Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.
Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide:
As a lot of things have gone with carbohydrates in recent years, we've totally rethought the way we view it. It's not just a structure-giving gooey substance (though it is that, too!); rather, it's known to signal for countless biological states, including tumor progression, cell proliferation, and, quite possibly, brain development.
It also is used in inpatient cosmetic surgery as Restylane and in some of those those "cosmeceutical" products. The marketers of these cosmetics often adopt the habit of referring to it as "hyaluronic," full stop. Wrong. It is "hyaluronan" if you want a one-word noun, or "hyaluronic acid." Cosmetics advertising copy reminds me of those puzzling shampoo labels that list the herbal ingredients using the Linnean nomenclature (i.e., avena sativa for oats) - they always try to gussy up water by calling it "water (aqueous)." Well, I suppose it is - but there is some "aqueous water" in the turlet at MotD manor, too.
Medicine & Health
Life Science
Comments
If you want to hear some profoundly hyperbolic molecule-related ad copy, pick up a muscle magazine sometime.
Posted by: Conor H. | October 22, 2008 12:08 AM
Hyaluronic acid solution is viscoelastic (used in ophthalmology to protect the corneal endothelium during cataract surgery). There was a great demo with a clear box, microscope slides, a plexiglas tube, and a ball bearing. Drop the bearing down the tube to impact the microscope slide. It shatters. Syringe some hyaluronic acid solution into a puddle on the slide and repeat. The bearing bounces off and the slide is unharmed!
Marketing ordered a slight change in that. The clear box holding the slide had a not quite flat bottom. When the competitor's product was demo'd the slide bridged a depression.
Posted by: Uncle Al | October 22, 2008 1:21 PM
Water (aqueous): Is there any other kind? Reminds me of the hippie deodorant I bought a while ago that claimed to contain "aerobic oxygen," and that didn't stop me from smelling absolutely foul at the end of the day.
Posted by: adam | November 19, 2008 3:45 AM