Cosmetics toward peptide-based cosmeceutics
ANNA MARIA PAPINI
Member of Chimica Oggi / Chemistry Today’s Scientific advisory board
Peptides as mini-proteins are able to represent thebiologically active part which could be used as ingredientinvolved in skin processes. This is possible if the entire proteinbiological activity, and/or its functional tridimensionalstructure limiting possible toxic side-effects is maintaineddue to the presence of specific amino acids. Proteinscommunicate by peptides and also by those organicmolecules present on the side chains of amino acids,the so called co- or post-translational modifications suchas sugars, lipids etc. It is evident that in this context thesynthesis, purification and characterisation of modifiedamino acids, peptides, and semi-synthetic mini-proteins byinnovative methodologies will give a fundamental contribution to peptide-based cosmetics. ...