REVIEW ARTICLE HYALURONIC ACID: THE INGENIOUS MOLECULE

Hyaluronic is a high molecular weight naturally occurring bio-polysaccharide. It is a major component of the extracellular matrix and found in connective tissues, vitreous fluid of eye, umbilical cords and chicken combs. HA has been used in biomedical applications and in the field of drug delivery system. This review describes the applications of hyaluronic acid in various fields. It is used as such or encapsulated into different types of nano carriers, as a ligand to prepare nano-platforms for actively targeting drugs, proteins, peptides, genes, and diagnostic agents. The current therapeutic application of HA in the field of osteoarthritis, dermatology and wound healing, surgery, tissue engineering, chondro-protective effects, anaesthetic medicine, anti-adhesion and cardiovascular have also been described..