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Review
. 2021 Dec 29;15(1):234.
doi: 10.3390/ma15010234.

Hyaluronic Acid-Silver Nanocomposites and Their Biomedical Applications: A Review

Joanna Dulińska-Litewka  1 , Kacper Dykas  1 , Dominik Felkle  1 , Karolina Karnas  1   2 , Gohar Khachatryan  3 , Anna Karewicz  2
Affiliations
Review

Hyaluronic Acid-Silver Nanocomposites and Their Biomedical Applications: A Review

Joanna Dulińska-Litewka et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

For the last years scientific community has witnessed a rapid development of novel types of biomaterials, which properties made them applicable in numerous fields of medicine. Although nanosilver, well-known for its antimicrobial, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, as well as hyaluronic acid, a natural polysaccharide playing a vital role in the modulation of tissue repair, signal transduction, angiogenesis, cell motility and cancer metastasis, are both thoroughly described in the literature, their complexes are still a novel topic. In this review we introduce the most recent research about the synthesis, properties, and potential applications of HA-nanosilver composites. We also make an attempt to explain the variety of mechanisms involved in their action. Finally, we present biocompatible and biodegradable complexes with bactericidal activity and low cytotoxicity, which properties suggest their suitability for the prophylaxis and therapy of chronic wounds, as well as analgetic therapies, anticancer strategies and the detection of chemical substances and malignant cells. Cited studies reveal that the usage of hyaluronic acid-silver nanocomposites appears to be efficient and safe in clinical practice.

Keywords: biopolymers; hyaluronic acid; nanocomposites; polysaccharides; silver nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The structure of the hyaluronic acid. The polymer consists of α-D-glucopyranuronic acid (green) and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-glucopyranose (orange) linked by glycosidic bonds. The polymer can reach extremely large volumes by gathering molecules of water. Source: Protein Data Bank [16]. Structural formula reprinted from Reference [17], based on CC BY license.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Examples of Ag NPs biopolymer synthesis pathways: (a) a typical approach and (b) using the biopolymer as reducing agent.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Example of HA-Ag NPs hydrogel and illustration of the possibility of its precise fitting to wounded site. Reprinted from Reference [33] with permission from John Wiley and Sons.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Potential application and usage of silver nanoparticles and hyaluronic acid-based composites; mUFAME—monounsaturated fatty acid methyl esters.
Figure 5
Figure 5
SEM micrographs of parent HA-UF monolith (A) and Ag NPs-coated HA-UF monolith (B). Reprinted from Reference [25] with permission from Elsevier.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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