Human Serum Albumin

Human Serum Albumin

Modality

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a type of serum albumin encoded by the ALB gene that exists in human blood. As the protein with the highest content in human plasma, it accounts for about half of serum protein. It is a highly water-soluble spherical monomer plasma protein produced in the liver with relative molecular weight of 67 KDa. It consists of 585 amino acid residues, one sulfhydryl group and 17 disulfide bridges.

Application of Human Serum Albumin

HSA for Medicine Uses

Human albumin is not only used to replace blood volume loss caused by severe burns or injuries resulting in blood loss, but can also be used to treat low albumin levels caused by surgery, dialysis, abdominal infections, liver failure, pancreatitis, respiratory distress, bypass surgery, ovarian problems caused by fertility drugs, and other many other conditions. Brand names have been approved for several blood purified albumins include Albuminex, Kedbumin, Albuked 25, Albuked 5, Alburx, Plasbumin-25 (Low Aluminum), Plasbumin-5, etc.

HSA as Inactive Ingredients for Biologics

In addition, human albumin is listed in the “Inactive Ingredients for Approved Drug Products” database under FDA. Recombinant human albumins have been approved for use as an excipient to stabilize biologics, including vaccines, gene therapies in final formulation and during manufacturing. The yeast-derived rHSA in Merck’s MMR II vaccine was used for production. Compared with blood derived products, recombinant HSA does not have donor-to-donor variability or risk of human or bovine adventitious agent contamination.

HSA as Nanoparticulate Carriers

Among nanoparticulate carriers, because of their ability to bind to various drug molecules, great stability during storage and in vivo usage, no toxicity and antigenicity, biodegradability, reproducibility, scale up of the production process and a better control over release properties, HSA nanoparticles have long been the focus of attention in the pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, due to the numerous drug binding sites on the albumin molecule, a large amount of drug can be incorporated into the particle matrix.

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Human Serum Albumin

Modality