5-fluorouracil + sodium hyaluronate + microneedling

5-fluorouracil + sodium hyaluronate + microneedling (often abbreviated as 5-FU + SHS + MUCA) is an investigational combination therapy designed for the treatment of hypertrophic scars. The therapy utilizes a spreadable sodium hyaluronate-based hydrogel (SHS) as a high-efficiency transdermal drug delivery system for the antimetabolite 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The delivery process is enhanced by microneedling (referred to as MUCA in clinical trial contexts), which creates micro-channels in the skin to facilitate deeper and more uniform penetration of the 5-FU formulation. The active pharmaceutical ingredient, 5-fluorouracil, works by inhibiting thymidylate synthase, an enzyme essential for DNA synthesis. This inhibition suppresses the excessive proliferation of fibroblasts and the overproduction of collagen, which are the primary drivers of hypertrophic scar formation. This therapeutic approach is currently being evaluated in clinical trials led by researchers at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University and Xiamen University.

Other names

5-fluorouracil + sodium hyaluronate + Mucaine5-FU + SHS + MUCA therapy