the term &# 34 ; heavy metal &# 34 ; encompasses any pharmaceutically active metal in the 4 , 5 or 6 period of the periodic table . the preferred heavy metal salts according to the present invention are those whose cation is : zinc , silver , copper , gold , iron , cerium and tungsten salts of succinic derivatives of hyaluronic acid . it has in fact been found that compared with the corresponding salts with hyaluronic acid or with hyaluronic acid partial esters these salts offer an advantage over the already - known products containing heavy metal salts , because the salts according to the present invention can bind a high number of heavy metal cations . indeed , while hyaluronic acid can bind only one counter - ion per repeating unit , the salts according to the present invention bind at least twice as many counter - ions per repeating unit . it is therefore advantageous to use these heavy metal salts with higher concentrations of metal for the therapeutic applications identified and described in the text , as this is the most active component in the preparation . hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid esters of any molecular weight can be used to prepare succinyl derivatives thereof . in the present invention , samples of hyaluronic acid with a molecular weight of between 30 , 000 and 760 , 000 daltons were used , but this range is not critical for the purpose of the present invention . preferred succinic acid hemiesters of hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid esters are those having in the repeating unit ( i ) r 1 ═ r 2 ═ r 3 ═ h and the corresponding heavy metal salts wherein in the repeating unit ( ii ) x is selected from the group consisting of : silver , gold , copper , zinc , z is comprised between 1 and 3 and p is comprised between 0 . 3 and 2 . another class of preferred succinic acid hemiesters with hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid esters are those having at least one repeating unit ( i ) wherein r 1 ═ r 3 ═ h and r 2 ═ co --( ch 2 ) 2 -- cooy and at least one repeating unit ( i ), wherein r 2 ═ r 3 ═ h , and r 1 ═ co --( ch 2 ) 2 -- cooy has the above mentioned meanings and the corresponding heavy metal salts have at least one repeating unit ( ii ) wherein r 1 ═ r 3 ═ h and r 2 ═ co --( ch 2 ) 2 -- coo 31 and at least one repeating unit ( ii ) wherein r 2 ═ r 3 ═ h , r 1 ═ co --( ch 2 ) 2 -- coo - , x is selected from the group consisting of : silver , gold , copper , zinc , iron , z is comprised between 1 and 3 and p is comprised between 0 . 6 and 3 . in the process according to the present invention for preparing the succinic acid hemiesters with hyaluronic acid or with hyaluronic acid partial esters , in step ( a ) the hyaluronic acid is preferably converted to the corresponding pyridinium salt . in particular this conversion encompasses a previous dissolution of the hyaluronate sodium salt in a mixture of water and dimethylformamide , a treatment with a cationic exchange resin for obtaining the corresponding free hyaluronic acid . after removal of the resin the solution is neutralized with pyridine and the pyridinium salt is thus obtained . in step ( b ) or ( b &# 39 ;) of both processes the amount of succinic anhydride is not critical , although it is preferable to add high excess with respect to hyaluronic acid . in fact the best results are obtained when the molar ratio of succinic anhydride / free oh groups present in the repeating unit ( iii ) ## str3 ## wherein r has the above mentioned meanings , of the starting hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid partial ester , ranges between 15 and 90 . although the temperature is not critical , the best results are obtained if step ( b ) or ( b &# 39 ;) of both processes is carried out at 70 ° c . the preferred organic base used as catalyst in step ( b ) or ( b &# 39 ;) of both processes is selected from the group consisting of 4 - dimethylaminopyridine , pyridine , or mixtures thereof . by using large amounts of 4 - dimethylamminopyridine a succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester with a high degree of succinylation is obtained , by using pyridine alone or in admixture with small quantities of 4 - dimethylaminopyridine a succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid with a low degree of succinylation is obtained . anyway the stronger the reaction conditions , such as temperature , reaction times etc ., the greater the degree of esterification of the derivatives formed . for the preparation of the ag salt of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester , in step ( c ) or ( c &# 39 ;) the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid ester is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of silver nitrate to form the silver salt of succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid ester . the ag salt according to the present invention precipitates from the solution and is recovered by filtration or centrifugation . the precipitate is then washed with ethanol and vacuum dried at 40 ° c . the silver compounds of the succinyl derivatives are prepared in the complete dark . all the operations to prepare the silver nitrate solutions , and to prepare the succinyl silver hyaluronate were performed in the dark and the resulting products were stored away from sources of light . for the preparation of the cu salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester , in step ( c ) or ( c &# 39 ;) of both processes , the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid ester is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of cucl 2 to form the cu salt of succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or with the hyaluronic acid ester . for the preparation of the zn salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester , in step ( c ) or ( c &# 39 ;) of both processes the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid ester is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of zncl 2 to form the zn salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or with the hyaluronic acid ester . for the preparation of the au salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester , in step ( c ) or ( c &# 39 ;) of both processes the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid ester is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of haucl 4 to form the au salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or with the hyaluronic acid ester . for the preparation of the iron salts of the succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronic acid ester in step ( c ) or ( c &# 39 ;) or both processes the succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid or with a