The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Injectable dermal fillers have attracted significant attention for tissue augmentation. However, conventional particulate fillers suffer from high injection force, risk of vascular occlusion, and limited moldability. Here, we report a photo-responsive liquid dermal filler based on photocrosslinkable hyaluronic acid (HA) that enables in situ hydrogel formation upon short, non-toxic visible light exposure. This HA photofiller exhibits low viscosity, allowing facile injection with a low force (<8 N) through a 34-gauge needle. The mechanical properties of the cured hydrogel can be precisely tuned by adjusting polymer concentration. For enhanced regenerative potential, a growth factor for collagen biosynthesis was incorporated, resulting in increased COL1A1 expression in dermal fibroblasts. In vivo mouse studies demonstrated excellent stability of HA photofiller, with over 90% volume retention at 28 days, minimal inflammatory response, and enhanced collagen deposition. Thus, this photo-responsive HA photofiller represents a promising dual-action dermal filler that combines on-demand gelation with regenerative functionality.