PN (Polynucleotide)
This document is technical information about materials. It does not recommend any procedure or product.
In brief
A DNA-derived biopolymer of the same family as PDRN, distinguished in the review literature by chain length and molecular weight. Reviews attribute extracellular matrix remodelling to the longer fragments that define PN, in contrast to the receptor-level activity attributed to the shorter PDRN fragments. The two names are frequently used interchangeably in practice despite that separation.
Regulatory identity by market
COS cosmetic · MD medical device · RX drug · — not established in public sources
Identity & physical properties
| Synonyms | Polynucleotide, PN, Long-chain polynucleotide |
|---|---|
| Family | Nucleotide-derived agent |
| Morphology | Injectable preparation rather than a particulate scaffold |
| Molecular weight | Reviews describe the PDRN and PN family as spanning roughly 50 to 1500 kDa, with PN sitting at the longer end and recent work extending the range further |
Mechanism
Reviews attribute a role in extracellular matrix remodelling to the longer fragments, separating this from the adenosine receptor activity attributed to shorter fragments in the same family. Nucleotide supply to the salvage pathway is described for the family as a whole.
Evidence
| PMID | Study type | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 39645667 | review | Systematic review of the effectiveness of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine |
| 39125793 | review | Review of current practices and perceived effectiveness of polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine |
| 39858543 | review | Review bridging scientific definitions of PDRN and PN, covering molecular weight range and terminology |
| 32248707 | RCT | Randomised comparison of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid in periocular rejuvenation |
Regulatory identity — detail
| Market | Classification | Note | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| KR | unclassified | Unlike the particulate biostimulators on this site, nucleotide-derived agents are marketed in more than one regulatory lane and the route differs with presentation and intended use. A single classification could not be established from public sources as of the revision date below. | — |
| EU | unclassified | Public sources describe both nationally authorised medicinal products and CE-marked devices containing nucleotide-derived agents, so no single classification holds across the market. Not established as of the revision date below. | — |
| US | unclassified | Not established from public sources as of the revision date below. | — |
| JP | unclassified | Not established from public sources as of the revision date below. | — |
| CN | unclassified | Not established from public sources as of the revision date below. | — |
| VN | unclassified | Not established from public sources as of the revision date below. | — |
Limitations & open questions
PN and PDRN are separated in the review literature by molecular weight, yet product labelling and clinical discussion frequently treat them as one material, so a finding reported under one name may have been obtained with the other. Source organism and degree of purification differ between preparations and are not always stated. Literature searches in this area return several retracted papers among the highest-ranked results, including a phase III randomised trial, so the record status of any citation in this field should be checked at source before it is relied on.
All statements on this page are drawn from the cited literature. Where a market’s regulatory classification could not be established from public sources, it is marked as not established rather than inferred.
The distinction the literature makes and the market does not
Reviews separate PN from PDRN on molecular weight and attribute different primary activity to each. Product discussion generally does not maintain that separation. This means a claim encountered under one name may rest on evidence generated with the other, and the only way to tell is to open the citation and check which material was studied.
Verify the record before citing
This field carries an unusual density of retracted publications. A search restricted to polynucleotides in aesthetic medicine returns retracted items among its top results, one of them a phase III randomised trial. That does not indict the material; it means the normal step of confirming a paper’s current status is not optional here.