Efficacy and safety of polynucleotides in esthetic medicine: A systematic review and metaanalysis

Torres-García S.Y.; Vásquez-Tirado G.A.; Bardales-Zuta V.H.; Torres-García G.P.; García-Pablo N.R.; Zarate-Gamarra M.A.; Moncada-Gutiérrez D. · Piel (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.piel.2025.09.005

Resumen

Introduction Polynucleotides (PNs) are biological chains with regenerative properties that have gained prominence in esthetic medicine due to their ability to stimulate fibroblasts and improve dermal quality. Despite their increasing use, comparative clinical evidence versus conventional treatments such as hyaluronic acid (HA) or polycaprolactone (PCL) remains limited and scattered. This review aims to evaluate the current scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of polynucleotides in esthetic medicine. Materials and methods A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Randomized clinical trials in humans were searched in the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library and Embase databases from April 2015 to April 2025. Results Five clinical trials involving a total of 315 patients were included. Compared to placebo, PN showed statistically significant improvements in scar texture, dermal elasticity, and skin hydration (p < 0.05). When compared to HA, PN yielded similar overall esthetic outcomes but showed superior performance in objective parameters such as roughness reduction and pore volume. Studies comparing PN to PCL demonstrated mixed results; one favored PN, while another showed significantly better results with PCL in dynamic wrinkles. A meta-analysis of two studies was performed (Jeon, 2019, Choi, 2025) without significant differences. All included studies reported excellent safety profiles, with only mild and transient adverse events and no serious complications. Conclusion Polynucleotides appear to be a safe and effective therapeutic option for cutaneous regeneration in esthetic dermatology. They show promising results both as monotherapy and as adjuvants. Nonetheless, further large-scale and long-term studies are needed to confirm their comparative efficacy and optimize clinical protocols.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad Privada Antenor Orrego; Universidad Científica del Perú