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Published on: February 25, 2021
Systematical method for polyacrylamide and residual acrylamide detection in cosmetic surgery products and example
Yuanfeng Wang1, Ran Du, Tianshui Yu
1China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China. judie0505@gmail.com
Science & Justice : Journal of the Forensic Science Society
|August 14, 2013
Summary
A new method accurately detects acrylamide in cosmetic fillers, identifying polyacrylamide in a suspected Restylane® injection. This analysis confirms poisoning from banned substances used in cosmetic surgery.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Presents a case of suspected acrylamide poisoning following cosmetic surgery.
- The patient received an injection of a product purported to be Restylane®, an FDA-approved dermal filler.
- Delayed facial infections led to suspicion of non-approved polyacrylamide hydrogel injection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a systematic method for identifying cosmetic surgery products.
- To detect and quantify residual acrylamide in suspected counterfeit dermal fillers.
- To differentiate between approved hyaluronic acid fillers and prohibited polyacrylamide hydrogels.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic examination for morphological characteristics.
- Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy for polymer identification.
- Optimized Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) coupled with Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) for acrylamide detection.
Main Results:
- Microscopy and FTIR successfully distinguished different polymer types.
- UHPLC method showed linearity (0.5-20.0μg/mL), high recovery (99-107%), and low detection limit (0.1μg/mL).
- Acrylamide was definitively detected in the sample identified as Restylane®.
Conclusions:
- The developed method enables rapid, accurate, and sensitive determination of polyacrylamide and residual acrylamide.
- Microscopic and FTIR analyses provide quick verification of polyacrylamide presence.
- The optimized SPE UHPLC-TUV method offers a sensitive and simplified approach for acrylamide quantification.
