Hyaluronic acid and its role in the formation of hydrogels with antimicrobial properties
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.30857/2786-5371.2026.2.2Keywords:
hydrogel, hyaluronic acid, antimicrobial properties, molecular weight, chemical and physical cross-linkingAbstract
The aim of this study is to systematise current approaches to the development of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels with antimicrobial properties, to analyse the influence of its molecular weight and chemical modifications on biological properties, and to develop effective strategies for designing hybrid systems with controlled release of antimicrobial agents for use in wound therapy and regenerative medicine. The study is based on a systematic analysis and synthesis of current scientific publications on the physicochemical properties of hyaluronic acid, methods of its chemical and physical cross-linking, and the development of antimicrobial hydrogels. A comparative analysis of various polymer modification strategies was conducted, including covalent and physical cross-linking, nanocomposite formation, and the creation of stimulus-responsive systems. The influence of hyaluronic acid molecular weight on its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties was assessed. It has been established that hyaluronic acid is an effective matrix for the formation of hydrogels due to its high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and capacity for chemical functionalization. It has been shown that its intrinsic antimicrobial activity is moderate and depends on molecular weight, with high-molecular-weight forms exhibiting predominantly anti-adhesive and anti-inflammatory effects. It has been demonstrated that the most effective systems are hybrid hydrogels combining hyaluronic acid with antimicrobial agents (antibiotics, polycations, metal nanoparticles, or photosensitizers). It has been established that the use of dynamic covalent bonds and stimulus-responsive mechanisms enables the controlled, localized, and ‘on-demand’ release of active components. The current understanding of hyaluronic acid's role as a functional basis for the creation of antimicrobial hydrogels has been summarised, taking into account the dependence of biological effects on the polymer's molecular weight. The classification of hydrogel design strategies has been expanded by integrating approaches involving covalent, physical, and dynamic cross-linking with the concepts of stimulus-responsive systems. The feasibility of hybrid compositions combining the regenerative properties of hyaluronic acid with the pronounced antimicrobial activity of additional components has been demonstrated. The results obtained can be used to develop new biomaterials for the treatment of infected wounds, burns, and post-operative complications. The proposed approaches to creating hydrogel systems ensure increased effectiveness of local antimicrobial therapy, reduced systemic burden of antibiotics, and minimized risk of antimicrobial resistance. The research findings may also be applied in pharmaceutical technology, tissue engineering, and biomedical development to create a new generation of injectable, implantable, and coating materials.
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