INTRODUCTION
The evolution of site-specific cell-targeted drug delivery systems chemically programmed to bind with a single cellular receptor have recently emerged as enablers toward delivering topical skin therapy. New technologies now afford the opportunity to promote enhanced skin repair by employing cell-targeted biodelivery systems capable of delivering therapeutic bioactive constituents to specific cellular receptors that minimize off-target delivery to maximize treatment efficacy of skin dyspigmentation conditions.
An array of technologies has been employed over the last century to interfere at various stages of the melanogenesis process to mitigate melanin production. The prevailing limitation with these existing technologies resides in their non-specific and off-targeting characteristics that limits efficacy. Therefore, it could be envisioned that technologies that can directly target the melanocyte to suppress melanocyte hyperactivity could provide for a more effective treatment method toward addressing skin dyspigmentation issues. The recent scientific advancement of a cell-targeted encapsulation technology that binds solely to the melanocortin 1 (MC1) receptors of melanocyte cells due to the presence of site-specific surface ligands affords such an opportunity to overcome off-target delivery. The technology exclusively binds with the MC1 receptors to deliver melanogenesis suppressing bioactive constituents directly into melanocyte cells through endocytosis, where the encapsulate is then metabolized within the melanocytes to release a bioactive peptide that suppresses tyrosinase expression.1
Structural changes occur to the melanocytes in photoaged skin, including nuclear heterogeneity, abundant cytoplasmic organelles, and elongation of dendrites.2 This research demonstrates the effectiveness of a cell-targeted encapsulated technology that targets the MC1 receptor to down-regulate melanogenesis in human skin, disregarding any changes that may occur to the melanocytes due to intrinsic or extrinsic aging.
An array of technologies has been employed over the last century to interfere at various stages of the melanogenesis process to mitigate melanin production. The prevailing limitation with these existing technologies resides in their non-specific and off-targeting characteristics that limits efficacy. Therefore, it could be envisioned that technologies that can directly target the melanocyte to suppress melanocyte hyperactivity could provide for a more effective treatment method toward addressing skin dyspigmentation issues. The recent scientific advancement of a cell-targeted encapsulation technology that binds solely to the melanocortin 1 (MC1) receptors of melanocyte cells due to the presence of site-specific surface ligands affords such an opportunity to overcome off-target delivery. The technology exclusively binds with the MC1 receptors to deliver melanogenesis suppressing bioactive constituents directly into melanocyte cells through endocytosis, where the encapsulate is then metabolized within the melanocytes to release a bioactive peptide that suppresses tyrosinase expression.1
Structural changes occur to the melanocytes in photoaged skin, including nuclear heterogeneity, abundant cytoplasmic organelles, and elongation of dendrites.2 This research demonstrates the effectiveness of a cell-targeted encapsulated technology that targets the MC1 receptor to down-regulate melanogenesis in human skin, disregarding any changes that may occur to the melanocytes due to intrinsic or extrinsic aging.
