Use of alkylated semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycosan ethers for the treatment of dental disorders

1. A method for treating inflammation caused by a dental disorder or aphthous ulcer in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a modified hyaluronan or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein said modified hyaluronan or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester comprises at least one sulfate group and the primary C-6 hydroxyl proton of at least one N-acetyl-glucosamine residue substituted with a C 1 -C 10 unsubstituted alkyl group or fluoroalkyl group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unsubstituted alkyl group is methyl.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluoroalkyl group has at least one trifluoromethyl group.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hyaluronan has a molecular weight less than 10 kDa prior to alkylation, fluoroalkylation, and sulfation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hyaluronan has a molecular weight from 10 kDa to 2,000 kDa prior to alkylation, fluoroalkylation, and sulfation.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one C-2 hydroxyl proton and C-3 hydroxyl proton is substituted with a sulfate group.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the C-4 hydroxyl proton of the N-acetyl glucosamine moiety is substituted with a sulfate group, the C-2 hydroxyl proton of the glucuronic acid moiety is substituted with a sulfate group, the C-3 hydroxyl proton of the glucuronic acid is substituted with a sulfate group, or any combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified hyaluronan has a degree of sulfation from 0.5 to 4.0 per disaccharide unit.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group is methyl and at least one C-2 hydroxyl proton and/or C-3 hydroxyl proton is substituted with a sulfate group.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkyl group is methyl, at least one C-2 hydroxyl proton and/or C-3 hydroxyl proton is substituted with a sulfate group, and the modified hyaluronan has a molecular weight of 2 kDa to 10 kDa.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified hyaluronan is administered as a pharmaceutical composition.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is formulated into a capsule, a tablet, a chewing gum, a lozenge, a powder, a beverage, an ointment, a lotion, a cream, a gel, drops, a spray, a liquid or a powder.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is administered intravenously, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, by ingestion, by injection, or topically.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition is administered topically, wherein the topical administration is transbuccal, sublingual, oral, or intranasal.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-pyretic agent, steroidal and non-steroidal drugs for anti-inflammatory use, a hormone, a growth factor, an antiviral, an antibacterial, an antifungal, an analgesics, a hypnotic, a sedative, a tranquilizer, an anti-convulsant, a muscle relaxant, a local anesthetic, an antispasmodic, an antiulcer drug, a sympathiomimetic agent, a cardiovascular agent, an antitumor agent, or an oligonucleotide.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is an organic salt, a metal salt, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein a pharmaceutically acceptable base for the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is selected from ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, ferrous hydroxide, zinc hydroxide, copper hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide, ferric hydroxide, isopropylamine, trimethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, tripropylamine, ethanolamine, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, 2-diethylaminoethanol, lysine, arginine, or histidine.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dental disorder is gingivitis.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the modified hyaluronan is inserted in a periodontal pocket or applied to a gingival crevice.