Biotech company develops anti-aging molecule

By Simon Pitman

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags Skin cells Skin

Canada-based biotechnology company ProtoKinetix says it has
developed a family of synthetic anti-freeze glycoproteins which it
says can provide anti-inflamation, anti-aging and UV protection for
a variety of skin care applications.

Called AAGP, the company says it has dedicated its commercial development of the molecules to the cosmetics industry, as well as for human medicine and the biotechnology industry.

ProtoKinetix says that continued research into the molecules is showing rapid progress in the area of skin care, for which it can now cite published research on native antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins.

Most recently the company says a letter has been published from scientists at ITTEC Stem laboratories regarding specific research that highlights the technology's application in the anti-aging arena.

The letter claims that studies conducted by the laboratories have clearly demonstrated the UV protective capacity and anti-aging qualities of AAGP, which has proved that it is particulalry effective at protecting skin cells under UV exposure.

"Interestingly, the latest exposure experiments suggest that AAGP may not only be protecting cells from UV light but may also be acting at a molecular level to possibly induce repair of damaged cells,"​ the letter said.

ITTEC scientists Sammer Hussein and Michael Palumbo claim that their most recent data shows that when skin cells with AAGP are firstly exposed to UV light, and then other skin cells are exposed to UV light and AAGP is added afterwards, the skin cell advantage is claimed to be similar.

This indicates that AAGP can both protect and repair skin cells, opening up a broad specturm of possibilities in the skin care category.

Likewise, those skin cells that had been treated with AAGP were still said to be viable even eight days after the UV exposure, whereas other control skin cells were not.

"The fact that cells survived in the AAGP treated cells - even when treated only after UV exposure - and that viability was maintained even after the harsh cellular conditions suggests AAGP may be acting at the molecular level, as a signalling molecule, to protect and potentially repair cells or promote their survival,"​ the letter further stated.

The patented molecules were created in partnership with INSA, University of Rouen, France, and have been awarded the Francinov medal for chemistry.

The company says that the next step will be to get cosmetics companies and their ingredients suppliers involved in conducting evaluations of the AAGP molecules for specific skin care applicatons.

Related topics Formulation & Science Skin Care

Related news

Show more

Related products

show more

Collagen Reimagined, Discover Biodesigned Type XXI

Collagen Reimagined, Discover Biodesigned Type XXI

Content provided by Geltor | 20-Mar-2024 | Product Brochure

Collagen is the body’s most abundant protein and a mainstream ingredient for beauty. Type XXI collagen transcends a common protein into a powerful bioactive

Empowering natural barrier function for future-proof skin

Empowering natural barrier function for future-proof skin

Content provided by Lucas Meyer Cosmetics | 14-Mar-2024 | White Paper

Corneopeptyl™ is a new patented peptide biomimetic to the LCE6A protein, obtained by green chemistry-based synthesis. By mimicking the LCE6A protein activity,...

Get your skin ready for summer

Get your skin ready for summer

Content provided by Robertet Health & Beauty | 27-Jun-2023 | Product Brochure

Sunbathing at the beach is the first UV-related skin damage that comes to mind. Whereas, enjoying a coffee on a terrace under the sun can be as harmful.

Related suppliers

Follow us

Products

View more

Podcast

Beauty 4.0 Podcast