-70. The hylan concentration in the filtrate was 3.2 mg/ml. 10 gm of sodium acetate were dissolved in 1 l of the filtrate and the solution obtained was poured slowly into 2 l of acetone. White fibers precipitated from the solution which were collected, washed with fresh acetone and dried in a vacuum oven equipped with a cold trap at ambient temperature for 72 hours at residual pressure about 50 mtorrs. 3.05 gm of a dry fibrous material were obtained. This material had limiting viscosity number 6200 cc/gm, protein content 0.55 wt. % and combined formaldehyde content of 0.00035 wt. % and was thus identified as hylan.

This example illustrates the effect of a sodium hydroxide solution concentration and time of the extraction on hylan properties.

The comb preparation and the treatment and after-treatment drying steps were carried out essentially as described in the previous example. The dried combs were put into 1.2 l of 0.2N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution precooled to 4.degree. C. The pH of the mixture was higher than 14. About one-half of the extract was taken out after 42 hours of extraction at 4.degree. C. The hylan concentration was 4.2 mg/ml. The extract was filtered and hylan was precipitated as described in the previous example. White fibers were obtained with limiting viscosity number in 0.15M aqueous NaCl at 25.degree. C. 3200 cc/gm and protein content 0.4/wt. %. The rest of the extract was separated from the combs after 140 hours of total extraction time at 4.degree. C. and was treated as described above. 2.2 gm of white fibers were recovered from this portion of the extract with limiting viscosity number 2300 cc/gm and protein content 0.85 wt. %. The combined formaldehyde content in each of these two products was about 0.003 wt. %.

Thus, when the alkali concentration in the extraction step is relatively high though the extraction at low temperatures leads to products with a substantially higher limiting viscosity number as compared to extraction at ambient temperature. The increase in time of the extraction results in decrease of limiting viscosity number of the product.

This example illustrates the use of a volatile base in the extraction step. The combs were prepared and treated as described in the previous example. The combs were extracted with 1.2 l of 0.25 wt. % solution of ammonia in water at 25.degree. C. for 96 hours. The extract was separated from the combs, filtered and precipitated as described in the previous example. The hylan concentration in the fibrous material obtained had limiting viscosity number 4500 cc/gm and protein content 0.55 wt. %.

This example illustrates the effect of the temperature during the extraction step on the properties of the final product.

500 gm of rooster combs were washed, sliced and treated as described in the previous examples. The combs were then divided into two portions. One portion was extracted with 600 ml of 0.2N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution containing 0.2% of ammonia at 25.degree. C. for 96 hours. The extract was filtered (the hylan concentration in the filtrate was 5.3 mg/ml) and precipitated as described above. The limiting viscosity number of the product was 1900 cc/gm and the protein content 1.7 wt. %. The other portion of the combs was mixed with 600 ml of the same solution precooled to 4.degree. C. and the extraction was carried out at 4.degree. C. for 96 hours. The hylan concentration in the filtrate was 4.5 mg/ml, the limiting viscosity number of the product was 2700 cc/gm and the protein content 0.52 wt. %.

Thus, a decrease of the temperature in the extraction steps is seen to result in a higher molecular weight and a lower protein content.

This example illustrates the extraction of treated combs with a mixture of alkalies at a lower concentration.

500 gm of combs were pre-washed, sliced and treated with the formaldehyde containing mixture essentially as described in example 14. The combs were put into 1.2 l of a precooled to 4.degree. C. 0.1M sodium hydroxide solution containing 0.2% of ammonia. The extraction was carried out at 4.degree. C. for 96 hours.

The extract obtained was separated, filtered and the product was precipitated as described in the previous examples. The hylan concentration in the extract was 4.9 mg/ml. 4.5 gm of fibers were obtained. The limiting viscosity number of the product was 3900 cc/gm and the protein content 0.25 wt. %.

