Retinoids, chemical compounds derived from vitamin A, are widely used cosmetic ingredients in anti-ageing, acne and other skincare products because they can improve the look and texture of skin. One of the key ways retinoids achieve these effects is through their ability to boost collagen production within skin cells.
Collagen makes up almost one-third of the body's protein, acting as vital scaffolding to keep the skin elastic and strong. Critically, collagen also plays a role in every stage of wound healing, prompting researchers from Phytoceutical Ltd, the University of Surrey and the CLF's Lasers for Science Facility to investigate whether retinoids could accelerate wound repair and support collagen production and organisation.
Using retinoids to address a growing healthcare challenge
Chronic wounds and delayed healing place a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. When combined with the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, these challenges highlight the need for novel treatments that could accelerate healing, reduce infection risk, shorten recovery times and alleviate healthcare pressures.
By stimulating collagen production and improving its organisation in wounded tissue, retinoids may offer significant potential for advancing wound healing therapies.
This fascinating study tested several retinoid formulations, all of which were shown to help wounded or UV-damaged 3D skin models close faster and with improved skin structure compared with untreated controls. Retinol and retinaldehyde, two specific forms of retinoid tested, showed the most striking improvements to skin rebuilding, tissue repair and collagen formation.
The challenges of ultramicroscopic retinoid delivery
One of the key barriers to the use of retinoids in medicinal applications is that the active ingredients, such as retinol, are highly unstable and difficult to formulate effectively. To be viable for wound healing, they must remain stable, penetrate the skin appropriately, and deliver benefits without causing toxicity.
The research team sought to determine whether Phytoceutical's nano-micellar delivery technology could provide a stable way to deliver these active ingredients, improve tissue recovery, and support development of future wound healing products. Phytoceutical's technology employs spherical, self-assembling, nano-sized structures, called micelles, to deliver retinoid formulations effectively. However, at around only 15 nanometres (nm) in size, micellar systems are difficult to characterise using standard methods, and specialist advanced laser-based imaging and analytical expertise is needed, as provided by the CLF's Lasers for Science Facility Octopus group.
Looking towards future wound healing therapies
By designing experiments across increasing levels of biological complexity, the researchers were able to study a range of nanoscale formulations, laying the groundwork for future medicinal applications, particularly in complex cases where both infection control and tissue regeneration are required. The team is now planning further experimentation using more complex, real-life tissues to validate retinoid stability, performance, dose and toxicity, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients with chronic wounds.
Will Buchanan, Director of Phytoceutical, said:
“The data we've been able to generate has given us confidence to move forward, helped us build credibility with clinical and commercial partners, and shown us much more clearly how our technology is performing."
Visit the MDPI website to read the Phytoceutical paper on retinoids and wound healing.
