Hyaluronan sodium

Overview

Hyaluronan sodium, also known as sodium hyaluronate, is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan and major component of the extracellular matrix. It is widely used in biomedical and pharmaceutical settings because of its biocompatibility, viscoelasticity, water-retaining capacity, and ability to support tissue hydration and repair. In medical products, sodium hyaluronate is commonly formulated as a lubricant, wound-healing adjunct, or scaffold material, and it is also used as a functional biomaterial in drug delivery systems and tissue engineering constructs.

Biologically, hyaluronan interacts with cell-surface receptors such as CD44 and can influence cell migration, inflammation, matrix remodeling, and tissue regeneration. These properties have made it a frequent component of hydrogels, nanoparticles, microneedles, and other delivery platforms designed for cancer therapy, wound healing, ocular repair, cartilage regeneration, and inflammatory disease. In recent research, sodium hyaluronate has been used both as a structural biomaterial and as a targeting or mucoadhesive element in systems intended to improve local retention, controlled release, and receptor-mediated uptake.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent publications show hyaluronan sodium being incorporated into a broad range of therapeutic platforms, especially hydrogels, nanoparticles, microneedles, and coatings. A recurring theme is the use of hyaluronic acid or sodium hyaluronate to improve biocompatibility, tissue adhesion, and site-specific delivery. In several cancer-focused studies, hyaluronic acid was used to functionalize nanocarriers to promote CD44-mediated targeting. Examples include nanoparticles carrying doxorubicin, curcumin, gemcitabine and paclitaxel, β-lapachone, epirubicin, and other agents. These systems were designed to accumulate at tumour sites, reduce systemic toxicity, and in some cases respond to the tumour microenvironment through reactive oxygen species, pH, or redox-sensitive mechanisms.

In inflammatory and immune-mediated disease models, hyaluronan sodium was used to support localized delivery and immunomodulation. One study on collagen-induced arthritis used a hyaluronic acid-based nano-prodrug to target lymph nodes and regulate B cells via ibrutinib delivery. Another rheumatoid arthritis study developed hyaluronic acid-functionalised solid lipid nanoparticles for CD44 receptor-mediated therapy. Hyaluronic acid also appeared in systems aimed at postoperative abdominal adhesions, liver fibrosis, and multiple sclerosis, where it served as a matrix or targeting component in responsive hydrogels and nanocomposites.

Wound healing and tissue repair were major application areas. Multiple studies used hyaluronic acid in injectable hydrogels, films, and composite dressings for infected wounds, diabetic wounds, chronic wounds, and full-thickness skin repair. These systems often combined hyaluronic acid with collagen, chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, alginate, gelatin, or bioactive cargo such as dexamethasone, lidocaine, rhFGF2, berberine hydrochloride, platelet-derived factors, or mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes. The reported goal across these studies was to create moist, adhesive, and bioactive matrices that support sustained release, antimicrobial activity, and accelerated tissue regeneration.

Ophthalmic and mucosal applications were also prominent. Sodium hyaluronate-based artificial tear formulations were evaluated in brachycephalic dogs, and a hyaluronic acid-based photocurable glue was tested in canine corneal injuries as an alternative surgical approach. In the oral and rectal delivery space, hyaluronic acid-based microgels and enemas were used to enhance mucoadhesion and local drug retention, including targeted therapy for Clostridioides difficile infection and radiation enteritis. In periodontal therapy, a rapidly dissolvable hyaluronic acid backing layer was incorporated into microneedle patches for localized treatment and immunoregenerative homeostasis.

Several studies focused on hyaluronic acid as a hydrogel backbone or scaffold material for regenerative engineering. It was used in photo-crosslinkable injectable hydrogels, boronate ester hydrogels, interpenetrating polymer networks, and 3D bioprinted scaffolds. These materials were designed for cartilage regeneration, corneal epithelial organization, organoid culture, strain sensing, and controlled drug delivery. In one study, hyaluronic acid-based microporous annealed particle hydrogels were examined for their effects on lipid signatures after CNS ischemic injury, underscoring interest in its immunomodulatory and matrix-remodeling properties.

Beyond medicine, hyaluronan sodium was also used in food and veterinary-related formulations, including egg disinfection, wound-healing films, and delivery matrices. Across these diverse contexts, the common rationale was to exploit hyaluronan sodium’s natural compatibility with biological tissues, its ability to form tunable crosslinked networks, and its utility in receptor-mediated targeting, especially through CD44.