Interactions between the carbohydrate chains of hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate

Hyaluronic acid-derivatised beads spontaneously agglutinate with chondroitin-sulphate-derivatised beads although neither bead type shows any self-agglutination. The interaction between hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate is specific for these two glycosaminoglycans and appears to occur between their carbohydrate chains.