Development of Freeze-Dried Hyaluronic Acid Sheets for Healing Oral Mucositis: Influence of Hyaluronic Acid Molecular Weight and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Loading on Healing Efficacy.

Tanaka A, Takata T, Katsumi H, Sawai Y, Nakano H, Yoneto C, Yoneto K, Furubayashi T, Sakane T

Journal of functional biomaterials10 Mar 2026Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41893192PMCIDPMC13027328DOI10.3390/jfb17030137PepBankPUB-41893192

Summary

Oral mucositis frequently develops during radiotherapy or chemotherapy for head and neck cancer and is characterized by severe pain and impaired eating and speech. It was previously demonstrated that freeze-dried hyaluronic acid (HA) sheets effectively promote the healing of oral mucosal ulcers. This study aimed to optimize the HA sheet formulation by evaluating the effects of HA molecular weight and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) loading on therapeutic efficacy. HA sheets were prepared using HA with four different molecular weights (50, 350, 800, and 2000 kDa), and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in an animal oral ulcer model using 6-week-old male Syrian hamsters. Among the formulations tested, the 800 kDa HA sheet exhibited the greatest healing efficacy, and it showed an excellent balance between buccal retention and the sustained release of NMN for the treatment of oral mucositis. In vitro cytotoxicity assays confirmed that HA, with or without NMN, was non-toxic and suitable for local applications. These findings indicate that HA sheets, particularly those composed of 800 kDa HA, may represent a promising and biocompatible mucoadhesive material for the delivery of NMN and the local treatment of oral mucositis associated with head and neck cancer.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Studies that did not test the peptide alone3

In this study, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).

01AnimalNot a test of NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In hamsters with oral ulcers, the NMN-delivery HA formulation with 800 kDa HA showed the greatest healing efficacy among tested formulations.
In plain wordsIn hamsters with oral ulcers, the NMN-delivery sheet with 800 kDa HA healed ulcers best among tested formulations.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
IncreaseUlcer healing
Study
Syrian hamstern: not reported in source
Oral ulcer model
Comparator
Other tested HA molecular weights
Outcome group
Wound healing · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
Among the formulations tested, the 800 kDa HA sheet exhibited the greatest healing efficacy, and it showed an excellent balance between buccal retention and the sustained release of NMN for the treatment of oral mucositis.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
HA sheets were prepared using HA with four different molecular weights (50, 350, 800, and 2000 kDa), and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in an animal oral ulcer model using 6-week-old male Syrian hamsters.
In this study, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4189319201
02LabNot a test of NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) aloneIn vitro (cells)Safety outcome
In vitro, HA formulations with or without NMN were non-toxic in cytotoxicity assays.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, HA with or without NMN was non-toxic.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
No significant changeCytotoxicity
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Adverse events · Gastrointestinal
Source sentences
Summary
In vitro cytotoxicity assays confirmed that HA, with or without NMN, was non-toxic and suitable for local applications.
In this study, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4189319203
03LabNot a test of NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) aloneOther designOther
In the NMN-delivery formulation study, the 800 kDa HA sheet balanced buccal retention and sustained NMN release.
In plain wordsIn lab tests, the 800 kDa HA sheet balanced retention in the cheek and sustained NMN release.
Peptide
NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide)
Outcome
Direction not reportedBuccal retention and sustained release
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Pharmacokinetics · Pharmacology
Source sentences
Summary
Among the formulations tested, the 800 kDa HA sheet exhibited the greatest healing efficacy, and it showed an excellent balance between buccal retention and the sustained release of NMN for the treatment of oral mucositis.
In this study, NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4189319202

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
21 Oct 2026, 12:50 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

Keywords

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.