Recombinant Collagen Nucleic Acids for Virus-Mediated Dermal ECM Restoration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skincare products do not effectively address the structural changes underlying skin aging, particularly the loss of collagen, leading to wrinkles and skin sagging, and there is a need for alternative strategies to supplement or replace dermal extracellular matrix components.
Innovation Solution
Recombinant herpes viruses are engineered to express human collagen proteins, which can be administered topically or intradermally, effectively transducing human epidermal/dermal cells and localizing to the dermal ECM without significant host cell cytotoxicity, thereby supplementing or replacing natural human dermal ECM proteins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If dermal and subdermal injections of aesthetic facial fillers are used to treat wrinkles and skin folds, then the appearance of wrinkles is improved, but the structural changes underlying skin aging (damage or loss of collagen) are not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses recombinant viruses as intermediary carriers to deliver collagen-encoding nucleic acids directly into skin cells. The virus acts as a mediator between the external application and the internal cellular machinery, enabling the cells to produce their own collagen rather than simply filling wrinkles with external material.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables skin cells to self-produce collagen by providing them with the genetic instructions (nucleic acids) needed to synthesize collagen proteins internally. This self-service approach addresses the root cause of skin aging by restoring the cells' ability to produce structural proteins rather than merely masking symptoms.
2Quantity of substance
If collagen levels are increased to combat skin aging, then skin structure is improved, but the complexity of delivering and expressing functional collagen proteins in target tissues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recombinant virus serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a delivery vehicle (vector), provides the genetic blueprint for collagen synthesis, enables cellular uptake and expression mechanisms, and targets specific skin tissues. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate complex systems into a single integrated solution.
3Shape
If external filler injections are administered to improve skin appearance, then wrinkles are treated superficially, but the need for alternative strategies to supplement dermal ECM components arises
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding external material to fill wrinkles (outside-in approach), the invention works from the inside out by enabling skin cells to produce collagen internally. This inverted approach addresses the fundamental problem by restoring endogenous production rather than relying on exogenous fillers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The recombinant herpes viruses successfully express human collagen proteins in the dermal ECM, reducing the appearance of age-related wrinkles and improving skin texture, elasticity, and resilience.
Implementation Method 1
the recombinant, attenuated viruses described herein were capable of 1) effectively transducing human epidermal/dermal cells, and 2) successfully expressing the encoded exogenous human collagen (mRNA and protein)
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides recombinant nucleic acids comprising one or more polynucleotides encoding one or more cosmetic proteins (e.g., one or more human collagen proteins); viruses comprising the recombinant nucleic acids; compositions (e.g., cosmetic formulations) comprising the recombinant nucleic acids and/or viruses; methods of their use; and articles of manufacture or kits thereof.