Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan widely recognised for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique viscoelastic properties. Its structural versatility enables the formation of hydrogels with tuneable physicochemical characteristics, making it a valuable biomater...

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Main Authors: Maciej Grabowski, Dominika Gmyrek, Maria Żurawska, Anna Trusek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/424
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author Maciej Grabowski
Dominika Gmyrek
Maria Żurawska
Anna Trusek
author_facet Maciej Grabowski
Dominika Gmyrek
Maria Żurawska
Anna Trusek
author_sort Maciej Grabowski
collection DOAJ
description Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan widely recognised for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique viscoelastic properties. Its structural versatility enables the formation of hydrogels with tuneable physicochemical characteristics, making it a valuable biomaterial in drug delivery and regenerative medicine. This review outlines HA properties, gel-forming approaches, and modern medicine and bioengineering applications. It provides a comprehensive overview of advances in HA production strategies, including microbial fermentation, animal tissue extraction, and production in vitro. Particular attention is given to gel-forming mechanisms, emphasising physical and chemical crosslinking methods like carbodiimide crosslinking, radical polymerisation, and enzymatic crosslinking. Advances in HA-based drug delivery systems and applications of HA-based materials in tissue engineering are also discussed, focusing on HA-based hydrogels with conjugates and combinations with compounds like collagen, alginate, and chitosan.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2310-2861
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Gels
spelling doaj-art-2c319cff12914a7d87c345e12eb5cac12025-08-20T03:24:36ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-06-0111642410.3390/gels11060424Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery SystemsMaciej Grabowski0Dominika Gmyrek1Maria Żurawska2Anna Trusek3Department of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Micro, Nano and Bioprocess Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, PolandHyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan widely recognised for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and unique viscoelastic properties. Its structural versatility enables the formation of hydrogels with tuneable physicochemical characteristics, making it a valuable biomaterial in drug delivery and regenerative medicine. This review outlines HA properties, gel-forming approaches, and modern medicine and bioengineering applications. It provides a comprehensive overview of advances in HA production strategies, including microbial fermentation, animal tissue extraction, and production in vitro. Particular attention is given to gel-forming mechanisms, emphasising physical and chemical crosslinking methods like carbodiimide crosslinking, radical polymerisation, and enzymatic crosslinking. Advances in HA-based drug delivery systems and applications of HA-based materials in tissue engineering are also discussed, focusing on HA-based hydrogels with conjugates and combinations with compounds like collagen, alginate, and chitosan.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/424hyaluronic acidmicrobial hyaluronic acid productionhyaluronic-acid-based hydrogelsdrug delivery
spellingShingle Maciej Grabowski
Dominika Gmyrek
Maria Żurawska
Anna Trusek
Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
Gels
hyaluronic acid
microbial hyaluronic acid production
hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogels
drug delivery
title Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
title_full Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
title_fullStr Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
title_full_unstemmed Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
title_short Hyaluronic Acid: Production Strategies, Gel-Forming Properties, and Advances in Drug Delivery Systems
title_sort hyaluronic acid production strategies gel forming properties and advances in drug delivery systems
topic hyaluronic acid
microbial hyaluronic acid production
hyaluronic-acid-based hydrogels
drug delivery
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/6/424
work_keys_str_mv AT maciejgrabowski hyaluronicacidproductionstrategiesgelformingpropertiesandadvancesindrugdeliverysystems
AT dominikagmyrek hyaluronicacidproductionstrategiesgelformingpropertiesandadvancesindrugdeliverysystems
AT mariazurawska hyaluronicacidproductionstrategiesgelformingpropertiesandadvancesindrugdeliverysystems
AT annatrusek hyaluronicacidproductionstrategiesgelformingpropertiesandadvancesindrugdeliverysystems