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Defects in melanin production in humans can cause diseases, such as skin cancer, vitiligo and albinism, many of which lack effective treatments due to their genetic origins.
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Background Melanin is a brown pigment that is delivered to keratinocytes in the skin after being excreted as melanosomes to form melanocytes. The primary function of melanin is to prevent UV-induced nuclear DNA damage. The biological system for induction, production, transfer and degradation of melanosomes is critical to controlling human skin health. Defects in melanin production in humans can cause diseases, such as skin cancer, vitiligo and albinism, many of which lack effective treatments due to their genetic origins. Therefore, there is an increasing interest in the production of synthetic melanin, as a substitute for natural melanin. Technology Description UC San Diego researchers in Professor Gianneschi’s lab have synthesized melanin-like nanoparticles (MelNP) which mimic both the physiochemical properties of natural melanins, as well as a number of physiological traits, which include: Ability to degrade in lysosomes to form melanosomes Demonstrated UV absorption and photo protective attribute Undergo perinuclear aggregation by the keratinocytes to form a protective supranuclear cap in the same way natural melanin is arranged around epidermal cells Applications Potential applications of MelNP include use as a UV protectant agent, therapeutic agent, or for cosmetic color Advantages MeLNP have similar chemical composition to natural melanin and demonstrates similar broad band UV absorption, which provides an opportunity for use in cosmetic applications State Of Development This invention is available for licensing Intellectual Property Info Provisional patent filed