Synthesis, characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides

The present work describes the synthesis, characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides: Boc-Phe-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S1), Boc-^D Phe-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S2), Boc-Ala-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S3), Boc-^D Ala-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S4), Boc-Leu-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S5), and Boc-^D Leu-γ⁴ -Phe-Val-OMe (S6). Peptides S1-S6 were screened against human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and RAW 264.7 cells. Among all, S1- and S2-treated cells exhibited high cell viability; S1 and S2 induced keratinocyte migration and inhibited the production of the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. In vivo results demonstrated that the hybrid peptides S1 and S2 accelerate wound healing in Wistar rats with 83% and 88% at 50 μg/ml, and 74% and 76% at 25 μg/ml, respectively.