Polycaprolactone
Pronunciation: pol-ee-KAP-roh-lak-tone
A long-lasting biodegradable polyester polymer used as a scaffold-stimulating dermal filler that promotes sustained neocollagenesis.
Full Definition
Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a semi-crystalline aliphatic polyester that degrades more slowly than polydioxanone or poly-L-lactic acid, offering a longer-duration biostimulatory effect typically lasting up to two years or more. In aesthetic dermatology, PCL microspheres suspended in a collagen-stimulating carrier are used as injectable biostimulators for facial and body contouring. Editors must distinguish polycaprolactone from other biostimulatory fillers by name, abbreviation, and mechanism of action, as conflation of PCL with PLLA or CaHA constitutes a clinical accuracy error. The abbreviation PCL should be defined at first use and is acceptable thereafter. Clinical manuscripts must accurately specify the PCL concentration and microsphere diameter where relevant, as these are material to outcomes data.
Usage
Usage note: Abbreviate as PCL after first full use; do not confuse with the surgical suture material of the same chemical name, which has different physical properties.
In Context
- "The investigational product contained polycaprolactone microspheres at a concentration of 200 mg/mL in a carboxymethylcellulose carrier gel." — Clinical trial investigational product description
- "The editor replaced 'PCL' with 'polycaprolactone (PCL)' at its first occurrence in the abstract." — Copy-editing abstract revision