Sterile Filtration: The "Invisible Guardian" of Hyaluronic Acid in Aesthetic Medicine Products

Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a linear polysaccharide composed of repeating disaccharide units of N-acetylglucosamine and glucuronic acid. As a key component of the extracellular matrix, hyaluronic acid typically exists in the form of its sodium salt—commonly referred to as sodium hyaluronate. It occurs naturally in the human body, particularly in the skin, joints, and eyes, and is widely distributed in tissues such as articular cartilage.

With the rapid growth of the medical aesthetics industry, injectable products such as skin boosters and hyaluronic acid fillers have become increasingly popular choices among consumers seeking aesthetic enhancement. However, these products are injected directly into the human body. If contaminated with bacteria or other microorganisms, they may cause local reactions such as redness, swelling, and infection, and in severe cases, even lead to systemic infections with serious consequences.

Therefore, before these products are injected into the skin, there is a critical step that directly determines their safety: sterile filtration.

The production of traditional sodium hyaluronate finished products has long relied on high-temperature sterilization. However, this approach has significant drawbacks—elevated temperatures can easily cause breakage of the hyaluronic acid molecular chains and reduce biological activity, making it difficult to meet the stringent requirements of high-end pharmaceutical products.

Advantages of sterile filtration:

• Preserves product activity: Avoids thermal damage to active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid
• Maintains molecular structure: Protects the molecular integrity of functional components, ensuring therapeutic efficacy

Sterile filtration is a critical step in the production of hyaluronic acid, directly impacting the safety and quality of the final product.

Cobetter DPSHSL series, DPSTF series, PME series, and LHPVND series sterile filters demonstrate excellent loading capacity and flow performance in hyaluronic acid sterile filtration applications.

Case Study 1: Sterile Filtration of Sodium Hyaluronate Solution Using Cobetter  DPSHSL Series Filter

Feed solution: 1.2% sodium hyaluronate, 3.5% sodium hyaluronate

Molecular weight: 200–600 kDa
Test method: Vmax
Filtration pressure: 2 bar
Filter setup: Single-stage filtration using DPSHSL6522

Case Study 2: Sterile Filtration of Sodium Hyaluronate Solution Using Cobetter  DPSTF Series Filter

Feed solution: 0.3% sodium hyaluronate, 0.5% sodium hyaluronate
Molecular weight: 700–2300 kDa
Test method: Vmax
Filtration pressure: 1 bar
Filter setup: Single-stage filtration using DPSTF0022

Case Study 3: Sterile Filtration of Sodium Hyaluronate Solution Using Cobetter  PME + DPSTF Series Filter

Feed solution: 0.3% - 0.5% sodium hyaluronate
Molecular weight: 820–1750 kDa
Test method: Vmax
Filtration pressure: 2 bar
Filter setup: Three-stage filtration (PMES + DPSTF0022 + DPSTF0022)

Case Study 4: Sterile Filtration of Sodium Hyaluronate Solution Using Cobetter  LHPVND Series Filter

Feed solution: Recombinant collagen and sodium hyaluronate mixture solution
Molecular weight: 1000kDa, 1500 kDa
Test method: Vmax
Filtration pressure: 2 bar
Filter setup: Two-stage filtration (LHPVND0045 + LHPVND0022)

Cobetter prefiltration and sterile filters are widely used in the R&D and manufacturing of sodium hyaluronate projects both domestically and internationally. Their excellent fouling resistance, broad chemical compatibility, low adsorption, and higher filtration capacity have been highly recognized by customers.