The invention relates to a new method of preparation of a hyaluronan derivative with an aldehydic group in the position (6) of the polysaccharide glucosamine part. The hyaluronic acid oxidation can be performed by means of TEMPO/NaCIO or TEMPO/TCC systems in a protic environment with or without the presence of anorganic salts. Thus prepared aldehyde can be used for binding amines, diamines, amino acids, peptides and other compounds containing an amino group, e.g. by means of the reductive amination with NaBH3CN in water or in a water-organic solvent system. When a diamine or compounds containing three or more amino groups are used, cross-linked hyaluronan derivatives can be prepared. Cross-linked derivatives can be also prepared by a reaction of the aldehyde with a hyaluronan substituted by an amino-alkyl group HA-alkyl-NH2.
