Hyaluronic Acid – from Production to Application: A Review

Abstract

Hyaluronic acid (HA) was traditionally obtained by extraction from animal sources, specifically from rooster combs. However, this method of obtaining it has several disadvantages. Therefore, the number of researches has increased, and several microbial strains have been studied to synthesize HA. In this review, the characteristics of hearing aids were addressed; the microorganisms involved in the production of HA, operations for HA recovery and purification, and HA applications. Several species of microorganisms are capable of producing HA, mainly Streptococcus zooepidemicus, which can produce up to 7 g/L under ideal growing conditions. The culture medium, as well as the environmental conditions (pH, temperature, aeration, agitation), are factors that directly influence the production of HA, which can reduce or maximize it. Regarding recovery and purification methods, several techniques in sequence are used involving the precipitation of HA from the fermentation broth, usually using repeatedly organic solvents, surfactants, centrifugation, and membrane separation, among others. The functions of the HA cover several areas such as pharmaceutical, medical, and aesthetics, among others, causing the commercial demand for this biopolymer to increase every year, justifying research involving its bioproduction.