In recent years, with the rise of the "appearance level economy" and healthy consumption, sodium hyaluronate (commonly known as hyaluronic acid), which was once a high beauty altar, is infiltrating into many fields such as medical, food and skin care products at an alarming rate. Data show that in 2023, the global sodium hyaluronate market has exceeded 10 billion US dollars, and China, as the world's largest producer, has contributed nearly 40% of the production capacity. From medical-beauty injections to oral health care products, from ophthalmic elastics to joint lubricants, the diversified application of sodium hyaluronate is changing the industry landscape.
Scientific breakthrough: Oral beauty and medical application of double-line outbreak
In the past, sodium hyaluronate was difficult to be absorbed by the human body because of its excessive molecular weight, and mainly relied on injection or external coating. However, with the breakthrough of bioenzyme digestion technology, the oral absorption rate of small molecule sodium hyaluronate (molecular weight <10kDa) has been greatly improved. In 2021, China's National Health Commission officially approved sodium hyaluronate as a new food raw material, allowing it to be added to ordinary foods. Since then, oral hyaluronic acid drinks, soft candy and other products quickly seized the market, becoming a "new health symbol" for young consumers.
The medical field is also undergoing innovation: A recent clinical study published by Zhongshan Hospital, Affiliated to Fudan University, showed that cross-linked sodium hyaluronate gel showed significant joint lubrication and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and the pain index of patients decreased by more than 50%. In addition, its application in ophthalmic surgery (such as cataract extraction), postoperative anti-adhesion and other scenarios is also rapidly popular.
Industry competition intensifies: domestic substitution accelerates
The maturity of China's sodium hyaluronate industry chain has driven the cost down significantly. The leading enterprises represented by Huaxi Biology, Haohai Shengke and Aimeike have reduced the price of raw materials to 1/20 of that of ten years ago through microbial fermentation technology, breaking the pattern of dependence on imports in the early years. According to the 2023 financial report of Huaxi Biology, its medical terminal product revenue increased by 67% year-on-year, and the functional skin care business accounted for more than 40%.
International brands are also not to be outdone: L 'Oreal, Shiseido and other giants accelerated the launch of sodium hyaluronate "machine name" facial masks and high-end anti-aging lines; Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, is targeting the orthopedic circuit with a long-acting, slow-release joint injection. Industry insiders predict that the compound growth rate of medical grade sodium hyaluronate products will exceed 25% in the next three years.
Controversy and regulation: Markets are in dire need of regulation
Accompanied by the market heat, product quality is uneven and false publicity chaos. An e-commerce platform survey shows that nearly 30% of the actual content of "hyaluronic acid oral liquid" is less than 50% of the listed value, and some beauty institutions even illegally use unapproved injection forms. In this regard, the State Food and Drug Administration launched the "special rectification action of sodium hyaluronate" at the beginning of 2024, focusing on cracking down on illegal addition, exaggerating efficacy and other behaviors, and requiring medical grade products to clearly label molecular weight and indications.
"Sodium hyaluronate is not a panacea," stressed Zhao Zhenmin, secretary-general of the Chinese Association of Plastic and Aesthetic Surgeons. "Consumers need to be rational about its efficacy, and injected products must choose regular medical institutions."
The future: Synthetic biology opens the imagination
With the advancement of synthetic biology technology, the production of sodium hyaluronate is moving towards a more environmentally friendly and efficient stage. A team at Jiangnan University recently successfully developed a "cell factory" that uses gene editing technology to make E. coli mass produce sodium hyaluronate, reducing energy consumption by 70 percent. At the same time, researchers explore combining it with materials such as collagen and polylactic acid to develop cutting-edge products such as degradable artificial skin and tissue engineering scaffolds.
"The boundaries of sodium hyaluronate are disappearing," said Li Wei, an industry analyst. "Starting from the beauty field, it could become a key material for regenerative medicine and precision therapy in the future."