Hyaluronic acid (sodium) (MW 200-1560)

Hyaluronic acid sodium (MW 200-1560) is a biopolymer composed of repeating disaccharide units, with a molecular weight of 200-1560. Hyaluronic acid sodium is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is synthesized on the plasma membrane. Hyaluronic acid sodium exerts its effects by binding to receptors CD44 and RHAMM. Hyaluronic acid sodium activates PI3K-Akt signaling. Hyaluronic acid sodium also enhances cell invasion and angiogenesis by promoting or stimulating the binding of proteolytic MMP-9 to the cell surface. Elevated hyaluronic acid levels are associated with tumor cell growth, adhesion, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in digestive system cancers. Hyaluronic acid sodium is involved in tissue remodeling and rapid cell proliferation in several physiological processes, including embryonic morphogenesis and wound healing. Hyaluronic acid sodium can be used as a regulator of cancer-associated lymphangiogenesis. Hyaluronic acid sodium can be used as a drug delivery carrier for sodium butyrate, enhancing its anti-proliferative activity against breast cancer cell lines. Hyaluronic acid sodium can lubricate the corneal endothelium. Hyaluronic acid sodium can improve tissue hydration and enhance the resistance of cells to mechanical damage. Hyaluronic acid sodium has been conjugated with antibodies to ensure that the active compound continues to exert its effects at the site of inflammation. Hyaluronic acid sodium can be used in research in the fields of osteoarthritis, ophthalmology, cosmetic dermatology, oncology, and liver diseases^{[1][2][3][4][5]}. In Vitro: Hyaluronic acid (HA) sodium is widely used in aesthetic medicine due to its binding ability with a large number of water molecules. It improves tissue hydration and their resistance to mechanical damage. HA plays an important role in wound healing, ovulation, fertilization, signal transduction, and tumor physiology. HA is used in joint diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. HA of a high molecular mass reduces the chemotaxis and migration of inflammatory cells which acts as a good barrier to the inflammatory process and protects against the effects of free radicals. HA is used in ophthalmology due to its lubricating properties for the corneal endothelium, and improves tissue hydration and cellular resistance to mechanical damage in aesthetic dermatology, and has marginal adverse effects. Several trials indicate its role in tumor markers, liver diseases, and in pharmaceuticals^[1]. Hyaluronic acid sodium plays an important role in cancer growth and metastasis. HA and HA fragment-tumor cell interaction could activate the downstream signaling pathways, promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion, and inducing angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, stem cell-like property, and chemoradioresistance in digestive cancers^[2].