CS is an unbranched, polydisperse, complex glycosaminoglycan extracted and purified from various tissues. This polyanion is interacting with both plasma and cells, it is able to modulate many biochemical and physiologic processes. Due to the presence of sulfate groups in different amounts and located in various positions, CS represents a very heterogeneous family of polysaccharides. therefore, the preparative approach and the analytical techniques are of paramount importance to produce CS with specific structure and properties and of pharmaceutical grade.*Includes recent technologies and methodologies to study and understand the structure and properties of chondroitin sulfate (CS)*Authoritative contributors from the scientific community with expertise in the field of CS and complex polysaccharides*Detailed and accurate figures to describe and illustrate complex molecular and macromolecular structures and properties