Hyaluronic Acid: What It Is and Why It's Used

Origin

Hyaluronic acid was first isolated from vitreous humour (the fluid inside the eye) in 1934 by Karl Meyer and John Palmer at Columbia University. Its name combines the Greek word for glass (hyalos) with uronic acid, reflecting its origin and chemistry. For decades it was extracted from rooster combs; today virtually all commercial supply is produced by bacterial fermentation of Streptococcus equi.

Why It's Used

It is a large polysaccharide molecule with an exceptional capacity to bind water — it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In formulation, it functions as a humectant, drawing water to the skin's surface. Products often contain multiple molecular weights: larger molecules stay on the surface, smaller ones penetrate more readily.

Elsewhere

Sodium hyaluronate is used extensively in ophthalmology as a surgical aid in cataract procedures and as a component of eye drops. It is also used in injectable dermal fillers and in orthopedic joint injections for osteoarthritis.

What the Framework Sees

Question 3, more than any other material in this volume.

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