hyaluronic acid ester is preferably treated with an aqueous solution of fecl 2 . the pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention to be used for the treatment of burns , wounds and ophthalmia preferably contain the ag salt according to the present invention and are moreover in the form of ointments , creams gels . the pharmaceutical compositions to be used for the treatment of osteoarticular diseases preferably contain au , zn , cu salts or mixtures thereof . the iron salts of succinate hemiester with hyaluronic acid or with a hyaluronic acid ester are used for preventing post surgical adhesions in the form of suitable therapeutical compositions or as biomaterial . we report hereafter some specific examples for the preparation of o - succinylhyaluronates and relative heavy metal salts , but any variation not specifically reported in the following examples is to be considered as coming within the scope of the present invention . the heavy metal salts having the repeting units of formula ( ii ) as such or the corresponding salts containing the corresponding radioactive metallic isotope in a association with hyaluronic acid esters disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 851 , 521 , we incorporate herewith by reference , and or the autocrosslinked hyaluronic acid derivatives disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 676 , 964 we incorporated herewith by reference , for the in vivo diagnosis and for the treatment of malignant tumours . in fact they may be used in diagnostic method either alone or more preferably in association with known radioactive or non radioactive contrast media , the latter ones being activated with energy . the diagnostic methods in question include nmr , ultrasounds and x - rays , scintigraphy , pet , etc ., in which the above derivatives can be used possibly in association with paramagnetic agents such as magnetite , with non - ionic contrast agents or with radioactive isotopes such as tc 99m , indium . example for the preparation of succinic acid hemiester with hyaluronic acid having the repeating unit ( i ) a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 1 g , mw 160 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 35 ml ) and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmf , 100 ml ) was stirred for ten minutes in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 3 g , ir 120 h +), after which the resin was removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 100 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 10 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ). the viscous solution was then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , taking care not to allow the total volume of solution to drop below about 100 ml . this procedure was repeated three times , each time adding dmf ( 20 ml ). the solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 3 g ) and pyridine ( 10 ml ) while being stirred at room temperature for 24 hours . the reaction mixture was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 13 times 750 ml ) and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 930 mg ). table 1 shows the assignment of the chemical shift values of the 13 c . n . m . r . ( 50 . 3 mhz ) spectrum of sample 1 . table 1______________________________________chemical shiftin δ ppm non - modified ha modified ha other groups______________________________________101 . 49 n - 155 . 19 n - 283 . 30 n - 369 . 30 n - 476 . 23 n - 561 . 99 n - 6103 . 82 g - 173 . 21 g - 279 . 98 g - 380 . 81 g - 476 . 23 g - 5173 . 84 g - 6175 . 63 n ═ c ═ o102 . 50 n - 183 . 00 n - 373 . 85 n - 564 . 08 n - 671 . 74 g - 229 . 79 , 29 . 91 ch . sub . 2 succinate175 . 35 , 177 . 71 c ═ o succinate______________________________________ n . m . r . analysis shows a degree of succinylation on carbon 6 of the n - acetylglucosamine ( n - 6 ) of 0 . 2 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit of the polymer ). a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 1 g , mw 30 , 0000 in distilled water ( 35 ml , and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmf , 100 ml ) was stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 3 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes and then the resin was removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 100 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 10 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ). the viscoue solution was then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of the solution to drop below about 100 ml . this water - removing procedure was repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 20 ml ). the solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 3 g ) and pyridine ( 10 ml ) while being stirred at 70 ° c . for 24 hours . the reaction mixture was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 3 times 750 ml ) and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 900 mg ). table 2 reports the assignment of the chemical shift values of the 13 c ; n . m . r . spectrum ( 50 . 3 mhz ) of sample 2 ). table 2______________________________________chemical shiftin δ ppm non - modified ha modified ha other groups______________________________________101 . 77 n - 154 . 33 n - 282 . 91 n - 369 . 93 n - 476 . 31 n - 560 . 95 n - 6102 . 77 g - 172 . 58 g - 273 . 88 g - 380 . 94 g - 474 . 13 g - 5170 . 00 g - 6171 . 83 n ═ c ═ o102 . 50 n - 183 . 00 n - 373 . 85 n - 563 . 36 n - 670 . 73 g - 228 . 79 ch . sub . 2 succinate168 . 98 , 173 . 00 c ═ o succinate______________________________________ n . m . r . analysis gives a degree of succinylation on carbon 6 of the nacetylglucosamine ( n - 6 ) of about 0 . 45 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit . a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 0 . 5 g , mw 160 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 35 ml ) and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmf 100 ml ) was stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 3 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes and then the resin was removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 75 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 6 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ). the viscous solution was then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of the solution to drop below about 50 ml . this water - removing procedure was repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 10 ml ). the solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 2 g ), 4 - dimethylaminopyridine ( 10 mg ) and pyridine ( 10 ml ), while stirring at 70 ° c . for 46 hours . further quantities of succinic anhydride were added ( 1 g ) and pyridine ( 2 . 