Peptide-containing nanoformulations: Skin barrier penetration and activity contribution

Advance in peptide-based drug development: delivery platforms, therapeutics and vaccines

The successful approval of peptide-based drugs can be attributed to a collaborative effort across multiple disciplines. The integration of novel drug design and synthesis techniques, display library technology, delivery systems, bioengineering advancements, and artificial intelligence have significantly expedited the development of groundbreaking peptide-based drugs, effectively addressing the obstacles associated with their character, such as the rapid clearance and degradation, necessitating subcutaneous injection leading to increasing patient discomfort, and ultimately advancing translational research efforts. Peptides are presently employed in the management and diagnosis of a diverse array of medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, weight loss, oncology, and rare diseases, and are additionally garnering interest in facilitating targeted drug delivery platforms and the advancement of peptide-based vaccines. This paper provides an overview of the present market and clinical trial progress of peptide-based therapeutics, delivery platforms, and vaccines. It examines the key areas of research in peptide-based drug development through a literature analysis and emphasizes the structural modification principles of peptide-based drugs, as well as the recent advancements in screening, design, and delivery technologies. The accelerated advancement in the development of novel peptide-based therapeutics, including peptide-drug complexes, new peptide-based vaccines, and innovative peptide-based diagnostic reagents, has the potential to promote the era of precise customization of disease therapeutic schedule.

Enhanced skin benefits of EGCG loaded in nonapeptide-1-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles to reverse skin photoaging

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a catechin present in green tea, has been studied extensively for its potential as a cosmetic ingredient due to its various biological properties. However, the low stability and bioavailability of EGCG have hindered its effective utilization in cosmetic applications. This study, to improve the stability and bioavailability of EGCG for reversing skin photo-aging, nonapeptide-1-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (EGCG@NP-MSN) were fabricated to load EGCG. MSNs can regulate the EGCG release and provide ultraviolet light (UV) protection to possess excellent photostability. Nonapeptide-1 exhibits melanin transfer interference properties and reduces the melanin content in treated skin areas. In vitro and in vivo results confirmed that the EGCG-loaded MSNs retained antioxidant properties, effectively scavenged the melanin and significantly reduced the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in skin cells exposed to UV irradiation. The melanin inhibition rate is 5.22 times and the tyrosinase inhibition rate is 1.57 times that of free EGCG. The utilization of this innovative platform offers the potential for enhanced stability, controlled release, and targeted action of EGCG, thereby providing significant advantages for skin application.This delivery system combines the advantages of antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-UV radiation properties, paving the way for the cosmetics development with improved efficacy and better performance in promoting skin health and appearance.

Therapeutic Potential of Nanocarrier Mediated Delivery of Peptides for Wound Healing: Current Status, Challenges and Future Prospective

Wound healing presents a complex physiological process that involves a sequence of events orchestrated by various cellular and molecular mechanisms. In recent years, there has been growing interest in leveraging nanomaterials and peptides to enhance wound healing outcomes. Nanocarriers offer unique properties such as high surface area-to-volume ratio, tunable physicochemical characteristics, and the ability to deliver therapeutic agents in a controlled manner. Similarly, peptides, with their diverse biological activities and low immunogenicity, hold great promise as therapeutics in wound healing applications. In this review, authors explore the potential of peptides as bioactive components in wound healing formulations, focusing on their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and pro-regenerative properties. Despite the significant progress made in this field, several challenges remain, including the need for standardized characterization methods, optimization of biocompatibility and safety profiles, and translation from bench to bedside. Furthermore, developing multifunctional nanomaterial-peptide hybrid systems represents promising avenues for future research. Overall, the integration of nanomaterials made up of natural or synthetic polymers with peptide-based formulations holds tremendous therapeutic potential in advancing the field of wound healing and improving clinical outcomes for patients with acute and chronic wounds.

Nanotechnology strategies to address challenges in topical and cellular delivery of siRNAs in skin disease therapy

Gene therapy is one of the most advanced therapies in current medicine. In particular, interference RNA-based therapy by small interfering RNA (siRNA) has gained attention in recent years as it is a highly versatile, selective and specific therapy. In dermatological conditions, topical delivery of siRNA offers numerous therapeutic advantages, mainly by inhibiting the expression of target transcripts directly in the skin. However, crossing the stratum corneum and overcoming intracellular barriers is an inherent challenge. Substantial efforts by scientists have moved towards the use of multimodal and multifunctional nanoparticles to overcome these barriers and achieve greater bioavailability in their site of action, the cytoplasm. In this review the most innovative strategies based on nanoparticle and physical methods are presented, as well as the design principles and the main factors that contribute to the performance of these systems. This review also highlights the synergistic contributions of medicine, nanotechnology, and molecular biology to advancing translational research into siRNA-based therapeutics for skin diseases.