sh-Decapeptide-7 is a chemical compound, molecular platform and synthetic protein, identical to a portion of the protein Layilin and capable of providing bioactivity, composed of 10 amino acids linked together including: glycine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine and tyrosine.
Synthetic peptides can be generated as copies of protein fragments by incorporating non-proteinogenic amino acids and modifications to enhance the proteolytic stability of the molecules. Peptides are used in the development of therapeutic drugs (1) for their antimicrobial activity (2), and their bioactive interest (3).
The name describes the structure of the molecule:
- sh - This abbreviation typically stands for "signal peptide" or "synthetic human" suggesting that the peptide is engineered to mimic human biological activities or is designed for specific signaling functions in cosmetic or medical applications.
- Decapeptide indicates that the molecule is composed of ten amino acids linked together.
- 7 - The numeral represents a specific sequence or variant of the decapeptide, indicating its unique identification or the particular modification in its sequence compared to other similar peptides.
What it is used for and where
sh-Decapeptide-7 is valued in cosmetic formulations for its versatility. It acts as an antioxidant, protecting the skin from free radical damage. As a buffering agent, it helps maintain the optimal pH of the formulation. Its chelating ability allows it to stabilize heavy metals, enhancing product stability and efficacy. As a hair conditioning agent, it improves hair manageability and softness. Its reducing function helps protect hair structure from damage. Lastly, as a skin protector, it strengthens the skin barrier against external aggressors. It is especially effective in anti-aging products and treatments for damaged hair.
Cosmetics - INCI Functions
- Antioxidant agent. Ingredient that counteracts oxidative stress and prevents cell damage. Free radicals, pathological inflammatory processes, reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species are responsible for the ageing process and many diseases caused by oxidation.
- Buffering agent. It is an iingredient that can bring an alkaline or acid solution to a certain pH level and prevent it from changing, in practice a pH stabiliser that can effectively resist instability and pH change.
- Chelating agent. It has the function of preventing unstable reactions and improving the bioavailability of chemical components within a product, and removes calcium and magnesium cations that can cause cloudiness in clear liquids.
- Hair conditioning agent. A significant number of ingredients with specific and targeted purposes may co-exist in hair shampoo formulations: cleansers, conditioners, thickeners, matting agents, sequestering agents, fragrances, preservatives, special additives. However, the indispensable ingredients are the cleansers and conditioners as they are necessary and sufficient for hair cleansing and manageability. The others act as commercial and non-essential auxiliaries such as: appearance, fragrance, colouring, etc. Hair conditioning agents have the task of increasing shine, manageability and volume, and reducing static electricity, especially after treatments such as colouring, ironing, waving, drying and brushing. They are, in practice, dispersants that may contain cationic surfactants, thickeners, emollients, polymers. The typology of hair conditioning agents includes: intensive conditioners, instant conditioners, thickening conditioners, drying conditioners. They can perform their task generally accompanied by other different ingredients.
- Reducing agent. Ingredient that facilitates permanent hair waving by adjusting the pH to an optimal level.
- Skin protectant. It creates a protective barrier on the skin to defend it from harmful substances, irritants, allergens, pathogens that can cause various inflammatory conditions. These products can also improve the natural skin barrier and in most cases more than one is needed to achieve an effective result.
The industrial production process of decapeptides can be divided into several key phases.
- Preparation of solid phase. An appropriate resin is selected as the solid support, which is functionalized with the C-terminal amino acid of the decapeptide.
- Peptide synthesis. Using solid-phase peptide synthesis, amino acids are sequentially added, starting from the C-terminus and proceeding to the N-terminus. Each addition involves deprotecting the terminal amino group followed by coupling of the next amino acid.
- Deprotection. After each amino acid coupling, the protective group is removed and the resin is washed to eliminate unreacted reagents and byproducts.
- Cleavage. Once the peptide chain synthesis is complete, the peptide is cleaved from the resin using a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and other scavenger agents, which help remove side-chain protective groups.
- Purification. The crude peptide is purified using chromatography techniques such as ion-exchange or reverse-phase chromatography to isolate the desired decapeptide.
- Lyophilization. Finally, the decapeptide is lyophilized to remove the solvent and convert it into a powder for more stable storage and distribution.
- Quality control. The purified decapeptide undergoes various tests, including purity determination via HPLC and molecular weight verification via mass spectrometry.
