Cellulose¯acidic glycosaminoglycan blend fibers releasing a portion of the glycosaminoglycans in water

Novel artificial blend fibers of cellulose with each of hyaluronate, heparin, chondroitin 4sulfate, chondroitin 6-sulfate, and a chitin¯chondroitin 6-sulfate blend were prepared by using an aqueous 10% H2SO4 solution containing 40¯43% ammonium sulfate as the coagulating solution. The tenacity values of the extruded cellulose¯hyaluronate filaments did not decrease on blending with up to 22% hyaluronate, but those on blending with 9% sulfated glycosaminoglycans decreased significantly. A portion (55¯75%) of the acidic glycosaminoglycans was released upon soaking the fibers in water at room temperature.