Description

Hyaluronic acid (HA), also known as acetyl hyaluronic acid, has the molecular formula C₁₄H₂₂NNaO₁₁. It is an anionic glycosaminoglycan that is widely distributed in various tissues of the human body. HA is a linear macromolecular mucopolysaccharide that is composed of alternatingly linked two saccharide units of glucuronic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. Because of its unique physical and chemical properties, it is widely used in the field of life and health.

Injectable filler

Extracellular matrix components include collagen and hyaluronic acid, so hyaluronic acid can be used for cosmetic or trauma repair. As a popular injectable filler, hyaluronic acid is widely used to fill wrinkles and compensate the volume loss. Injection of cross-linked hyaluronic acid stimulates collagen synthesis and repairs the extracellular matrix by replacing the fragmented collagen. Boosting skin through fibroblast activation is a new indication for HA-based products. HA can also promote the repair and regeneration of the skin by promoting the metabolism of skin cells, reducing skin damage and inflammation[1]. In 2021, a study found that the application of 0.2% hyaluronic acid significantly accelerated the re-epithelialization of skin abrasions compared to saline and chlorhexidine However, there are still risks associated with using HA, and beyond visual loss after injection of HA after iatrogenic ophthalmic artery occlusion, ophthalmoplegia without blindness is rare but may occur[2].

Drugs delivery

Since it has the ability to recognize specific receptors that are overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells and cancer drugs can be targeted to the tumor cells to better kill them. Therefore, HA can be used as a vehicle for anti-cancer drug delivery and improve drug targeting ability. It is also possible to synthesize Porous and biodegradable hyaluronic acid (HA) nanogels for hydrophobic cancer drug delivery[3]. Prepared delivery systems enable sustained slow release or long-term delivery of drugs.

The target of detection

In addition to the promise of drug delivery, it can also be used for disease detection. The naturally occurring polysaccharide HA is found over-expressed in many cancer cells. HA is the hydrolytic substrate of Hyaluronidase (HAase). Hyaluronidase is mainly uptaken and broken down by liver endothelial cells, which can correctly and sensitively respond to the amount of liver fibrosis and can also reflect the damage status of liver cells. It is a hard indicator of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and it is also a marker for bladder tumors[4]. In 2021, Xiao et al. wrapped HA on the surface of MOF materials to build a 2-TU detection platform. When HAase is present, it can catalyze the hydrolysis of HA on the surface of the material, resulting in the release of ATT inside the material. The free ATT can bind to the Au³⁺-Ag nanoprobe, making the luminescence enhancement of the Ag nanoprobe[5]. Therefore, HA is very promising in the field of disease diagnosis and treatment.

References

[1] Li J, et al. The Development of Hyaluronic Acids Used for Skin Tissue Regeneration. Current Drug Delivery, 2021; 18: 836 - 846.

[2] Kim B, et al. Ophthalmoplegia with skin necrosis after a hyaluronic acid filler injection. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020; 19: 1307-1310.

[3] Huang G, et al. Application of hyaluronic acid as carriers in drug delivery. Drug Delivery, 2018; 25: 766-772.

[4] Shanmugam G, et al. Molecular Insights of Hyaluronic Acid as Potential Source of Polymer-Drug Conjugate in the Target-Mediated Treatment of Cancer. Natural Product Communications, 2018.

[5] Liang M, et al. A simple strategy to enhance the luminescence of metal nanoclusters and its application for turn-on detection of 2-thiouracil and hyaluronidase. Talanta, 2021; 236: 122876.