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Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 40764

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Dr. Ana Lúcia Silva Oliveira

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Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF), Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: natural compounds; skincare; scaffolds; wound healing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. João C. Fernandes

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Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina (CBQF), Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Amyris Bio Products Portugal, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: Wound healing; Skin diseases; nanomaterial; drug delivery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

According to the Global Burden of Disease Project, skin diseases were the fourth leading cause of non-fatal morbidity worldwide in 2010 and 2013, affecting almost one-third of the world’s population.Promoting skin healing, while minimizing the aesthetic impact and restoring optimal tissue function, remains a major challenge in the dermatological and cosmetic industries. This is a complex and tightly regulated multi-step process based on the interaction between numerous cellular and molecular actors. The combination of traditional and innovative approaches has resulted in significant developments in this area; recent advances also include green approaches that use nature itself as inspiration for the development of more sustainable solutions, including natural and degradable wound dressings, bio-based therapeutic agents, bioengineered scaffolds, sustainable tissue-engineered skin substitutes, biological anti-scarring, and re-epithelization solutions, among various other examples.

This Special Issue aims to gather research papers focused on recent advances, current challenges, and future perspectives in the management of skin conditions, including those covering approaches to wound healing, skin regeneration, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne, among others. Original research articles describing molecular, pathophysiological, biomedical, biotechnological, and pharmacological advances related to these topics are welcome, as well as review articles summarizing the current state of the art in the field.

Dr. Ana Lúcia Silva Oliveira
Dr. João C. Fernandes
Guest Editors

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Keywords

skin conditions
skin regeneration
scarring
bio-based therapeutics
cellular & molecular mechanisms
experimental dermatology
tissue engineering
sustainable biomaterials
active wound dressings
inflammatory tissue response
nanotechnology
eco-friendly

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

11 pages, 2312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revealing the Meissner Corpuscles in Human Glabrous Skin Using In Vivo Non-Invasive Imaging Techniques

by Victor Hugo Pacagnelli Infante, Roland Bennewitz, Anna Lena Klein and Martina C. Meinke

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(8), 7121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24087121 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4669

Abstract

The presence of mechanoreceptors in glabrous skin allows humans to discriminate textures by touch. The amount and distribution of these receptors defines our tactile sensitivity and can be affected by diseases such as diabetes, HIV-related pathologies, and hereditary neuropathies. The quantification of mechanoreceptors as clinical markers by biopsy is an invasive method of diagnosis. We report the localization and quantification of Meissner corpuscles in glabrous skin using in vivo, non-invasive optical microscopy techniques. Our approach is supported by the discovery of epidermal protrusions which are co-localized with Meissner corpuscles. Index fingers, small fingers, and tenar palm regions of ten participants were imaged by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and laser scan microscopy (LSM) to determine the thickness of the stratum corneum and epidermis and to count the Meissner corpuscles. We discovered that regions containing Meissner corpuscles could be easily identified by LSM with an enhanced optical reflectance above the corpuscles, caused by a protrusion of the strongly reflecting epidermis into the stratum corneum with its weak reflectance. We suggest that this local morphology above Meissner corpuscles has a function in tactile perception. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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20 pages, 3900 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Generating Functional and Highly Proliferative Melanocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Promising Tool for Biotherapeutic Approaches to Treat Skin Pigmentation Disorders

by Manoubia Saidani, Annabelle Darle, Margot Jarrige, Hélène Polveche, Lina El Kassar, Séverine Julié, Sandrine Bessou-Touya, Nathalie Holic, Gilles Lemaitre, Cécile Martinat, Christine Baldeschi and Jennifer Allouche

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076398 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2992

Abstract

Melanocytes are essential for skin homeostasis and protection, and their loss or misfunction leads to a wide spectrum of diseases. Cell therapy utilizing autologous melanocytes has been used for years as an adjunct treatment for hypopigmentary disorders such as vitiligo. However, these approaches are hindered by the poor proliferative capacity of melanocytes obtained from skin biopsies. Recent advances in the field of human pluripotent stem cells have fueled the prospect of generating melanocytes. Here, we have developed a well-characterized method to produce a pure and homogenous population of functional and proliferative melanocytes. The genetic stability and potential transformation of melanocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been evaluated over time during the in vitro culture process. Thanks to transcriptomic analysis, the molecular signatures all along the differentiation protocol have been characterized, providing a solid basis for standardizing the protocol. Altogether, our results promise meaningful, broadly applicable, and longer-lasting advances for pigmentation disorders and open perspectives for innovative biotherapies for pigment disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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14 pages, 837 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Study on Seeds of Paeonia clusii subsp. rhodia—Antioxidant and Anti-Tyrosinase Properties

by Vithleem Klontza, Konstantia Graikou, Antigoni Cheilari, Vasilios Kasapis, Christos Ganos, Nektarios Aligiannis and Ioanna Chinou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4935; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054935 - 3 Mar 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2145

