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Updated: May 19, 2026

Recombinant Collagen I Peptide Microcarriers for Cell Expansion and Their Potential Use As Cell Delivery System in a Bioreactor Model
Published on: February 7, 2018
Dermal peptide delivery using enhancer molecules and colloidal carrier systems--part I: carnosine
A S B Goebel1, G Schmaus, R H H Neubert
1Faculty of Biosciences, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany.
Topical drug delivery of hydrophilic compounds like L-carnosine is challenging. Adding 1,2-pentylene glycol (PG) to formulations significantly enhanced skin penetration of these peptides.
Area of Science:
- Dermal drug delivery and formulation science.
Background:
- The stratum corneum's lipophilic nature impedes topical drug penetration, especially for hydrophilic molecules.
- Achieving therapeutic concentrations of hydrophilic drugs like L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-carnosine on the skin is difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To enhance the topical bioavailability of L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-carnosine.
- To investigate the efficacy of 1,2-pentylene glycol (PG) as an enhancer and a microemulsion (ME-PG) system for improving peptide skin penetration.
Main Methods:
- Ex vivo human skin penetration studies were conducted comparing three formulations: standard, standard with PG, and ME-PG.
- Dermal penetration, localization, and distribution of L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-carnosine were analyzed in different skin layers.
Main Results:
- Formulations containing 1,2-pentylene glycol (PG) significantly increased L-carnosine and N-acetyl-L-carnosine concentrations in the stratum corneum and viable skin layers (up to 6-fold increase).
- High peptide concentrations were observed in viable skin layers shortly after application of the PG-enhanced formulation.
- The microemulsion system (ME-PG) did not improve N-acetyl-L-carnosine penetration compared to standard formulations.
Conclusions:
- 1,2-pentylene glycol (PG) is an effective enhancer for improving the dermal penetration of hydrophilic dipeptides like L-carnosine.
- Standard formulations with PG demonstrate superior delivery of these peptides into the skin compared to microemulsion systems.
- Further optimization of microemulsion systems may be needed for effective delivery of hydrophilic compounds.
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