Rheology as a Tool to Investigate the Degradability of Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers

Background: In the current landscape of aesthetic medicine, the use of hyaluronic acid (HA)-based dermal fillers is increasingly prevalent. Although HA is widely acknowledged for its safety and efficacy the study of its degradability represents a critical aspect in ensuring safety.
Methods: Rotational rheology was chosen to study the HA-based fillers interaction with hyaluronidase enzyme; this allows to establish a correlation between the viscoelastic parameters of the sample and its degradation.
Results: The obtained results indicate that the products exhibit sensitivity to the enzyme and that the rheological parameters vary depending on the contact time and dosage of administration.
Conclusion: Our findings propose a standardized rheological protocol for assessing the degradability of HA-based dermal fillers, offering an alternative to existing methods.