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hyaluronic acid (Provisc)

✓ Approved

Novartis AG · therapeutic agent

What is hyaluronic acid?

hyaluronic acid is a therapeutic agent developed by Novartis AG. It is approved for therapeutic indications.

Drug Profile

Brand NamesProvisc
CompanyNovartis AG
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Novartis AG

Therapeutic Indications

hyaluronic acid is developed for 2 unique indications across 2 therapeutic areas.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Surgical and medical proceduresAdjuvant therapy✓ Approved
Eye disordersDry eyePreclinical

Related Research Articles

PubMedJournal of clinical medicine2026-10-16

Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Weight in the Minimally Invasive Management of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Scoping Review.

Kosińska Maja M, Chęciński Maciej M, Macek Wojciech W, Kwiatkowska Klaudia K et al.

Background/Objectives: This scoping review mapped how hyaluronic acid (HA) molecular weight has been defined and investigated in direct clinical comparisons for temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), including formulations, populations, procedures, outcomes, and methodological limitations. Methods: Final searches and selection were completed on 9 September 2026 using PubMed, BASE, CENTRAL, and Europe PMC. Prospective human studies comparing different intra-articular HA preparations under the same procedural protocol were eligible, including matched comparisons within multi-arm studies. Two reviewers independently screened and charted the evidence. Findings were synthesized descriptively without meta-analysis or formal risk-of-bias assessment. The protocol was registered in OSF (osf.io/sc8wv). Results: Five reports were included: three quasi-randomized trials and two prospective studies with sequential or unreported allocation between HA formulations. Four reported efficacy comparisons; one contributed safety data only after swelling and marked pain in 2 of 5 recipients prompted discontinuation of a high-molecular-weight arm. Molecular-weight categories overlapped across reports, formulation characteristics were incompletely reported, and protocols varied from one to five injections with differing use of arthrocentesis. Comparative follow-up ranged from 3 to 12 months. No eligible efficacy comparison detected a statistically significant difference, but small samples, allocation limitations, and incomplete subgroup reporting restricted interpretation. Conclusions: The evidence map identifies inconsistent formulation classification, procedural heterogeneity, and deficiencies in outcome and safety reporting as barriers to interpretation. It does not establish equivalence, superiority, or comparative safety of molecular-weight categories and provides specific priorities for future studies.

PMID 42882059
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PubMedACS applied bio materials2026-10-16

Crosslinking-Dependent Structure-Transport-Function Relationships in Gelatin-Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels for Wound-Fluid Management.

Nordin Nurdiana N, Shaharulnizam M Arman MA, Zamlis Marlin Alya MA, Bakar Nurfarhanim Abu NA

Effective wound-fluid management is essential in medical applications, as dressings must absorb, retain, and regulate excess blood, exudate, and other biological fluids. Gelatin-hyaluronic acid (Gel/HA) hydrogels are promising dressing materials because they provide a hydrated, tissue-mimetic environment and combine the biological functions of both polymers. Their performance depends strongly on the crosslinking strategy, which regulates network architecture, fluid transport, and mechanical integrity. Three Gel/HA networks were prepared by physical association (Network I), glutaraldehyde-mediated covalent crosslinking (Network II), and PEGDA-mediated interpenetrating-network formation (Network III). Molecular interactions, morphology, fluid uptake, and mechanical properties were evaluated within a structure-transport-function framework. The networks exhibited distinct pore structures, with average pore sizes of 21 ± 7, 2.3 ± 0.8, and 9 ± 3 μm and porosities of 74 ± 3, 59 ± 3, and 67 ± 3% for Networks I-III, respectively. Tensile strength increased from 62 ± 5 kPa for Network I to 127 ± 7 kPa for Network II and 215 ± 9 kPa for Network III, while elongation at break increased from 152 ± 9 to 257 ± 12 and 343 ± 14%, respectively. Simulated blood uptake at 240 min reached 483 ± 45, 842 ± 59, and 1285 ± 72% for Networks I-III, respectively. An integrated hydrogel performance index was used as a comparative dimensionless descriptor of selected transport and mechanical properties. Overall, the results show that network formulation yields distinct combinations of pore architecture, fluid transport, and mechanical performance, providing a basis for comparing Gel/HA hydrogel designs for wound management applications that balance fluid management and mechanical properties.

PMID 42881490
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PubMedMaterials (Basel, Switzerland)2026-10-16

Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Tools.

Shirazi Amir Nasrolahi AN, Vadlapatla Rajesh R, Koomer Ajoy A, Tang Kimberly K et al.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) have emerged as promising inorganic nanocarriers for drug delivery due to their unique physicochemical properties, pH-responsive biodegradability, high surface area, and intrinsic biological activity. Their dissolution under acidic conditions enables controlled drug release within the tumor microenvironment and intracellular compartments, improving therapeutic selectivity while aiming to reduce off-target exposure. Surface functionalization with polyethylene glycol (PEG), chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and folic acid has further improved nanoparticle stability, prolonged circulation, and promoted receptor-mediated cellular uptake in targeted tissues. Beyond serving as drug carriers, ZnO-NPs exhibit intrinsic anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities, primarily through the generation of reactive oxygen species and controlled release of Zn2+ ions, which can contribute to activity in addition to that of the loaded drug. Despite promising preclinical results, challenges continue to limit clinical translation of ZnO-NP-based drug delivery systems, including reproducible large-scale synthesis, long-term colloidal stability and biosafety, pharmacokinetic behavior, and regulatory requirements. Continued optimization of nanoparticle engineering, functionalization, and in vivo validation is essential for advancing ZnO-NPs toward clinical use. This review summarizes the synthesis methods, physicochemical properties, functionalization strategies, and biomedical applications of ZnO-NPs, and discusses remaining challenges and future clinical perspectives.

