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Hyaluronan: Sources, Structure, Features and Applications
Katarína Valachová1, Mohamed E Hassan1,2, Ladislav Šoltés1
1Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 10, 2024
Summary
Hyaluronan (HA), a glycosaminoglycan, exhibits diverse biological activities influenced by its molar mass. This review explores various medical applications of HA polymers, highlighting their therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Polymer Science
- Medical Applications
Background:
- Hyaluronan (HA) is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan found in numerous human tissues.
- HA's biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects, are critically dependent on its molar mass.
- Molar mass variations in HA lead to opposing biological properties: high-molar-mass HA is anti-inflammatory, while low-molar-mass HA has opposite effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the medical applications of polymers based on the hyaluronan backbone.
- To discuss how chemical modifications enhance HA stability and utility.
- To explore the diverse roles of HA in medicine.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific publications on hyaluronan.
- Analysis of studies detailing the biological activities of different molar masses of HA.
- Examination of research on chemically modified HA and its applications.
Main Results:
- High-molar-mass HA demonstrates anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and antiangiogenic properties.
- Low-molar-mass HA exhibits contrasting biological activities.
- Chemically modified HA shows enhanced stability for medical applications.
Conclusions:
- Hyaluronan's diverse biological activities are significantly modulated by its molar mass.
- HA polymers have established and emerging applications in viscosupplementation, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, wound healing, cosmetics, and drug delivery.
- Further research into chemically modified HA holds promise for advanced medical treatments.
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