Topical Application of Synthetic Melanin Promotes Tissue Repair

    November 2023 in “ npj Regenerative Medicine ”
    Dauren Biyashev, Zofia E. Siwicka, Venus Onay, Michael Demczuk, Dan Xu, Madison Ernst, S. Evans, Cuong V. Nguyen, Florencia A. Son, Navjit K. Paul, Naneki C. McCallum, Omar K. Farha, Stephen D. Miller, Nathan C. Gianneschi, Kurt Q. Lu
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    TLDR Synthetic melanin applied to skin speeds up wound healing.
    The study investigates the effects of synthetic melanin particles (SMPs) on tissue repair, particularly in the context of acute skin injuries. In mouse models, topical application of SMPs significantly improved healing by reducing edema, eschar detachment time, and wound area, compared to controls. These benefits were also observed in UV-injury models. The mechanism involves increased superoxide dismutase activity, decreased Mmp9 expression, and reduced ERK1/2 phosphorylation, alongside a shift in immune cell populations towards anti-inflammatory profiles. Enhanced antioxidant capacity was achieved using a High Surface Area SMP, further improving wound healing. In human skin explants, SMPs effectively reduced chemical injury damage, suggesting their potential as topical therapies for accelerated wound healing.
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