Title : Controlled copper ion delivery via a nanofiber platform: A novel approach for skin applications
Abstract:
The majority of products on the market contain water. While there are some solid bars or oil-based serums, water-based emulsions (creams, lotions, etc.) still reign supreme. However, developing products based on dry nanofibers opens up the possibilities for both what you can exclude (preservatives) as well as what you can include (actives that readily degrade in water). By adding powdered actives in between sheets of nanofibers, the stability can be vastly improved.
Cupron Derma CL is cuprous oxide powder that releases cuprous ions at a slow rate when moistened. Cupron Dermal CL is known to modulate multiple biological pathways relevant to skin physiology, including collagen synthesis, extracellular matrix (ECM) stabilization, and angiogenesis. Controlled delivery of copper is critical, as these effects are concentration-dependent and require sustained, low-level ion availability. Cupron Derma systems have been developed to enable gradual copper ion under skin-relevant conditions.
Formulation with Cupron Derma CL has been challenging due to the premature copper ion release and oxidation in aqueous phase. To address formulation limitations, a dry delivery platform based on nanofiber matrices has been developed. In this system, Cupron Derma CL is incorporated as a solid-phase active between nanofiber layers. The absence of water minimizes premature copper ion release and reduces degradation pathways associated with liquid state reactions. Upon exposure to skin moisture, the nanofiber matrix enables controlled hydration and localized release of copper ions.
In this presentation, previously established data on cuprous oxide-mediated skin responses will be reviewed, including stimulation of pro-collagen I and elastin production in human skin explants, enhanced keratinocyte proliferation and migration, and modulation of inflammatory markers following UV radiation and thermal injury. These results demonstrate that low micromolar to nanomolar concentrations of copper ions can induce measurable biological responses associated with skin repair and rejuvenation.
Experimental data will be discussed for copper-containing nanodrop systems, including a release kinetic of copper ions under skin-relevant conditions and biological responses in skin tissue models. These results indicate that the nanofiber-based system can maintain controlled copper ion delivery while preserving biological activity.
Overall, this work demonstrates that combining cuprous oxide-based actives with a dry nanofiber delivery platform provides a viable strategy for controlled copper ion release and may offer a pathway to improved performance in topical skin applications.
