Abstract
Reduced amounts of collagen and fragmented collagen fibers are characteristics of aging skin. Recently, user-friendly, at-home personal aesthetic devices using light-emitting diode (LED) light have been used for cost-effective and safe skin improvement. However, to dramatically improve the skin via collagen repair, we need to develop an LED-responsive photosensitizer. Corneal collagen crosslinking uses ultraviolet light to activate riboflavin phosphate (RFP) and is used in ophthalmology. RFP is a biocompatible photosensitizer derived from vitamin B2. This study aimed to prove that RFP combined with blue light (BL) can increase collagen crosslinking density, improving its mechanical properties in skin tissue and enhancing skin elasticity. We confirmed the RFP-induced photo-crosslinking in pure collagen by studying changes in its dynamic modulus and matrix morphology using collagen hydrogels. We also measured the changes in the mechanical properties after applying photo-crosslinking on porcine skin. The Young’s modulus (1.07 ± 0.12 MPa) and tensile strength (11.04 ± 1.06 MPa) of the porcine skin after photo-crosslinking were 2.8 and 3.5 times better compared to those of normal porcine skin, respectively. Thus, photo-crosslinking through RFP and BL irradiation can be potentially used for skin improvement using aesthetic LED devices.
Highlights
After blue light (BL) irradiation, the collagen formed a white, turbid hydrogel, which remained fixed at the bottom of the vial without flowing, confirming the crosslinking of collagen by BL-activated riboflavin phosphate (RFP)
We applied RFP-induced photo-crosslinking to the skin to increase its tensile strength and elasticity
We modified the corneal crosslinking method used in ophthalmology to increase the collagen crosslinking density of the cornea by using a BL light-emitting diode (LED) instead of UV light to make it safer for the skin
Summary
Skin aging manifests as wrinkles, pigmentation, telangiectasia, and loss of elasticity. Several methods have been used to promote collagen biosynthesis and remodel the dermal layer to restore the aging collagen matrix, including applying retinoic acid, dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and ablative laser therapy [2,3,4,5]. These methods require intensive post-treatment care and prolonged downtime because of the possibility of complications such as erythema, pain, infection, burns, pigmentation, and scarring [6,7,8]. We need to develop safer and more effective alternative rejuvenation procedures that overcome the limitations of the existing methods
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