Preparation of hyaluronan-DNA matrices and films

Natural carbohydrate is a class of underexplored polymers for gene delivery. The noninflammatory and nonimmunogenic properties of hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) are important in clinical situations. It has a role in wound repair and has great lubricating ability. Moreover, the presence of hyaluronidase in vivo enables any vehicle fabricated from HA to be degraded by enzyme-mediated erosion. When DNA is entrapped in a cross-linked HA vehicle, HA-DNA fragments are released on digestion by hyaluronidase. These fragments could serve both as microcarriers of DNA and its protective mechanism. This protocol describes preparation of water-insoluble HA-DNA matrices and films designed for clinical applications, and assays for verification of their bioactivities. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) encoding platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is coupled to the matrices that could be implanted into chronic wounds to accelerate their healing. pDNA encoding hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) is coupled to the film that could initially serve as a physical barrier and subsequently a pDNA reservoir for sustaining HAS2 transfection. This would lead to continual HA production for preventing postsurgical adhesion.