An Artificially Designed Elastin-like Recombinant Polypeptide Improves Aging Skin

Background: As a substrate for cell growth, elastin can promote the regeneration and remodeling of the epidermis, which plays an important role in delaying skin aging. However, elastin proteins are more than 700 amino acids long and cannot be absorbed through the skin, which prevents the direct utilization of elastin in the prevention and treatment of aging skin.

Methods: We designed an elastin-like recombinant polypeptide (ELR) which could be absorbed through the skin based on the property of hexapeptide VGVAPG. Thirty healthy Chinese Han female participants which met the criteria were enrolled in this study and all of them completed the tests including elasticity, tightness, and wrinkle detection. The participants used this polypeptide for 4 weeks and were tested in three visits: one day before trial started (D0), and 14 and 28 days after the trial (D14 and D28, respectively). Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon signed-rank tests for non-parametric measures were used to determine the difference between D0 and D14, or D0 and D28.

Results: The skin elasticity level in the thirty participants was significantly increased after using ELR for 28 days (P=0.024), and the average value of skin firmness (Uf) declined from 3.313 (D0) to 3.292 (D14) and 3.265 (D28), although there was no statistically significant difference between treatment and pre-treatment. Furthermore, the wrinkle count (D14: P<0.001; D28: P<0.001), wrinkles volume (D14: P<0.001; D28: P=0.008), and wrinkles area (D14: P<0.001; D28: P<0.001) of Crow's feet were significantly improved by using ELR for 14 days or 28 days.

Conclusion: Continuous use of ELR could significantly improve skin elasticity and reduce wrinkles.