Hyaluronan (Hyaluronic acid or HA), is a polyanionic polysaccharide that consists of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and β-glucoronic acid these being linked together through alternating 1, 4 and 1, 3 glycosidic bonds. The chemical and physicochemical properties of HA and its physiological role in humans, together with its versatile properties, such as its biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, biodegradability and viscoelasticity, have proved that it is an ideal biomaterial for cosmetic, medical and pharmaceutical applications. HA is a polyanionic polymer that can form complexes with drugs and stabilize drug formulations. HA’s viscoelastic matrix can act as a strong biocompatible support material. A relatively simple chemical structure allows HA to be further modified to create a wide range of possible drug delivery carriers. The purpose of this review is to describe briefly the physical and chemical properties of HA together with some details of its pharmaceutical uses with emphasis on this more recent Trans dermal application.
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