Abstract

In this study, the black fertile (BSs) and the red unfertile seeds (RSs) of the Greek endemic Paeonia clusii subsp. rhodia (Stearn) Tzanoud were studied for the first time. Nine phenolic derivatives, trans-resveratol, trans-resveratrol-4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, trans-ε-viniferin, trans-gnetin H, luteolin, luteolin 3′-O-β-d-glucoside, luteolin 3′,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, and benzoic acid, along with the monoterpene glycoside paeoniflorin, have been isolated and structurally elucidated. Furthermore, 33 metabolites have been identified from BSs through UHPLC-HRMS, including 6 monoterpene glycosides of the paeoniflorin type with the characteristic cage-like terpenic skeleton found only in plants of the genus Paeonia, 6 gallic acid derivatives, 10 oligostilbene compounds, and 11 flavonoid derivatives. From the RSs, through HS-SPME and GC-MS, 19 metabolites were identified, among which nopinone, myrtanal, and cis-myrtanol have been reported only in peonies’ roots and flowers to date. The total phenolic content of both seed extracts (BS and RS) was extremely high (up to 289.97 mg GAE/g) and, moreover, they showed interesting antioxidative activity and anti-tyrosinase properties. The isolated compounds were also biologically evaluated. Especially in the case of trans-gnetin H, the expressed anti-tyrosinase activity was higher than that of kojic acid, which is a well-known whitening agent standard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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18 pages, 3557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tannic Acid Tailored-Made Microsystems for Wound Infection

by Inês Guimarães, Raquel Costa, Sara Madureira, Sandra Borges, Ana L. Oliveira, Manuela Pintado and Sara Baptista-Silva

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054826 - 2 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2439

Abstract

Difficult-to-treat infections make complex wounds a problem of great clinical and socio-economic impact. Moreover, model therapies of wound care are increasing antibiotic resistance and becoming a critical problem, beyond healing. Therefore, phytochemicals are promising alternatives, with both antimicrobial and antioxidant activities to heal, strike infection, and the inherent microbial resistance. Hereupon, chitosan (CS)-based microparticles (as CM) were designed and developed as carriers of tannic acid (TA). These CMTA were designed to improve TA stability, bioavailability, and delivery in situ. The CMTA were prepared by spray dryer technique and were characterized regarding encapsulation efficiency, kinetic release, and morphology. Antimicrobial potential was evaluated against methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, as common wound pathogens, and the agar diffusion inhibition growth zones were tested for antimicrobial profile. Biocompatibility tests were performed using human dermal fibroblasts. CMTA had a satisfactory product yield of ca. 32% and high encapsulation efficiency of ca. 99%. Diameters were lower than 10 μm, and the particles showed a spherical morphology. The developed microsystems were also antimicrobial for representative Gram+, Gram−, and yeast as common wound contaminants. CMTA improved cell viability (ca. 73%) and proliferation (ca. 70%) compared to free TA in solution and even compared to the physical mixture of CS and TA in dermal fibroblasts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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19 pages, 2889 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis of Bio-Based Polyester from Microbial Lipidic Residue Intended for Biomedical Application

by Ana P. Capêto, João Azevedo-Silva, Sérgio Sousa, Manuela Pintado, Ana S. Guimarães and Ana L. S. Oliveira

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4419; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054419 - 23 Feb 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2222

Abstract

In the last decade, selectively tuned bio-based polyesters have been increasingly used for their clinical potential in several biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, wound healing, and drug delivery. With a biomedical application in mind, a flexible polyester was produced by melt polycondensation using the microbial oil residue collected after the distillation of β-farnesene (FDR) produced industrially by genetically modified yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After characterization, the polyester exhibited elongation up to 150% and presented T_g of −51.2 °C and T_m of 169.8 °C. In vitro degradation revealed a mass loss of about 87% after storage in PBS solution for 11 weeks under accelerated conditions (40 °C, RH = 75%). The water contact angle revealed a hydrophilic character, and biocompatibility with skin cells was demonstrated. 3D and 2D scaffolds were produced by salt-leaching, and a controlled release study at 30 °C was performed with Rhodamine B base (RBB, 3D) and curcumin (CRC, 2D), showing a diffusion-controlled mechanism with about 29.3% of RBB released after 48 h and 50.4% of CRC after 7 h. This polymer offers a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for the potential use of the controlled release of active principles for wound dressing applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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21 pages, 2194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol Exert Antimicrobial Activity without Compromising Skin Microbiota

