Matrixyl, also known as palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 or palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, is a synthetic peptide that is currently being investigated for its potential to boost collagen production in the skin. It falls into a category of matrikine peptides, which could potentially regulate cell activities by interacting with their specific receptors.
Collagen is a protein known to support structural integrity and skin flexibility. The combination with Matrixyl could deliver collagen across the skin and provide better stability in deeper skin layers.
Chemical Structure
- Molecular formula: C39H75N7O10
- Molecular weight: 802.05 g/mol
- Other known titles: Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, (palmitoyl pentapeptide-3 prior to 2006)
Application of Matrixyl
This peptide stimulates the lower layers of the skin and promotes healing by speeding up the healing of the wounds. Cells known as fibroblasts are responsible for closing wounds in the skin. As you probably know, it takes longer for their wounds to heal as humans and animals age. This is mostly because fibroblasts gradually lose their capability for collagen production.
Matrixyl is one of the most powerful peptides in the latest high-end, anti-wrinkle skin care products. Based on research conducted on animals, this peptide is more effective when combined with other peptides.
What does Matrixyl do?
This peptide is discovered via two branches of dermatological research: the research that discovered what speeds up wound healing and the study of what causes wrinkles. Like copper peptides, Matrixyl stimulates the lower skin layers, making sure they heal themselves and accelerating wound healing.
This peptide stimulates the matrix layers in the skin, mainly fibronectin and collagen. Skin tends to produce more collagen when stimulated. The loss of collagen leads to wrinkling and thinning of newly inelastic skin. Matrixyl has been shown to help slow down the natural aging process in studies involving animals.
Is Matrixyl an efficient anti-wrinkle product?
In many clinical studies conducted on animals, this peptide has shown the following results:
- Boosted overall collagen synthesis by 117%
- Boosted collagen IV synthesis by 327%
- Boosted hyaluronic acid synthesis by 267%
It managed to reduce weep wrinkles by half, while fine lines and smaller wrinkles, in most cases, faded. Each test subject that participated in the study showed notable improvements in two weeks. The result was simple: younger-looking skin and fewer wrinkles.
Matrixyl and Tissue Repair
Clinical research on animals investigated this peptide's potential to heal wounds. Researchers were divided into seven groups and monitored for 21 days. The results implied that Matrixyl may have a positive impact on wound healing.
Researchers reported that wound healing improved from 63.1% to 81.81% in the treatment group compared to the placebo group.
Matrixyl Peptide and Scarring
One study investigated the potential of this peptide in scar formation. It was reported that Matrixyl could reduce the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and inhibit scar formation. Scientists found that alpha-smooth muscle actin is a protein that is usually found in smooth muscle cells, including those in the bladder, intestines, and blood vessels.