PMID 42882621
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PubMedInternational journal of molecular sciences2026-10-16

Multimodal Evaluation of the Anti-Adhesion Effects of Heparin-Loaded PLGA/HA Nanofiber Membranes in an Intraperitoneal Adhesion Model in Rats.

Karatas Turgay T, Gokturk Nurcan N, Karadas Gedik Kubra K, Karabulut Burak B et al.

This study aimed to produce and characterize nanofiber membranes (PLGA/HA@LMWH) containing Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Hyaluronic Acid (PLGA/HA) immobilized with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), and to investigate their physical and chemical effects in preventing intraabdominal adhesions in a rat model using multidisciplinary methods. Forty female Wistar Albino rats were divided into four groups (n = 10). Cecal abrasions were induced in three groups: treated with PLGA/HA membrane, PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane, and 0.9% NaCl (SS). The fourth group underwent laparotomy only. On day 21, rats were sacrificed and evaluated macroscopically, histopathologically, immunohistochemically, and biochemically. Macroscopic adhesion, inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, collagen scores, and TGF-β1 expression were found to be high in the SS and PLGA/HA groups, while a significant decrease (p < 0.05-0.01) was detected in all of these values in the PLGA/HA@LMWH group. NF-κB activation was significantly decreased in the PLGA/HA and especially the PLGA/HA@LMWH groups compared to the SS group (p < 0.05). In addition, apoptosis was suppressed in the PLGA/HA@LMWH group, with increased Bcl-2 and decreased cleaved caspase-3. The PLGA/HA@LMWH membrane reduced peritoneal adhesions by suppressing inflammation, fibrosis, neovascularization, and collagen deposition, lowering TGF-β1 expression and NF-κB and p-NF-κB levels, and suppressing apoptosis. However, large-scale studies are needed for clinical use.

PMID 42883959
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PubMedACS sensors2026-10-16

Dual-Function Microneedle Patch for Retinyl Acetate Delivery and Lactate Sensing in Skincare Management.

Wu Tingting T, Liu Guozhen G

Closed-loop skin health management that integrates real-time diagnostic feedback with on-demand therapeutic delivery remains a critical unmet challenge in precision dermatology. Here, a smart core-shell microneedle (MN) patch is developed for bidirectional skin intervention: simultaneous delivery of retinyl acetate (RA) therapy and in situ monitoring of interstitial fluid (ISF) lactate as a metabolic biomarker. RA is first encapsulated in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) inclusion complexes via a rapid ultrasonic method to enhance solubility and stability. The MN patch features a mechanically robust polyvinyl alcohol/sodium hyaluronate (PVA/SH) shell for effective stratum corneum penetration and a hyaluronic acid-based core loaded with RA@HPβCD, type I collagen, and chitosan for synergistic anti-aging and anti-acne effects. The MN patch delivers RA to remodel the dermal matrix while continuously extracting ISF, enabling on-site quantitative analysis of lactate as a metabolic feedback indicator of skin status-elevated lactate signals skin hypoxia or inflammation, prompting timely RA action. This integrated platform thereby establishes a closed-loop system coupling therapeutic intervention with diagnostic assessment. This smart MN patch offers a promising strategy for precision skin care and holds potential for managing diverse dermatological conditions requiring dynamically adjustable therapy.

PMID 42881508
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PubMedInternational journal of molecular sciences2026-10-16

When the Matrix Warns: Unraveling Brain Extracellular Matrix Components as Danger Signals in Glioma Progression.

Grechukhina Anna A AA, Mishchenko Tatiana A TA, Gudkov Sergey V SV, Vedunova Maria V MV

The brain constitutes a biologically unique environment tasked with executing the most sophisticated functions of information processing and storage. This singularity arises from several factors, including its status as an immunoprivileged organ. Moreover, the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) provides a structural scaffold for cells and simultaneously acts as an active mediator for information storage and transmission. Unsurprisingly, the ECM has become firmly embedded as a key component of the tetrapartite synapse concept, which has gathered considerable traction in recent decades. In the present review, we aim to characterize the principal ECM components in the context of normal physiology, pathology, and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Understanding this perspective is key to neurooncological progression, since the brain's immune responses remain distinct even when the blood-brain barrier is compromised. A detailed examination of individual ECM constituents offers valuable insight into the mechanisms of tumor-driven microenvironment remodeling. Thus, these molecules should be considered not merely surrogate markers, but rather active drivers of key pathological processes in the central nervous system (CNS). Herein, we summarize and systematize the current evidence on extracellular DAMPs, paying special attention to their relevance in the brain. Our analysis focuses on ECM components that are abundant and functionally significant in the CNS, including the small leucine-rich proteoglycans (decorin, biglycan, and asporin), heparan sulfate proteoglycans, as well as tenascin C, versican, and hyaluronic acid.

PMID 42883998
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