by Mariana Luz-Veiga, Manuela Amorim, Inês Pinto-Ribeiro, Ana L. S. Oliveira, Sara Silva, Lígia L. Pimentel, Luís M. Rodríguez-Alcalá, Raquel Madureira, Manuela Pintado, João Azevedo-Silva and João Fernandes

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2389; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032389 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 7757

Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are two pharmacologically active phytocannabinoids of Cannabis sativa L. Their antimicrobial activity needs further elucidation, particularly for CBG, as reports on this cannabinoid are scarce. We investigated CBD and CBG’s antimicrobial potential, including their ability to inhibit the formation and cause the removal of biofilms. Our results demonstrate that both molecules present activity against planktonic bacteria and biofilms, with both cannabinoids removing mature biofilms at concentrations below the determined minimum inhibitory concentrations. We report for the first time minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (ranging from 400 to 3180 µM), as well as the ability of cannabinoids to inhibit Staphylococci adhesion to keratinocytes, with CBG demonstrating higher activity than CBD. The value of these molecules as preservative ingredients for cosmetics was also assayed, with CBG meeting the USP 51 challenge test criteria for antimicrobial effectiveness. Further, the exact formulation showed no negative impact on skin microbiota. Our results suggest that phytocannabinoids can be promising topical antimicrobial agents when searching for novel therapeutic candidates for different skin conditions. Additional research is needed to clarify phytocannabinoids’ mechanisms of action, aiming to develop practical applications in dermatological use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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14 pages, 3454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spent Yeast Waste Streams as a Sustainable Source of Bioactive Peptides for Skin Applications

by Eduardo M. Costa, Ana Sofia Oliveira, Sara Silva, Alessandra B. Ribeiro, Carla F. Pereira, Carlos Ferreira, Francisca Casanova, Joana O. Pereira, Ricardo Freixo, Manuela E. Pintado, Ana Paula Carvalho and Óscar L. Ramos

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032253 - 23 Jan 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2844

Abstract

Spent yeast waste streams are a byproduct obtained from fermentation process and have been shown to be a rich secondary source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds and peptides. The latter are of particular interest for skin care and cosmetics as they have been shown to be safe and hypoallergenic while simultaneously being able to exert various effects upon the epidermis modulating immune response and targeting skin metabolites, such as collagen production. As the potential of spent yeast’s peptides has been mainly explored for food-related applications, this work sought to understand if peptide fractions previously extracted from fermentation engineered spent yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) waste streams possess biological potential for skin-related applications. To that end, cytotoxic effects on HaCat and HDFa cells and whether they were capable of exerting a positive effect upon the production of skin metabolites relevant for skin health, such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, fibronectin and elastin, were evaluated. The results showed that the peptide fractions assayed were not cytotoxic up to the highest concentration tested (500 µg/mL) for both cell lines tested. Furthermore, all peptide fractions showed a capacity to modulate the various target metabolites production with an overall positive effect being observed for the four fractions over the six selected targets (pro-collagen IαI, hyaluronic acid, fibronectin, cytokeratin-14, elastin, and aquaporin-9). Concerning the evaluated fractions, the overall best performance (Gpep > 1 kDa) was of an average promotion of 41.25% over the six metabolites and two cell lines assessed at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. These results showed that the peptide fractions assayed in this work have potential for future applications in skin-related products at relatively low concentrations, thus providing an alternative solution for one of the fermentation industry’s waste streams and creating a novel and highly valuable bioactive ingredient with encompassing activity to be applied in future skin care formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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24 pages, 88066 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Zinc- and Copper-Doped Mesoporous Borate Bioactive Glasses: Promising Additives for Potential Use in Skin Wound Healing Applications

by Farzad Kermani, Simin Nazarnezhad, Zahra Mollaei, Sahar Mollazadeh, Alireza Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan, Vahid Reza Askari, Reza Kazemi Oskuee, Ali Moradi, Seyede Atefe Hosseini, Zoleikha Azari, Francesco Baino and Saeid Kargozar

