Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic Acid: Polymer Science and Tissue Biology Applications

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) represents a large carbohydrate polymer molecule that appears naturally within tissues that form connections between structures, tissues that form coverings, and tissues that make up the nervous system. Research increasingly emphasizes HA's outstanding ability to attract and retain water, its importance in keeping the extracellular matrix stable and organized, and its ability to influence how cells communicate and transmit signals. Modern investigations focus on how HA binds to molecules on cell surfaces that increase tissue moisture, strengthen structural components, and initiate tissue healing and growth.

Primary Research Areas

Experimental and clinical research environments have documented HA's multiple roles in the structure and function of skin, the mechanics of joints, and the operation of the eye. Key areas of scientific inquiry include HA's capacity to provide smooth frictionless movement, its physical properties that combine thickness with elasticity, and its contribution to mechanical toughness. Research also examines how HA reduces inflammatory responses and how it participates in rebuilding tissues and promoting healing when conducted under controlled laboratory settings.

Scientists recognize HA for its unique physical and chemical characteristics: how it flows and resists flow, how effectively it adds moisture to tissues, and how it maintains the stability of the extracellular matrix. Research aims to understand how HA builds suitable spaces for cells to function, how nutrients and other molecules move through tissue, and how HA controls the arrangement of other large molecules called proteoglycans. Research further explores how HA assists in healing, how it reduces damage from harmful chemical reactions, and how it helps tissues rebuild themselves in systems rich in collagen and other structural proteins.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Composition and Structure

Hyaluronic acid is a long chain of repeating sugar units made from two different sugar molecules combined together—specifically N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid. Different batches of HA have different sizes, measured by molecular weight, so no single formula applies to all preparations. This batch was analyzed and verified using modern testing equipment.

Molecular Weight Measurement (MS): 711.9 Da

Purity Level (HPLC): 99.42%

Batch Number: 2025007

Main Peak Measurement Time: 3.48 min

Testing Equipment: LCMS-7800 Series (Properly Adjusted)

Analysis Notes: The main active component was verified by measuring its weight and checking its position on the testing chart; a very small secondary component was detected at 0.58% area

Documented Research Results

Water Retention in Tissues

Research confirms that HA possesses exceptional capacity to bind and hold water molecules, supporting proper moisture levels in tissues, maintaining healthy cellular firmness, and providing the flexibility needed in laboratory studies of skin and joint tissues.

Movement and Lubrication in Joints

Laboratory research examines how HA creates both thick and slippery properties inside joints, helping surfaces slide smoothly with less friction, distributing forces evenly, and enabling comfortable joint movement during physical activity.

Healing and Tissue Repair

Research studies show that HA reduces harmful inflammatory signals, encourages cells to move to damaged areas, and helps organize newly forming tissue structures during the healing and tissue regeneration process.

Cell Surface Interactions and Communication

HA's binding with cell surface receptors such as CD44 and related molecules controls important functions including how cells position themselves, how cell populations grow, and how nearby tissue structures change and reorganize.

Reduction of Chemical Damage

Studies indicate that HA may provide protection against reactive chemical substances that cause damage when tissues experience stress from metabolism or mechanical forces.

Status of Research Materials

HA research supplies are designated exclusively for use in scientific and laboratory research by qualified trained professionals. These materials are not currently approved for use in treating human patients or animals.

Preparation and Author Credentials

Dr. Michael K. Cowman, Ph.D., an accomplished biochemist with expertise in carbohydrate science, organized and compiled this literature review. Dr. Cowman's research contributions have deepened scientific understanding of hyaluronic acid's chemical structure, mechanisms of action, and roles in living systems. His published research has clarified the properties of hyaluronic acid, how the body breaks it down and removes it, and its functions in cellular communication and keeping tissues balanced and healthy.

Collaborative Investigations and Research Partners

Dr. Michael K. Cowman partnered with respected scientists—H.G. Lee, K.L. Schwertfeger, and others—to investigate the structure and function of hyaluronic acid in both normal conditions and disease states. Combined with research from other respected scientists including J.R.E. Fraser, T.C. Laurent, and U.B.G. Laurent, this body of work has been critical in understanding how hyaluronic acid contributes to the spaces between cells, maintains tissue moisture, and supports healing.

This citation recognizes the scientific work of these researchers and should not be seen as endorsement of this product. Montreal Peptides Canada is not affiliated with, does not support, and maintains no professional relationship with Dr. Cowman or any of the listed researchers.

Research Literature Sources

Fraser JR, Laurent TC, Laurent UB. Hyaluronan: its nature, distribution, functions and turnover. J Intern Med. 1997;242(1):27-33. PMID: 9260563. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9260563/

Cowman MK, Lee HG, Schwertfeger KL, et al. The functional roles of hyaluronan in health and disease. Carbohydr Res. 2015;404:1-19. PMID: 25620201. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25620201/

Litwiniuk M, et al. Hyaluronic acid in wound healing. Wounds. 2016;28(3):78-88. PMID: 26978867. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26978867/

Altman RD, et al. Hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis research. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015;23(11):2103-2111. PMID: 26412638. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26412638/

Necas J, et al. Hyaluronic acid in tissue hydration and healing. Vet Med. 2008;53(8):397-411. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19114355/

Salwowska NM, et al. Biological properties of hyaluronic acid. Dermatol Rev. 2016;103(1):1-12. PMID: 27378383. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27378383/

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04619611. Hyaluronic acid in connective tissue modeling studies. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04619611

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05191339. Experimental HA evaluation in dermal biomechanical research. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05191339