Noninvasive and Efficient Peptide Delivery by a Novel Biocompatible Ionic Liquid

Abstract

The application of bioactive polypeptides has become a challenge in the pharmaceutical industry. Copper glycyl-histidine-tripeptide (GHK-Cu) exerts various biological effects, including antioxidation, promotion of cell proliferation, and enhancement of repair. However, its clinical application is restricted by its hydrophilicity and severe demands with respect to the delivery conditions. Therefore, for the purpose of its application and of resolving the existing issues of GHK-Cu, we designed and developed a new local delivery system based on green ionic liquids (ILs) by combining the density functional theory (DFT) and adequate experiments. The system integrates the advantages of the ILs and GHK-Cu, which not only stabilizes GHK-Cu and greatly enhances its transdermal absorption rate but also has a synergistic amplification effect. Cell and animal experiments show encouraging effects on cell proliferation, antioxidation, and collagen synthesis, whereas human efficacy tests show the benefits of improving skin repair ability and antiaging, antiwrinkle, and moisturizing properties. The bio-based ILs system developed in this study provides a simple and efficient method for the clinical application of GHK-Cu and a novel method for the application of polypeptides.

Ionic liquid functionalized metal–organic framework nanowires for sensitive and real-time electrochemical monitoring of nitric oxide released from living cells

“…Previous reports showed that enzymes of widely divergent types can maintain their activities in ILs or aqueous biphasic IL systems. 21,22 ILs have also been used in electrochemical biosensors, 23 drug delivery 24 and cancer treatment. 25 In addition, ILs can be tuned to improve one or several of their properties by combining appropriate ions or by functionalizing their organic moieties.…”

Lysine‐Based Ionic Liquid Enables Peptides to Reverse Skin Photoaging: From Leaves to Roots

“…Transdermal delivery entails the delivery of drugs through dermal absorption to the site of action to achieve systemic or local therapeutic effects for the prevention or treatment of diseases. [ 12 ] Compared with other modalities, dermal absorption has many advantages, such as increased patient compliance, continuous drug release to increase and maintain blood concentrations, and avoiding first‐pass metabolism that protects sensitive drugs from adverse conditions in the gastrointestinal tract and reduces gastrointestinal irritation. [ 13 ] A major obstacle to transdermal drug delivery is the skin itself, whose outermost dense stratum corneum (SC) consists of keratin‐rich cells embedded in multiple lipid bilayers, and whose low permeability severely limits the transmission of most drug molecules.…”