Patent Picks—Copper-bound Botanicals, Skin Pigment Regulation, Antioxidants and More

By: Rachel Grabenhofer, C&T magazine

Posted: October 6, 2010

page 4 of 6

This invention discloses compositions and method for treating various types of skin disorders based on topical cutaneous delivery of copper chemically bound with botanical pigments. Sodium-copper-chlorophyllin is used as an example, showing benefits in the treatment of rosacea, acne, oily skin, enlarged pores and in relieving skin inflammation. Benefits are also disclosed in treatment of environmentally caused premature skin aging via reductions in fine facial lines and wrinkles, increased tensile strength of the skin, and increased protection against sunlight via increased production of melanin. Therapeutic outcomes are improved when the copper-pigment complex is enclosed within submicron liposomes.

Foxn1 and Pigmentation
US Patent Application 20100247627
Publication date: Sept. 30, 2010
Assignee: The General Hospital Corp., a Massachusetts corporation

The present invention provides methods and compositions for modulating skin pigmentation. The invention is based on the inventors' discovery that the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway is important for the maintenance and/or appearance of skin. In particular, the inventors have found that the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway modulates skin color, e.g., pigmentation. Therefore, the inventors have identified the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway as a target for screening, diagnostic and treatment methods for the modulation of skin color/pigmentation.

Accordingly, in one respect, the invention features a method for identifying an agent that modulates pigmentation. The method includes identifying an agent that increases or decreases, permanently or temporarily, the expression, activity or levels of a component of the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway and correlating the ability of an agent to modulate Foxn1 expression, levels or activity with the ability to modulate skin color.

An agent that increases Foxn1 signaling to thereby increase pigmentation can be, for example: a) a polypeptide component of the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway, or a functional fragment or variant thereof; b) a peptide or protein agonist or antagonist of a component of the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway; c) a small molecule that modulates expression of a component of the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway; d) a chemical, organic, naturally occurring or synthetic organic compound that modulates expression of a component of the Foxn1 signal transduction pathway; e) a nucleotide sequence encoding a Foxn1 signal transduction pathway polypeptide, or a fragment or analog thereof; or f) an antibody that binds to and stabilizes or assists the binding of a Foxn1 pathway component to a binding partner.