Ann Dermatol.  2014 Jun;26(3):357-362.

Investigation of the Degradation-Retarding Effect Caused by the Low Swelling Capacity of a Novel Hyaluronic Acid Filler Developed by Solid-Phase Crosslinking Technology

• Park S
• Park KY
• Yeo IK
• Cho SY
• Ah YC
• Koh HJ
• Park WS
• Kim BJ

Abstract

BACKGROUND
A variety of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers demonstrate unique physical characteristics, which affect the quality of the HA filler products. The critical factors that affect the degradation of HA gels have not yet been determined.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to determine the characteristics of HA gels that affect their resistance to the degradation caused by radicals and enzymes.
METHODS
Three types of HA fillers for repairing deep wrinkles, Juvederm Ultra Plus (J-U), Restylane Perlane (Perlane), and Cleviel, were tested in this study. The resistance of these HA fillers to enzymatic degradation was measured by carbazole and displacement assays using hyaluronidase as the enzyme. The resistance of these fillers to radical degradation was measured by the displacement assay using H2O2.
RESULTS
Different tests for evaluating the degradation resistance of HA gels can yield different results. The filler most susceptible to enzymatic degradation was J-U, followed by Perlane and Cleviel. The HA filler showing the highest degree of degradation caused by H2O2 treatment was Perlane, followed by J-U, and then Cleviel. Cleviel showed higher enzymatic and radical resistances than J-U and Perlane did. Furthermore, it exhibited the highest resistance to heat and the lowest swelling ratio among all the fillers that were examined.
CONCLUSION
The main factor determining the degradation of HA particles is the gel swelling ratio, which is related to the particle structure of the gel. Our in vitro assays suggest that the decrease in the swelling ratio will lead to a retarding effect on the degradation of HA fillers.

Keyword

Degradation; Hyaluronic acid; Resistance

MeSH Terms

Gels
Hot Temperature
Hyaluronic Acid*
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase
Gels
Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronoglucosaminidase

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Resistance to enzymatic degradation measured by carbazole assay. Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers diluted in phosphate buffered saline were incubated with hyaluronidase at 10 IU/mg HA (blue bar) and 20 IU/mg HA (pink bar) for 8 hours. The remaining HA was then quantified by the carbazole assay. SE: standard error. *p<0.05 as compared with Juvederm Ultra Plus.

• 

  Fig. 2 Resistance to enzymatic degradation (A) and radical degradation (B) measured by displacement assay. (A) Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers were incubated with hyaluronidase at 35 IU/mg HA. After 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hours of reaction, the absorbance of the hyperphase solution was measured at 590 nm. (B) HA fillers were treated by 500 mM H2O2. After 1, 3 and 4.5 hours of reaction, the absorbance of the hyperphase solution was measured at 410 nm. SE: standard error. *p<0.05 as compared with Juvederm Ultra Plus. #p<0.05 as compared with Perlane.

• 

  Fig. 3 Post-swelling effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers in hairless mouse. After injection of 0.2 ml of HA fillers into hairless mouse, the weight of isolated HA fillers from sacrificed mice was measured 3 days after injection. SE: standard error. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 as compared with Juvederm Ultra Plus. #p< 0.05, ##p<0.01 as compared with Perlane.

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