Sodium hyaluronate

Sodium hyaluronate, with the chemical formula (C14H20NO11Na)n, is an intrinsic component of the human body, a dextran aldehyde acid with no species specificity, which is widely present in tissues and organs such as placenta, amniotic fluid, lens, joint cartilage, and skin dermis. It is distributed in the cytoplasm and intercellular matrix and plays a lubricating and nourishing role for the cells contained therein and the cellular organ itself.

It also provides the microenvironment for cell metabolism. Hyaluronic acid is a gel made from the body’s natural “hyaluronic acid” and other drugs that promote cell regeneration and wrinkle reduction and is used by injection.

Application:

Improving pharmacological efficacy

HA is the main component of connective tissues such as human intercellular matrix, ocular vitreous humor, and synovial fluid, and has the properties of water retention, maintenance of extracellular space, regulation of osmotic pressure, lubrication, and promotion of cell repair in the body. As a carrier of ophthalmic drugs, it prolongs the retention time of drugs on the eye surface by increasing the viscosity of eye drops, improving the bioavailability of drugs, and reducing the irritation of drugs to the eyes.

Adjunctive therapeutic role: It can be injected directly into the joint cavity and used as a lubricant for arthritis treatment. Humectancy The moisturizing effect of sodium hyaluronate in skin tissues is one of its most important physiological functions, and sufficient moisture makes the skin smooth and delicate. HA has the highest moisture absorption at low relative humidity (33%) and the lowest at high relative humidity (75%), which is just right for the skin’s need for moisturizing cosmetics in different seasons and under different environmental humidity, without greasy feeling and pore-clogging.

Anti-wrinkle property

The moisture level of the skin is closely related to the hyaluronic acid content. As we age, the hyaluronic acid content in the skin decreases, making the water retention function of the skin weaken and producing wrinkles. Sodium hyaluronate aqueous solution has strong viscoelasticity and lubricity, and when applied to the skin surface, it can form a moisturizing and breathable film to keep the skin moist and shiny. Small molecules of hyaluronic acid can penetrate the dermis to promote blood microcirculation, which is conducive to the absorption of nutrients in the skin and play a healthcare role in beauty and anti-wrinkle.

Film-forming and lubricating properties It is a polymer, which has a good feel and lubrication when applied. The large molecules form a breathable film on the surface of the skin, which makes the skin smooth and moist and blocks the invasion of foreign bacteria and dust.

Sun protection and skin damage repair effect On the skin surface, it can eliminate the reactive oxygen radicals generated by ultraviolet radiation in the sun to protect the skin from ultraviolet damage, and also promote skin regeneration in the injured area by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells.

Moisturizing effect

Experiments have shown that sodium hyaluronate has the highest moisture absorption at low relative humidity (33%) and the lowest moisture absorption at high relative humidity (75%), compared to these humectants. This unique property is precisely adapted to the skin’s requirement for cosmetic moisturization in different seasons and under different environmental humidity, such as dry winter and humid summer. The moisturizing property of sodium hyaluronate is related to its quality, the higher the quality, the better the moisturizing property. Sodium hyaluronate is rarely used alone as a humectant and is often used in combination with other humectants.

Nutritional effects

Sodium hyaluronate is an inherent biological substance in the skin, and exogenous sodium hyaluronate is a supplement to endogenous sodium hyaluronate in the skin. The smaller mass of sodium hyaluronate can penetrate the epidermis of the skin and promote the supply of nutrients and excretion of waste products, thus preventing skin aging and playing a role in beauty and skincare. Skincare is more important than other make-up and has become the modern people’s awareness of looking after their skin.

Repair and prevention

Light burns or sunburns caused by sun exposure to the skin, such as skin reddening, darkening, peeling, etc., are mainly the effect of UV rays from the sun. Sodium hyaluronate can promote the regeneration of the skin in the injured area by promoting the proliferation and differentiation of epidermal cells and the scavenging of oxygen free radicals, and its prior use also has a preventive effect. Its mechanism of action is different from the UV absorbers commonly used in sunscreens, so it has a synergistic effect when mixed with UV absorbers in sunscreen skin care products, which can simultaneously reduce the transmission of UV rays and repair the skin damage caused by the small number of UV rays transmitted, playing a dual protective role.

Sodium hyaluronate, EGF, and heparin can be used together to accelerate the regeneration of epidermal cells, making the skin fine, smooth and elastic. When the skin suffers from mild burns, surface application of aqueous cosmetics containing sodium hyaluronate can reduce pain and accelerate the healing of the skin in the injured area.

Lubricity and film-forming properties

Sodium hyaluronate is a polymer with strong lubricating and film-forming properties. Skin care products containing sodium hyaluronate have a pronounced lubricity and feel good when applied. When applied to the skin, it forms a film on the surface of the skin, giving the skin a good sense of smoothness and moistness and protecting the skin. Hair care products containing sodium hyaluronate can form a film on the surface of the hair, which can play the role of moisturizing, lubricating, hair care, eliminating static electricity, etc., making hair easy to comb, and flowing naturally.

Thickening properties

Sodium hyaluronate has high viscosity in an aqueous solution, and its 1% aqueous solution is in the form of gel, which can be added to cosmetics to thicken and stabilize.

Pharmacological effects

It is a physiologically active substance widely found in animals and humans and is distributed in human skin, synovial fluid, umbilical cord, atrial fluid, and vitreous humor of the eye. The molecular weight is 500000~730000 Dalton, its solution has high viscoelasticity and mimicry, which is an adjuvant for ophthalmic surgery. The solution maintains a certain depth of the anterior chamber of the eye after injection into the anterior chamber, which facilitates surgical operation and has the effect of protecting corneal endothelial cells and intraocular tissues, reducing surgical complications and promoting wound healing.