5 ml ) and the mixture was stirred for another 24 hours . the reaction mixture was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 3 times 750 ml ) for 3 days and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 450 mg ). the product was characterized by a high degree of viscosity when dissolved in water , the n . m . r . spectrum in particular was characterized by wide peaks due to the sample &# 39 ; s high degree of viscosity . the degree of modification was assessed by potentiometric assay , and proved to be 1 . 8 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit ). a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 0 . 5 g , mw 240 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 60 ml ) and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmf 60 ml ) was stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 1 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes , after which the resin was removed by filtration after further dilation with dmf ( 50 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 6 l ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ha - py ). the viscous solution was then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of the solution to drop below about 100 ml . this water - removing procedure was repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 20 ml ). the gelatin like solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 2 g ) and pyridine ( 5 ml ) at 70 ° c . while being stirred for 18 hours . further quantities of succinic anhydride ( 2 . 5 g ) and 4 - dimethylaminopyridine ( 200 mg ) were added and the mixture was stirred for another 24 hours . the reaction mixture was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ) and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 450 mg ). the product is characterized by being highly viscous when dissolved in water , the n . m . r . spectrum in particular is characterized by very wide peaks due to the highly viscous character of the samples . the degree of modification was assessed by potentiometric assay and the result was 2 . 5 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit ). a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 1 g , mw 40 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 60 ml ) and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmf 60 ml ) was stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 1 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes , after which the resin was removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 50 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 10 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ). the viscous solution was then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of the solution to drop below 50 ml . this water - removing procedure was repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 20 ml ). the solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 3 g ) and pyridine ( 10 ml ) at 70 ° c . while stirring for 18 hours . further quantities of succinic anhydride ( 2 . 5 g ) and 4dimehylaminopyridine ( 200 mg ) were added and the mixture was stirred for another 24 hours . the reaction mixture , which was brown in colour , was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 3 times 750 ml ) and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 850 mg ). the degree of succinylation was assessed by potentiometric assay and was 3 . 5 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit ). a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 0 . 5 g , mw 760 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 60 ml ) and n , n - dimethylformamide ( dmg 60 ml ) was stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 1 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes , after which the resin was removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 50 ml ). the solution was then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 6 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ). the viscous solution was then carefully evaporated to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of solution to drop below about 50 ml . this procedure was repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 20 ml ). the gelatin - like solution was then treated with succinic anhydride ( 2 g ) and 4 - dimethylaminopyridine ( 200 mg ) and the mixture was stirred for another 24 hours . the reaction mixture was then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 3 times 750 ml ) and freeze - dried dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 430 mg ). the product is characterized by being highly viscous when dissolved in water , the n . m . r . spectrum in particular is characterized by very wide peaks due to the highly viscous character of the samples . the degree of modification was assessed by potentiometric assay and was 2 . 5 ( mol of succinic acid / mol of repeating unit ). 100 mg of o - succinyl hyaluronate , prepared as described in example 1 were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution was then supplemented with 10 ml of a solution of agno 3 1n . the white precipitate thus formed was kept in suspension while being stirred constantly for two hours , and was then gathered by filtration through a buchner funnel , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . all these operations were performed in the dark to avoid the formation of silver oxide . atomic absorption analysis showed a silver content of 23 . 5 % in weight , equal to 87 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 70 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate , prepared as described in example 3 were dissolved in 14 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 14 ml of a solution of agno 3 1n . a grey precipitate formed immediately and was kept in suspension while being constantly stirred for two hours , after which it was gathered by filtration through a buchner funnel . it was washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . all these operations were performed in the dark to avoid the formation of silver oxide . atomic absorption analysis showed the silver content to be 27 % in weight , equal to 71 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate , prepared as described in example 4 , were dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 20 ml of a solution of agno 3 2n . a white precipitate formed immediately and was kept in suspension while being constantly stirred for two hours . it was then recovered by filtration through a buchner funnel , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . all these operations were performed in the dark to avoid the formation of silver oxide . atomic absorption analysis showed the silver content to be 28 . 