Introduction
Sodium hyaluronate has
been a buzzword for years because of its water retention effect in the cosmetic
sector. However, this natural humectant also stands out for its protective
functions in the medical field. Here, this article is going to discuss the
medical uses of sodium hyaluronate. Hope that you can have a better
understanding of how medical-grade
sodium hyaluronate is employed in the treatment and pain relief
of joints, eyes, etc.
Figure
1. Medical-grade Sodium Hyaluronate
What Is Medical-grade Sodium Hyaluronate?
--Basics
Sodium
hyaluronate is a natural substance found in the human body. This sodium saltis
a visco-elastic long-chain polymer of sugar units of Na-glucuronate-N-acetylglucosamine.
It is widely present in the extracellular matrix of connective and neural
tissues in our body. Sodium hyaluronate is also involved in cell
differentiation, wound healing, and inflammation.
--Functions
Sodium
hyaluronate plays an essential part in modulating the interactions inside our
body. First, medical-grade sodium hyaluronate could form a viscoelastic
solution, which serves as a protective barrier for our tissues and cells. The
solution could also absorb mechanical stress. Last, this sodium salt is thought
to provide nutrients to injured cells to promote tissue repair and cell growth.
With these notable properties, medical-grade sodium hyaluronate is applied to
treat arthritis, cataract, dry eye syndrome, and other diseases.
What Are the Medical Uses of Sodium Hyaluronate?
--Sodium Hyaluronate for Intra-articular Injection
Sodium
hyaluronateis commonly employed to reduce the pain of osteoarthritis and other
joint illnesses for its lubricating and protective functions.
Figure
2. Osteoarthritis
Sodium
hyaluronate is a component of the joint fluid that lies between your bones and
cartilage. The fluid acts as a lubricant and absorbs shock in the joint, so you
can move smoothly. Nevertheless, people with osteoarthritis have less hyaluronic
acid and less joint fluid, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and other
uncomfortable symptoms. If you have thesesymptoms, you just need an injection
of sodium hyaluronate torecover the viscoelasticity of the articular fluidand
stimulate new fluid production.
--Sodium Hyaluronate to Cure Eye Diseases
Sodium
hyaluronate is also extensively used in ophthalmic surgeries.
You
can use medical-grade sodium hyaluronate to make artificial tears to alleviate
dry eye syndrome. These artificial tears can form stable water film on the
ocular surface to moisturize your eyes for a long time. Therefore, you can be
saved from redness, itchy eyes, and blurred vision.
Figure
3. Dry Eye
Sodium
hyaluronate is one of the most popular ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVDs) used
in cataract surgery. It generates a deep chamber and protects the corneal
tissues. Sodium hyaluronate acts as an OVD in corneal transplant, intraocular
lens implantation, and retina attachment surgery as well.
Related
reading: Which Eye Surgeries Get Use of Hyaluronic Acid
Preparations?
--Other Medical Uses of Sodium Hyaluronate
There
are many more medical uses of sodium hyaluronate listed below.
l Anti-adhesive
Products: Medical workers employ anti-adhesion products containing sodium
hyaluronate to treat adhesions that frequently take place after abdominal
surgery.
l Dermal
Injection: Sodium hyaluronate is an ideal option for dermal fillers that are
injected to fill out wrinkles and obtain a more youthful appearance.
l Topical
Preparations: It is used to protect skin ulcers, burns, or irritations. The
salt forms a protective layer over the affected area.
l Wound-healing
Products: An optimal wound dressing can be made from medical-grade sodium
hyaluronate to prevent infection and inflammation.
Related
reading: Best Skincare Products: What is Sodium Hyaluronate
Powder?
Conclusion
Medical-grade
sodium hyaluronate found lots of applications in osteoarthritis, eye surgeries,
and dry eye syndrome due to its lubricating and protective features. Stanford Chemicals Company (SCC)
provides high-quality sodium hyaluronate of different molecular weights and
grades. For more information concerning medical-grade sodium hyaluronate,
please visit our homepage.
