Rapamycin is an FDA-approved medication used to prevent organ rejection after transplant surgery. It’s also been shown to slow the progression of aging in mice, flies and worms. Now, researchers at Drexel University College of Medicine have found that topical delivery of rapamycin can reduce the signs of aging in human skin. buy rapamycin online
A study published in Geroscience suggests that rapamycin, an immune-suppressing drug commonly used for kidney transplants, can also be a good treatment for aging skin. The researchers discovered that a single application of the drug made the skin look more youthful, and decreased sagging and wrinkles.
In this new study, a group of 13 individuals over 40 applied a cream containing rapamycin every 1-2 days to one hand and a placebo on the other for eight months. Biopsies and photos were taken to track changes in the skin over time.
The results of the study showed that rapamycin reduced the levels of p16INK4A, a protein that is associated with cellular senescence and is a key marker of aging in skin cells. Compared with the placebo group, the skin of those treated with rapamycin had lower p16INK4A protein, as well as increased collagen VII protein, which is essential for preserving the integrity of the basement membrane.
As well as reducing p16INK4A expression, the treatment reduced pro-inflammatory secretions. This effect is thought to be based on the anti-inflammatory activity of rapamycin.
However, we still need to determine how much rapamycin is absorbed by the body through the skin. This is a very important question, as rapamycin can be metabolised by the liver and other organs.
Besides, the concentration of rapamycin can change over time. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a stable formulation. In the present study, a gelling agent (carbopol 974P, Duchefa-Farma, Nederland) was combined with rapamycin and glycerol to make a formulation with different levels of rapamycin. The formulations were then stored in a controlled cold room (5degC+-3degC) for 85 days, and the rapamycin concentration was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography.
The rapamycin concentration remained > 95% of the initial concentration during the storage period. The rapamycin particle size and rheological character of the gels remained unchanged throughout the period tested.
A comparison of the physico-chemical characteristics of the different formulations was performed on Strat-M (r) membranes and on human skin using Franz cells. In both experiments, the rapamycin peptides migrated to the Strat-M (r) membrane and to Franz cells. The rheological characteristics of the gels were similar at day 0 and 360 days, with the exception that Formula 1 gel had a more sticky and smooth texture.
We therefore developed a new formulation, Formula 2 (table 1). The concentration of rapamycin was calculated as 0.06 g/g. Then, a mixture of urea and a-tocopherol was added to the preparation. The a-tocopherol concentration was calculated as 0.1 g/g. Then, the mixture was gelled and the gel was dispensed into aluminium tubes to store it. The rapamycin molecule was extracted from the gel by high-performance liquid chromatography.
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