Abstract
Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) is a linear naturally occurring polysaccharide formed from repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronate. Despite its relatively simple structure, HA is an extraordinarily versatile glycosaminoglycan currently receiving attention across a wide front of research areas. It has a very high molar mass, usually in the order of millions of Daltons, and possesses interesting visco-elastic properties based on its polymeric and polyelectrolyte characteristics. HA is omnipresent in the human body and in other vertebrates, occurring in almost all biological fluids and tissues, although the highest amounts of HA are found in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues. HA is involved in several key processes, including cell signaling, wound repair and regeneration, morphogenesis, matrix organization and pathobiology. Clinically, it is used as a diagnostic marker for many disease states including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, liver pathologies, and as an early marker for impending rejection following organ transplantation. It is also used for supplementation of impaired synovial fluid in arthritic patients, following cataract surgery, as a filler in cosmetic and soft tissue surgery, as a device in several surgical procedures, particularly as an antiadhesive following abdominal procedures, and also in tissue engineering. This review will provide an overview of the structure and physiological role of HA, as well as of its biomedical and industrial applications. Recent advances in biotechnological approaches for the preparation of HA-based materials, and as a component of tissue scaffolding for artificial organs will also be presented.
Keywords: Hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Role, Metabolism, Chemical Modifications and Applications of Hyaluronan
Volume: 16 Issue: 14
Author(s): Nicola Volpi, Juergen Schiller, Robert Stern and Ladislav Soltes
Affiliation:
Keywords: Hyaluronan or hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycans
Abstract: Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) is a linear naturally occurring polysaccharide formed from repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronate. Despite its relatively simple structure, HA is an extraordinarily versatile glycosaminoglycan currently receiving attention across a wide front of research areas. It has a very high molar mass, usually in the order of millions of Daltons, and possesses interesting visco-elastic properties based on its polymeric and polyelectrolyte characteristics. HA is omnipresent in the human body and in other vertebrates, occurring in almost all biological fluids and tissues, although the highest amounts of HA are found in the extracellular matrix of soft connective tissues. HA is involved in several key processes, including cell signaling, wound repair and regeneration, morphogenesis, matrix organization and pathobiology. Clinically, it is used as a diagnostic marker for many disease states including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, liver pathologies, and as an early marker for impending rejection following organ transplantation. It is also used for supplementation of impaired synovial fluid in arthritic patients, following cataract surgery, as a filler in cosmetic and soft tissue surgery, as a device in several surgical procedures, particularly as an antiadhesive following abdominal procedures, and also in tissue engineering. This review will provide an overview of the structure and physiological role of HA, as well as of its biomedical and industrial applications. Recent advances in biotechnological approaches for the preparation of HA-based materials, and as a component of tissue scaffolding for artificial organs will also be presented.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Volpi Nicola, Schiller Juergen, Stern Robert and Soltes Ladislav, Role, Metabolism, Chemical Modifications and Applications of Hyaluronan, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2009; 16 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986709788186138
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986709788186138 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Targeted Delivery of Anti-Inflammatory Agents to Tumors
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases and Leukocyte Migration
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Novel Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Multiple Functions of Generic Drugs: Future Perspectives of Aureolic Acid Group of Anti-Cancer Antibiotics and Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting Death Receptors to Fight Cancer: From Biological Rational to Clinical Implementation
Current Medicinal Chemistry Chemical and Pharmacological Significance of Natural Guanidines from Marine Invertebrates
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Childhood Alopecia Areata: An Overview of Treatment and Recent Patents
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Amidine-Based Bioactive Compounds for the Regulation of Arginine Metabolism
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Osteopontin; as a Target Molecule for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases
Current Drug Targets The Multi-faceted Profile of Corticotropin-releasing Factor (CRF) Family of Neuropeptides and of their Receptors on the Paracrine/Local Regulation of the Inflammatory Response
Current Molecular Pharmacology Molecular Imaging of Therapeutic Potential of Reporter Probes
Current Drug Targets Development and Uses for Monoclonal Antibodies to Chemoattractant Receptors
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Recent Approaches for Studying the Role of Glia
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Selenium and Selenoproteins: An Overview on Different Biological Systems
Current Protein & Peptide Science The Use of Genomics and Proteomics for the Recognition of Transplantation Rejection of Solid Organs
Recent Patents on DNA & Gene Sequences The Role of Bacterial DNA in Inflammatory and Allergic Disease
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Anti-inflammatory Property of AMP-activated Protein Kinase
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry A Summary of Electrospun Nanofibers as Drug Delivery System: Drugs Loaded and Biopolymers Used as Matrices
Current Drug Delivery Glycolipids as Immune Modulatory Tools
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Chemokine Receptors as Targets for Cancer Therapy
Current Pharmaceutical Design