Implantable hyaluronic acid-deferoxamine conjugate prevents nonunions through stimulation of neovascularization

Development of implantable HA-DFO. a HA-DFO general chemical structure. b 1H-NMR spectra (D2O, 400？MHz) of HA (752？kDa)-DFO-MA and HA (752？kDa)-DFO confirming the characteristic peaks of MA (6.5–5.5？ppm), HA (4.0–3.0？ppm) and DFO (2.0–1.0？ppm), highlighted from left to right, respectively. The peak at δ？=？4.70 in each spectrum corresponds to the solvent residue. c HA (752？kDa)-DFO-MA hydrogel before and after overnight incubation with iron. Note the rust color indicating successful iron chelation within the Hydrogel-Iron (III) complex. Scale bar length？=？5？mm. d Percent molecular weight of unmodified HA (752？kDa), and its two derivatives in response to hyaluronidase enzymatic degradatio