Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a linear polymer in which a simple disaccharide is repeated thousands of time, thereby creating a huge hydrophilic molecule that confers a large volume of hydration and contributes to the turgor and flexibility of healthy skin. HA is dynamically produced by most skin cells, not only fibroblasts (the cells that make most of the skin’s extracellular matrix) but also by keratinocytes in the outer protective layer (epidermis). For both fibroblasts and keratinocytes, HA plays a regulatory role in controlling cell physiology through interaction of extracellular HA with a major cell-surface receptor, CD44. This interaction mediates intracellular signaling both directly and indirectly, through CD44 interactions with the cytoskeleton and with EGF and TGF-β receptors. Furthermore, interactions of hyaluronic acid with its receptors triggers several intracellular signaling pathways regulating proliferation, migration and differentiation. Degradation of HA by specific hyaluronidase enzymes produces HA fragments that can also help to regulate inflammatory processes (Maytin, 2016).
HCS Pharma has developed BIOMIMESYS®, a hyaluronic acid-based hydroscaffold which mimic the extracellular matrix. Feel free to contact us if you want more information about our technology!
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