In the snail's body tissues, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are primarily located inside granules and in the shell, and are secreted onto the surface as a mucous material. Snail glycosaminoglycan tightly binds divalent copper cations (Cu 2+) and form copper peptides , with reportedly have skin regeneration properties. The concentration of copper in the snail mucins is notable, but copper peptides have been shown to be active in nanomolar amounts.

Copper-induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression and wound healing. Sen CK, Khanna S, Venojarvi M, Trikha P, Ellison EC, Hunt TK, Roy S. 2002 May;282(5):H1821-7. http://ajpheart.physiology.org/cgi/content/full/282/5/H1821

Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Department of Surgery, 512 Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.

Angiogenesis - the growth of new blood vessels - plays a central role in wound healing. Among many known growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is believed to be the most prevalent, efficacious, and long-term signal that is known to stimulate angiogenesis in wounds. Whereas a direct role of copper to facilitate angiogenesis has been evident two decades ago, the specific targets of copper action remained unclear. This report presents first evidence showing that inducible VEGF expression is sensitive to copper and that the angiogenic potential of copper may be harnessed to accelerate dermal wound contraction and closure. At physiologically relevant concentrations, copper sulfate induced VEGF expression in primary as well as transformed human keratinocytes. Copper shared some of the pathways utilized by hypoxia to regulate VEGF expression. Topical copper sulfate accelerated closure of excisional murine dermal wound allowed to heal by secondary intention. Copper-sensitive pathways regulate key mediators of wound healing such as angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodeling. Copper-based therapeutics represents a feasible approach to promote dermal wound healing.

Certain types of copper peptide complexes possess both tissue protection and repair properties. Cu has protective and regenerative actions on several organ systems including skin, hair follicles, bone, gastric mucosa and intestinal linings. These types of copper complexes are increasingly used in cosmetic skin and hair care products and after dermatological skin renewal procedures, such as chemical peels, laser resurfacing and dermabrasion, to improve post-treatment skin recovery .

Aging reversal of skin

The greatest interest in copper peptides is in the area of reversing the effects of human ageing and ultraviolet damage on human skin. During ageing, skin becomes thinner and tends to accumulate various skin lesions and imperfections. The dermis and epidermis thin and the subcutaneous fat cells diminish in number.

A number of studies have found that the application of copper peptide creams to the human skin is more effective in promoting collagen development than retinoic acid or vitamin C. It also increase s the thickness of the epidermis and dermis, increases skin elasticity, reduces wrinkles and removes skin imperfections such as blotchiness and sun damage marks.

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