Biocompatible ionic liquid self-assembled transdermal delivery system (P-M IL/AKE) for significantly improved skin photoaging and reduced wrinkles

Abstract

Most peptide drugs have good biological activity and safety, but their stability and permeability are poor, limiting their applications in the field of local drug delivery. Snake venom peptide (AKE) is a tripeptide with good anti-wrinkle effects, but its weak esterophilicity, poor penetration, and low bioavailability limit its full anti-wrinkle potential. To address this issue, a bioactive ionic liquid (P-M IL) was prepared and an efficient self-assembled peptide drug delivery system was constructed through AKE loading, which increased the cumulative absorption of AKE in the skin by more than five-fold, resulting in good biocompatibility. Further, P-M IL/AKE can significantly increase collagen protein secretion by human fibroblasts, improved skin photoaging and reduce the areas and volume of wrinkle in the eye tail lines. In addition, for the first time, quantum chemical calculations, homology modeling, molecular docking and binding free energy calculations were used to analyze the structural stability of the system, construct the 3D model, explore the interaction mode and reveal the theoretical basis of anti-wrinkle effect. Therefore, this supramolecular self-assembled transdermal drug delivery system has potential advantages, providing a novel approach for the highly efficient and non-invasive delivery of peptide drugs.