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1304; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021304 - 9 Jan 2023

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2984

Abstract

In this study, zinc (Zn)- and copper (Cu)-doped 13-93B3 borate mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) were successfully synthesized using nitrate precursors in the presence of Pluronic P123. We benefited from computational approaches for predicting and confirming the experimental findings. The changes in the dynamic surface tension (SFT) of simulated body fluid (SBF) were investigated using the Du Noüy ring method to shed light on the mineralization process of hydroxyapatite (HAp) on the glass surface. The obtained MBGs were in a glassy state before incubation in SBF. The formation of an apatite-like layer on the SBF-incubated borate glasses was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The incorporation of Zn and Cu into the basic composition of 13-93B3 glass led to changes in the glass transition temperature (T_g) (773 to 556 °C), particle size (373 to 64 nm), zeta potential (−12 to −26 mV), and specific surface area (S_BET) (54 to 123 m²/g). Based on the K-means algorithm and chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) tree, we found that the SFT of SBF is an important factor for the prediction and confirmation of the HAp mineralization process on the glasses. Furthermore, we proposed a simple calculation, based on SFT variation, to quantify the bioactivity of MBGs. The doped and dopant-free borate MBGs could enhance the proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929 cells at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. These glasses also induced very low hemolysis (<5%), confirming good compatibility with red blood cells. The results of the antibacterial test revealed that all the samples could significantly decrease the viability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In summary, we showed that Cu-/Zn-doped borate MBGs can be fabricated using a cost-effective method and also show promise for wound healing/skin tissue engineering applications, as especially supported by the cell test with fibroblasts, good compatibility with blood, and antibacterial properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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Review

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21 pages, 927 KiB

Open AccessReview

Current Status of Cell-Based Therapies for Vitiligo

by Anna Domaszewska-Szostek, Agnieszka Polak, Monika Słupecka-Ziemilska, Marta Krzyżanowska and Monika Puzianowska-Kuźnicka

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043357 - 8 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6975

Abstract

Vitiligo is a chronic pigmentary disease with complex etiology, the signs of which are caused by the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis, leading to the lack of melanin pigment responsible for skin coloration. The treatment of vitiligo, which aims at repigmentation, depends both on the clinical characteristics of the disease as well as on molecular markers that may predict the response to treatment. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the clinical evidence for vitiligo cell-based therapies taking into account the required procedures and equipment necessary to carry them out as well as their effectiveness in repigmentation, assessed using the percentage of repigmentation of the treated area. This review was conducted by assessing 55 primary clinical studies published in PubMed and ClinicalTrails.gov between 2000 and 2022. This review concludes that the extent of repigmentation, regardless of the treatment method, is highest in stable localized vitiligo patients. Moreover, therapies that combine more than one cell type, such as melanocytes and keratinocytes, or more than one method of treatment, such as the addition of NV-UVB to another treatment, increase the chances of >90% repigmentation. Lastly, this review concludes that various body parts respond differently to all treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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37 pages, 1343 KiB

Open AccessReview

Borrowing the Features of Biopolymers for Emerging Wound Healing Dressings: A Review

by Ioannis Gardikiotis, Florina-Daniela Cojocaru, Cosmin-Teodor Mihai, Vera Balan and Gianina Dodi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(15), 8778; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23158778 - 7 Aug 2022

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4547

Abstract

Wound dressing design is a dynamic and rapidly growing field of the medical wound-care market worldwide. Advances in technology have resulted in the development of a wide range of wound dressings that treat different types of wounds by targeting the four phases of healing. The ideal wound dressing should perform rapid healing; preserve the body’s water content; be oxygen permeable, non-adherent on the wound and hypoallergenic; and provide a barrier against external contaminants—at a reasonable cost and with minimal inconvenience to the patient. Therefore, choosing the best dressing should be based on what the wound needs and what the dressing does to achieve complete regeneration and restoration of the skin’s structure and function. Biopolymers, such as alginate (ALG), chitosan (Cs), collagen (Col), hyaluronic acid (HA) and silk fibroin (SF), are extensively used in wound management due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability and similarity to macromolecules recognized by the human body. However, most of the formulations based on biopolymers still show various issues; thus, strategies to combine them with molecular biology approaches represent the future of wound healing. Therefore, this article provides an overview of biopolymers’ roles in wound physiology as a perspective on the development of a new generation of enhanced, naturally inspired, smart wound dressings based on blood products, stem cells and growth factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Approaches in Skin Conditions)

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