Potentiating cutaneous wound healing in young and aged skin with nutraceutical collagen peptides

Abstract

Background. Chronic wounds continue to be a burden to healthcare systems, with ageing linked to increased prevalence of chronic wound development. Nutraceutical collagen peptides have been shown to reduce signs of skin ageing, but their therapeutic potential for cutaneous wound healing remains undefined. Aim. To determine the potential for nutraceutical collagen peptides to promote cutaneous wound healing in vitro in the context of age. Methods. The potential for bovine-or porcine-derived nutraceutical collagen peptides to promote wound healing of primary cutaneous fibroblasts and keratinocytes derived from young and aged individuals in vitro was assessed by two-dimensional scratch and cell-viability assays and by immunofluorescence for the cell proliferation marker, Ki67. The achievement of peptide concentrations in vivo, equivalent to those exerting a beneficial effect on wound healing in vitro, was confirmed by pharmacokinetic studies of hydroxyproline, a biomarker for collagen peptide absorption, following peptide ingestion by healthy individuals over a wide age range. Results. Results demonstrated significant nutraceutical collagen peptide-induced wound closure of both young and aged fibroblasts and keratinocytes, mediated by enhanced cellular proliferation and migration. Analysis of blood levels of hydroxy proline in young and aged individuals following porcine collagen peptide ingestion revealed peak serum/plasma levels after 2 h at similar concentrations to those exerting beneficial effects on wound healing in vitro. Conclusion. These data demonstrate the capacity for nutraceutical collagen peptides to promote cutaneous wound closure in vitro, at pharmacologically achievable concentrations in vivo, thereby offering a potential novel therapeutic strategy for the management of cutaneous wounds in young and aged individuals.

Biomarkers of aging

“…With age, impaired secretion of sweat glands along with reduced vasodilation of dermal arterioles and the loss of subcutaneous fat led to thermoregulation disorders (Ding et al, 2021b;Lazarus et al, 2019). Repair processes of collagen remodeling, cell proliferation, and wound metabolism in the elderly were shown to be delayed (Kenney et al, 2021;Mistry et al, 2021). Furthermore, a more pronounced inflammatory phenotype has been uncovered in aged skin wounds, featured by the persistence of neutrophils and a higher abundance of inflammatory macrophage subsets compared to younger counterparts (Kenney et al, 2021;Vu et al, 2022).…”

Collagen-Based Therapies for Accelerated Wound Healing

“…This hydrogel demonstrated exceptional mechanical strength and facilitated both cell infiltration and wound healing. Mistry et al [114] investigated the potential of nutraceutical collagen peptides for cutaneous wound healing. Their findings revealed that significant wound closure was achieved in both young and aged fibroblasts via increased cellular proliferation and migration.…”

Porcine‐derived collagen peptides promote re‐epithelialisation through activation of integrin signalling

“…Bioactive peptides generated from the hydrolysis of collagen, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein found within animal skin and bones have shown potential for promoting cutaneous wound healing, with preliminary studies demonstrating enhanced wound closure through the promotion of cellular proliferation 3–6 . However, the mechanisms by which collagen peptides promote cutaneous wound healing remain undefined, thus limiting their translational potential.…”