Used as a plasma volume expander in medical settings to treat or prevent hypovolemic shock caused by severe bleeding, burns, or trauma. It helps maintain blood volume and circulation when rapid fluid replacement is needed. Also used during surgery to improve blood flow and reduce the risk of clotting, especially in microvascular procedures. In laboratory applications, it serves as a molecular weight standard and is used in cell separation techniques, such as inducing rouleaux formation in red blood cells to facilitate analysis. Additionally, it is employed in eye drops to relieve dry eyes by providing lubrication and stabilizing the tear film. In bioprocessing, it is used in the production of vaccines and other biological products to stabilize proteins and cells during storage.