Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
Sabrina Sommatis
UB-CARE S.r.l.-Spin-off University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Cristina Maccario
UB-CARE S.r.l.-Spin-off University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Maria Chiara Capillo
UB-CARE S.r.l.-Spin-off University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Giulia Grimaldi
UB-CARE S.r.l.-Spin-off University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Giuseppe Alonci
Department of Research and Development, Matex Lab Switzerland SA, 1228 Geneve, Switzerland
Raffaele Rauso
Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Stefania Guida
Dermatology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy
Roberto Mocchi
UB-CARE S.r.l.-Spin-off University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
(1) Background: Injectable hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers are used in several chirurgical practices and in aesthetic medicine. HA filler stability can be enhanced through different cross-linking technologies; one of the most frequently cross-linker used is 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE), also present in the HA-BDDE dermal filler family of the company Matex Lab S.p.A. (Brindisi, Italy). Our overview is focused on their characterization, drawing a correlation between matrix structure, rheological and physicochemical properties related to their cross-linking technologies. (2) Methods: Four different injectable HA hydrogels were characterized through optical microscopic examination and rheological behavior investigation. (3) Results: The cross-linked HA dermal fillers showed a fibrous “spiderweb-like” matrix structure and an elastic and solid-like profile. (4) Conclusions: The comparative analysis represents a preliminary characterization of these injectable medical devices in order to identify their best field of application.