The combs were extracted a second time essentially as described above. The hylan concentration in the extract was 4.0 mg/ml. 3.4 gm of fibers were obtained with the limiting viscosity number 4400 cc/gm and the protein content 0.65 wt. %.

This example illustrates the use of a quaternary ammonium compound for recovery of hylan from the filtrate.

500 gm of combs were washed, frozen and sliced as described in the previous examples. The combs were treated in a mixture containing 600 ml of isopropanol, 50 ml of 37 wt. % formalin, and 25 gm of sodium acetate for 24 hours at 4.degree. C. The treated combs were separated from the liquid, dried in air at ambient temperature and then extracted with 1.2 l of 0.1N NaOH to which 25 ml of 25% ammonia solution was added. The extraction was carried out at 4.degree. C. for 48 hours. The extract was separated from the combs and neutralized with concentrated hydrochloric acid. The hylan concentration in the extract was 2.86 mg/ml. 500 ml of the filtered extract were precipitated in the usual way described in the previous examples with the use of isopropanol as a precipitant. 1.35 gm of the product was obtained which had a limiting viscosity number of 3900 cc/gm and a protein content of 0.5 wt. % (product A). The other 500 ml portion of the filtered extract was mixed with 275 ml of 1 wt. % aqueous solution of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC). A resinous precipitate formed which was separated from the supernatant liquid, washed 2 times with 500 ml of water at 50.degree. C., then once with 500 ml of water at 20.degree. C. and, finally, dissolved in 60 ml of 0.3M aqueous sodium chloride. 0.7 gm of sodium acetate was dissolved in this solution which was then poured slowly into 60 ml of isopropanol. A fibrous white precipitate formed which was washed 2 times with 50 ml of 1:1 water-isopropanol mixture and finally, with 50 ml of isopropanol and then dried in vacuum. 1.41 gm of a product with the limiting viscosity number 4000 cc/gm and a protein content of 0.6 wt. % was obtained (Product B). The CPC content in the product was 25 ppm. The rheological properties of the two products of 0.5 wt. % solutions in 0.15M saline were the following:

Thus, the use of CPC for recovery of hylan from the filtrate gave a product with essentially the same properties as compared to the product obtained through precipitation with isopropanol.

This example describes an additional experiment with radiolabeled formaldehyde.

A solution of radiolabeled .sup.14 CH.sub.2 O in water with a specific activity of 57 mCi/mmol (New England Nuclear) was mixed in an amount corresponding to 2 mCi (0.104ml) with 1.0 ml of 37 wt. % formalin. Specific activity of the mixture was 0.15 mCi/mmol. This formaldehyde solution was added to 12.5 ml of isopropanol containing 0.5 gm of sodium acetate and 10 gm of sliced rooster combs were put into the mixture in a stoppered flask. The treatment of the combs was carried out for 18 hours at ambient temperatures (about 20.degree. C.). The combs were separated from the liquid, washed two times with 10 ml of isopropanol and dried in air to one-half of their original weight. 25 ml of distilled water was added to the combs and extraction was allowed to proceed for 48 hours at 4.degree. C. The first extract (pH 7.0) was separated from the combs, filtered through nylon fabric and then filtered through four layers of Whatman.RTM. #1 filter paper. The second extract from . the combs was prepared and treated in essentially the same manner. Sodium acetate was added to both filtrates to make 1 wt. % solution. White fibers were precipitated from both filtrates by pouring the filtrate into a double volume of isopropanol. Hylan fibers were collected, washed extensively (3 times) with isopropanol, dried in a vacuum oven at ambient temperature and then redissolved in water to give solutions with a hylan concentration of about 1 mg/ml. The hylan fibers were reprecipated as described above, washed with isopropanol and dried in vacuum oven. The dried fibers were redissolved in distilled water to give solutions containing 0.98 and 1.65 mg/ml of hylan for the products of the first and the second extractions, respectively. The protein content in these solutions was 5.98 and 12.0 ug/ml, respectively. The solutions were dialyzed, first, against saline-phosphate buffer (pH 7.5) and then against citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 5.6) and the specific activities were found to be 1330 dpm/mg and 2515 dpm/mg of hylan for the first and the second extractions products, respectively, which corresponded to the content of combined non-dialyzable formaldehyde in hylan of 0.0128 wt. % and 0.0227 wt. % in these two products. The specific activity when related to the protein content was 222 dpm/ug and 210 dpm/ug of proteins, respectively.