8 % in weight , equal to 70 . 5 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate , prepared as described in example 5 , were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 10 ml of a solution of agno 3 2n . a brownish precipitate formed immediately and was kept in suspension while being constantly stirred for two hours , after which it was recovered by filtration through a buchner funnel , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven at 40 ° c . all these operations were performed in the dark to avoid the formation of silver oxide . atomic absorption analysis showed the silver content to be 31 %, equal to 70 . 2 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate , prepared as described in example 6 , were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 10 ml of a solution of agno 3 1n . a brownish precipitate was immediately formed , which was kept in suspension while being constantly stirred for two hours , after which it was recovered by filtration through a buchner funnel , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . all these operations were performed in the dark to avoid the formation of silver oxide . atomic absorption analysis showed the silver content to be 27 % in weight , equal to 71 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate , prepared as described in example 1 were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution was then supplemented with 10 ml of a solution of zncl 2 0 . 2 n . the solution was stirred constantly for 2 hours , after which 3 volumes of ethanol were added to precipitate the soluble zinc salt . the precipitate was recovered by centrifugation at 3 , 000 rpm for 15 minutes , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . atomic absorption analysis showed a zinc content of 10 %, equal to 101 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate prepared as described in example 3 were dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 20 ml of a solution of zncl 2 2 n . after the addition of zinc salt , a powdery precipitate was formed , which was recovered by centrifugation at 3 , 000 rpm for 15 minutes , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . atomic absorption analysis showed the zinc content in the sample to be 15 . 3 % equal to 105 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate prepared as described in example 4 were dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was supplemented with 20 ml of a solution of zncl 2 2n . after the addition of zinc salt , a powdery precipitate was formed which was recovered by centrifugation at 3 , 000 rpm for 15 minutes , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . atomic absorption analysis showed the zinc content of the sample to be 17 . 7 % in weight , equal to 105 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate prepared as described in example 5 were dissolved in 10 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution was then supplemented with 10 ml of a solution of cucl 2 2n . after the addition of copper salt a blue precipitate was formed which was recovered by centrifugation at 3 , 000 rpm for 15 minutes , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . atomic absorption analysis showed the copper content of the sample to be 21 . 4 % in weight , equal to 110 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . it is therefore probable that a small amount of copper salt is incorporated by the polymer during precipitation of the derivative . 100 mg of hyaluronic acid succinylate prepared as described in example 3 were dissolved in 20 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which was highly viscous , was then supplemented with 20 ml of a solution of haucl 4 0 . 5n . after addition of gold salt , a precipitate was formed which was recovered by centrifugation at 3 , 000 rpm for 15 minutes , washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven at 40 ° c . the gold content in the sample proved to be 13 % in weight , equal to 44 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value . a solution of sodium hyaluronate ( ha - na , 0 . 5 g , mw 160 , 000 ) in distilled water ( 35 ml ) and n , n - dimethilformamide ( dmf 100 ml ) is stirred in the presence of ion exchange resin ( 3 g , ir 120 h +) for 10 minutes and then the resin is removed by filtration after further dilution with dmf ( 75 ml ). the solution is then neutralized with an excess of pyridine ( 6 ml ) to give the pyridine salt of hyaluronic acid ( ha - py ), the viscous solution is then carefully evaporated in a vacuum to remove the water present , without allowing the total volume of the solution to drop below about 50 ml . this water removing procedure is repeated three times , each time with the addition of dmf ( 10 ml ). the solution is then treated with succinic anhydride ( 2 g ), 4 - dimethylaminopyridine ( 10 mg ) and pyridine ( 10 ml ), while stirring at 70 ° c . for 48 hours . further quantities of succinic anhydride are added ( 1 g ) and pyridine ( 2 . 5 ml ) and the mixture is stirred for another 24 hours . the reaction mixture is then concentrated , gathered with distilled water ( 20 ml ), dialized against distilled water ( 3 times 750 ml ) for 3 days and freeze - dried to give hyaluronic acid succinylate ( 450 mg ). hyaluronic acid succinylate thus obtained is dissolved in 90 ml of distilled water . the polymer solution , which is highly viscous , is supplemented with 90 ml of a solution of fecl 2 1n . a white precipitate forms immediately and is kept in suspension while being constantly stirred for two hours , after which it is gathered by filtration through a buchner funnel . it is washed several times with ethanol and dried in a vacuum oven set at 40 ° c . atomic absorption analysis show the iron content to be 9 . 8 % in weigth , equal to 80 % of the theoretical stoichiometric value .
hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid ester derivatives , wherein one or more hydroxy functions of its 1 , 4β - d - glucuronic acid and 1 , 3 - β - n - acetyl - d - glucosamine alternating repeating units are esterified with a carboxyl group of succinic acid to form the succinic hemiester of hyaluronic acid or hyaluronic acid esters . these derivatives are used to prepare the corresponding heavy metal salts of succinic hemiesters of hyaluronic acid or with hyaluronic acid partial or total esters . these salts are used as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions to be used as antibacterial and disinfectant agents for the treatment of wounds , burns and ophthalmia or as antiinflammatory agents in particular for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of osteoarticular disorders .