An injectable and physical levan-based hydrogel as a dermal filler for soft tissue augmentation

Biomater Sci. 2018 Sep 25;6(10):2627-2638. doi: 10.1039/c8bm00524a.

Abstract

The use of injectable materials as a biofiller for soft tissue augmentation has been increasing worldwide. Levan is a biocompatible and inexpensive polysaccharide with great potential in biomaterial applications, but it has not been extensively studied. In this study, we evaluated the potential of levan as a new material for dermal fillers and prepared an injectable and physical levan-based hydrogel by combining levan with Pluronic and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). A sol state was prepared by mixing the polymers in a specific ratio at 4 °C for 2 days and the hydrogel was formed by increasing the temperature to 37 °C. The elastic modulus of the levan hydrogel was higher than that of a hyaluronic acid (HA)-based hydrogel. The SEM images of the levan hydrogel showed an interconnected porous structure, similar to the HA hydrogel. Levan showed non-cytotoxicity, enhanced cell proliferation, and higher amount of collagen synthesis in human dermal fibroblast cells compared to HA. The injected levan hydrogel was biocompatible and stable over 2 weeks in vivo, longer than the Pluronic F127 hydrogel or HA hydrogel. Also, the levan hydrogel showed a higher amount of collagen production than the HA hydrogel in vivo. More importantly, the levan hydrogel showed enhanced anti-wrinkle efficacy compared to the HA hydrogel in a wrinkle model mouse. Thus, the levan hydrogel with injectability, biocompatibility, and an anti-wrinkle effect has high potential as an alternative to existing commercial dermal fillers.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / administration & dosage*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry
  • Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / administration & dosage
  • Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / chemistry
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Dermal Fillers / administration & dosage*
  • Dermal Fillers / chemistry
  • Fibroblasts / drug effects
  • Fructans / administration & dosage
  • Fructans / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / administration & dosage*
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Male
  • Mice, Hairless
  • Poloxamer / administration & dosage
  • Poloxamer / chemistry
  • Skin Aging / drug effects*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Dermal Fillers
  • Fructans
  • Hydrogels
  • Poloxamer
  • Collagen
  • levan
  • Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium