Product Description

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring biopolymer, which serves important biological functions in bacteria and higher animals including humans. Naturally occurring HA may be found in the tissue of higher animals, in particular as intercellular space filler (Balazs, ***3). It is found in greatest concentrations in the vitreous humour of the eye and in the synovial fluid of articular joints (O'Regan et al., ***4). In gram positive streptococci it appears as a mucoid capsule surrounding the bacterium (Fig. 1). Since its discovery in human tissue, HA and its derivatives has been largely studied and applied in the biomedical arena. The appeal of this polymer has been accentuated by its high level of biocompatility. It has been used in viscosurgery to allow surgeons to safely create space between tissues. As a microcapsule it can be used for targeted drug delivery. Viscosurgical implants are constructed from HA (Balazs, ***3). Its viscoelastic character has been used to supplement the lubrication in arthritic joints. Finally, because of its high water retention capacity, this EPS (extracellular polysaccharide) also occupies a niche in the lucrative cosmetics market.