Hyaluronic Acid Production and its Applications A Review

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally derived, non - immunogenic, non - adhesive glycosaminoglycan that plays a prominent role in various wound - healing processes, as it as it is naturally angiogenic when degraded to small fragments. Hyaluronic acid promotes early inflammation which is critical for initiating wound healing, but then moderates later stages of the process, allowing matrix stabilization and reduction of long term inflammation. Hyaluronic acid is widely distributed in mammalian cells and tissue but is primarily found in synovial fluid, vitreous humor of the eye and loose connective tissue such as rooster comb, umbilical cord, dermis and arterial wall. It is also found in the capsular component of certain bacterial such as Streptococcus sp. and Staphylococcus sp. These have been biotechnologically developed and are now a main source of commercial Hyaluronic acid for pharmaceutical, medical and cosmetic application. The present review was based on Hyaluronic acid production and application. This review assesses the following topics: Structural features and properties of Hyaluronic acid, Rheological properties of Hyaluronic acid, Lubricity of Hyaluronic acid, Hydrophilicity of Hyaluronic acid, Hyaluronic acid production by bacterial fermentation, Biosynthesis of Hyaluronic acid in Streptococcus, Enzymes involved in Hyaluronic acid biosynthesis, Optimization and extraction of Hyaluronic acid, Analysis of Hyaluronic acid and Applications of Hyaluronic acid.