A peptide carrier for the delivery of elastin into fibroblast cells.
BACKGROUND
Transmembrane delivery of active peptides and proteins, including skin delivery of cosmeceutical proteins such as collagen and elastin, has been a challenging issue. Amphipathic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been proposed as carrier peptides to mediate cellular uptake of proteins without covalent binding.


METHODS
In this study, we have used a short peptide, Pep-1, as our CPP to transport elastin into fibroblast cells. Different ratios of Pep-1/elastin complexes were produced by using a fixed amount of elastin and different molar ratio of Pep-1. The ability of transduction into cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy. The characteristics of Pep-1/elastin complexes were monitored using scanning electron microscopy and photon correlation spectroscopy.


RESULTS
No cellular toxicity was observed in cells treated with Pep-1/elastin complex. Finally, we determined a Pep-1 : elastin ratio of 10 : 1 as the most effective ratio in cellular delivery of elastin.


CONCLUSIONS
Pep-1 mediated fast and effective delivery of elastin as a cosmetic protein into fibroblast cells in the treatment of skin-aging symptoms.
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Saman Ahmad
SA
Nasrollahi
Shamileh
S
Fouladdel
Changiz
C
Taghibiglou
Ebrahim
E
Azizi
Effat Sadat
ES
Farboud
D000818:Animals; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D003543:Cysteamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D004549:Elastin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D021381:Protein Transport
D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; C503924:Pep-1 peptide; D010455:Peptides; D003543:Cysteamine; D004549:Elastin