LOW POLYDISPERSITY, LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT BIOTECHNOLOGICAL CHONDROITIN SULFATE WITH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AND ANTIARTHRITIS ACTIVITY AND USE THEREOF IN THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS

摘要

Disclosed is a low molecular weight (1000-5000 daltons) chondroitin sulfate (CS) produced by chemical sulfation of a non-sulfated chondroitin backbone (K4 capsular polysaccharide) obtained with biotechnology techniques. The CS described is substantially monosulfated, mainly at the 6-position, with very little sulfation at the 4-position, and with a mono/disulfated disaccharide ratio and charge density similar to those of natural CS. Said biotechnological chondroitin sulfate (CS) is useful in the treatment and prevention of osteoarthritis and in acute and chronic inflammatory processes.