Benjamin - I may be able to offer some insight...but had a question first. How do you plan to image the hyaluronic acid? is it in a scaffold of some sort, is it in vitro, or perhaps in vivo? That may make it easier to answer as to how best to image it.

Hi Scott,

I am currently working on hyaluronic acid as in the form of sponge-like scaffold. Yes, it is in vitro.

Yes  you can see HA scaffolds in vitro.  You will be able to determine differences in local density of HA solutions.  The need for contrast agents maybe necessary if you start trying to identify your HA scaffold in the presence of other materials.  If you require contrast agents if will be best if the agent is either covalently bound to the scaffold or is not soluble in the presumably water solution that the scaffold is in.