HYALURONIC ACID
IN Wound CARE
Hyaluronic Acid (HA), also called hyaluronan, is a high molecular weight polysaccharide, discovered in 1934, by Karl Meyer and his assistant, John Palmer at Columbia University, in the vitreous of bovine eyes.
Hyaluronan can have up to 25.000 disaccharide repeated units’ length and range size approximately from 5000-20,000,000 Da in vivo1. Hyaluronic Acid is a major component of the extracellular matrix and can be found in skin, joints, eyes and most other organs and tissues.
It is available in almost all body fluids and tissues, such as the synovial fluid, the vitreous humor of the eye and the hyaline cartilage. However, the largest amount of HA (7-8 g of hyaluronate per average adult human, or approx. 50% of the total in the body) resides in the skin, where it is present in both dermis and epidermis2.
HYALURONIC ACID properties
- HA is biocompatible and biodegradable molecule and lacks immunogenicity naturally.
- Amongst extracellular matrix molecules, it has unique hygroscopic, rheological and viscoelastic properties. Hyaluronan is one of the most hygroscopic molecules in nature (1 gr of hyaluronic acid can bind up to 3 L of water.)
- Through its complex interactions with matrix components and cells, hyaluronan has multifaceted roles in biology utilizing both its physicochemical and biological properties. However, these properties are also highly dependent on chain length. HA can reach over 107 Da in molecular mass (HMW-HA), but also exists in multiple smaller forms, referred to as low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA).
IT Has been demonstrated that Low molecular weight (LMW-HA)
(~200 kDa average range - Hyalastine® - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF FIDIA FARMACEUTICI) is the most appropriate fraction for wound healing4.
HA produces different effects on the basis of its molecular weight being also demonstrated by several clinical studies 5. In fact, it has been shown that low molecular weight HA (~200 kDa average range) supports wound repair, while high molecular weight HA has controversial out comes and recommendations regarding wound healing treatment 5.
References:
1. Longinotti C. The use of hyaluronic acid-based dressings to treat burns: a review. Burns & Trauma, October 2014, Vol.2, Issue 4.
2. Schiraldi C, La Gatta A, De Rosa M. Biotechnological production and application of hyaluronan. Peptide Science 20, September 2010.
3. NecasJ, BartosikovaL, Brauner P, Kolar J. Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan): a review. Veterinarni Medicina. 2008; 53:397–411.
4. Passi A. Why low moleculaweight HA in wound healing: https://fidiawoundcare.com/images/educational/low molecular-weight-HA.pdf
5. D’Agostino A, Stellavato A, Busico T, Papa A, Tirino V, Papaccio G, La Gatta A, De Rosa M, Schiraldi C. In vitro analysis of the effects on woundhealingof high-and low-molecular weight chains of hyaluronan and theirhybrid H-HA/L-HA complexes. BMC Cell Biology. 2015; 16: 19
6.Chylińska N, Maciejczyk M. Hyaluronic Acid and Skin: Its Role in Aging and Wound-Healing Processes. Gels. 2025 Apr 9;11(4):281. doi: 10.3390/gels11040281.
1. Longinotti C. The use of hyaluronic acid-based dressings to treat burns: a review. Burns & Trauma, October 2014, Vol.2, Issue 4.
2. Schiraldi C, La Gatta A, De Rosa M. Biotechnological production and application of hyaluronan. Peptide Science 20, September 2010.
3. NecasJ, BartosikovaL, Brauner P, Kolar J. Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan): a review. Veterinarni Medicina. 2008; 53:397–411.
4. Passi A. Why low moleculaweight HA in wound healing: https://fidiawoundcare.com/images/educational/low molecular-weight-HA.pdf
5. D’Agostino A, Stellavato A, Busico T, Papa A, Tirino V, Papaccio G, La Gatta A, De Rosa M, Schiraldi C. In vitro analysis of the effects on woundhealingof high-and low-molecular weight chains of hyaluronan and theirhybrid H-HA/L-HA complexes. BMC Cell Biology. 2015; 16: 19
6.Chylińska N, Maciejczyk M. Hyaluronic Acid and Skin: Its Role in Aging and Wound-Healing Processes. Gels. 2025 Apr 9;11(4):281. doi: 10.3390/gels11040281.