Abstract: 

The invention herein disclosed relates to peptide-ionic liquid (PIL) conjugates for the prevention and/or treatment of skin disorders, a topical composition comprising the same and uses thereof.

Background: 

Treating complicated skin and soft tissue infections requires new antimicrobial options and healing-promoting agents. For that, ionic liquids present relevant antimicrobial activity and act as dermal permeation enhancers. Moreover, cosmeceutical peptides promote fast skin regeneration by stimulating extracellular matrix production. Peptide-ionic liquid (PIL) chemical conjugates presented herein induce collagen biosynthesis, highly relevant in wound healing, and present antibacterial (including against multidrug-resistant isolates) and antifungal activity in vitro. By integrating ionic liquid and peptide building blocks, PIL are likely to present efficient dermal and transdermal delivery and less prone to induce microbial resistance.

Chemical conjugation originating PIL follows a simple synthetic approach prospectively cost-effective at an industrial scale. The uses of novel PIL include but are not limited to the prevention and/or treatment of skin disorders, such as diabetic foot ulcers, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Benefits: 

Single product combining microbicidal, wound-healing, pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities; Novel approach to chemical conjugation of peptides and ionic liquids; Cost-effective production at an industrial scale; Low probability of inducing microbial resistance.

Potential comercial use/applications: 

Prospective Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) suitable for topical compositions to prevent and/or treat skin disorders, including those with increased risk of infection.