The two solutions were subjected to enzymatic digestion with testicular hyaluronidase which digests hyaluronan and chondroitin sulfate at enzyme concentration of 2 ug/ml for 48 hours at a temperature of 37.degree. C. Aliquots of the dialyzed solutions were removed and analyzed by gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The remaining samples were dialyzed exhaustively against acetate-EDTA buffer (pH 6.0). The hylan concentration in the dialyzed enzyme digests was below detectable level (10 ug/ml) and the radioactivity level was 260 dpm/ml and 330 dpm/ml for the first and the second product, respectively, or when calculated on the original protein content 43 dpm/ug and 28 dpm/ug of proteins. Thus, in this experiment a substantial portion of the radioactivity became dialyzable after enzymatic degradation of the hyaluronan moiety of hylan macromolecules.

In order to determine the amount of the dialyzable radioactivity a portion of the dialyzable glycosaminoglycans from the experiment with the first extraction product was lyophilized. It was found that about 80% of the radioactivity (1070 dpm) was removed after drying the material.

Autoradiography of the hyaluronidase digested hylan samples (FIG. 9) revealed the presence of radiolabeled bands in protein gels with molecular weights of 14,000, 21,000, 22,000, 24,000 and 66,000, with the greatest incorporation seen in the 66,000 band (estimated by intensity of bands). The 66,000 band was found to be one of the major bands in electrophoretic pattern for the proteins found in hylan (FIG. 10).

This Example illustrates the use of hylan solutions without precipitation of the fibers in cosmetic formulations.

The treatment of the combs, extraction and filtration were carried out essentially as described in Example 14. The hylan concentration in the filtrate was 3.05 mg/ml, the protein content 0.8 wt. % calculated on hylan concentration and limiting viscosity number 5700 cc/gm.

0.28 gm of dry poly (acrylic acid) (Carbopol 940.RTM. B. F. Goodrich) was dispersed in 50 ml of distilled water with stirring. Then 4 gm of glycerol, 4 ml of 5 wt. % aqueous poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (molecular weight about 360,000, Aldrich Chemical Co.), and 10 ml of 1 wt. % aqueous solution of poly (ethylene oxide) (Polyox.RTM. Coagulant, Union Carbide) were added to the dispersion. 100 ml of the above hylan filtrate was slowly added to the mixture with stirring and the total volume of the mixture was brought to 200 ml with distilled water. A clear soft gel which could be used as a moisturizing hand gel was obtained. The final composition of the gel was the following; wt. %:

This is another example illustrating the direct use of hylan filtrate for cosmetic formulation.

10 gm of stearic acid (Dar-Chem.RTM. 14, Darling & Co.) were mixed with 50 ml of the hylan filtrate prepared as described in the previous example and 0.8 gm of Lanoxide.RTM. 52 (PEG-40 Stearate, Lanaetex Products, Inc.) was added to the mixture which was then warmed up with stirring to about 80.degree. C. and cooled immediately to room temperature. The obtained mixture constitutes part A of the final formulation.

Part B was prepared by mixing together 10 ml of 1 wt. % dispersion of Carbopol 940 in water and 2.5 ml of 5 wt. % aqueous poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) solution and 1.4 ml of 4% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution.

Part C was prepared by mixing the following ingredients together (amounts given in gm)

All three parts were mixed together with vigorous stirring and the total volume was brought to 100 gm with water. A soft cream with a pearly look and a soft feel when applied to the skin was obtained.

Variations and modifications can, of course, be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.