https://pages.htgaa.org/2026b/nandita-narayanan/week-01-hw-project-ideas/index.html(1) What you would like to biomanufacture and why? I want to engineer a microbial chassis for low molecular weight hyaluronic acid production. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a glycosaminoglycan distinguished by its high water loading capacity - it can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water. It is found naturally across vertebrate species where it plays a vital role in hydration, healing, fluid balance, and structural cushioning. Its behaviour is largely a function of its molecular weight with high MWs having more structural and lubricating roles while low MWs have greater permeability and participate in cellular signalling, wound healing, and molecular transport. Its widespread presence in the body gives it diverse biomedical applications. Low MW-HA (<300 kDa) is used often in dermatology as well as cosmetics for its hydration and anti-aging effects. It is also being explored for engineering nanoparticles, liposomes, and micelles for drug delivery with 200 kDa HA having high affinity to the CD44 receptor on cancer cells (Yasin et al., 2022) (Fakhari & Berkland, 2013). As of 2025, hyaluronic acid has a global market value of USD 11.5 billion with dermal fillers and cosmetic applications holding a bulk of the market share (Grand View Research, 2026). This marks the importance of developing a sustainable and safe mechanism for efficient hyaluronic acid production.Hugoen