Decapeptide-7 is a synthetic peptide composed of glycine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, and tyrosine. It is widely used in various cosmetic products for its anti-aging, skin-repairing, and revitalizing properties. It is known for its ability to enhance skin elasticity, improve hydration, and promote cellular regeneration.
Peptides, natural and synthetic, have the ability to activate an immunomodulatory action by interacting with the cells of the immune system (1).
Chemical Composition and Structure
Decapeptide-7 is a synthetic peptide consisting of a sequence of ten amino acids: glycine (Gly), leucine (Leu), lysine (Lys), phenylalanine (Phe), serine (Ser), threonine (Thr), and tyrosine (Tyr). This specific peptide sequence contributes to its bioactive properties, enhancing cellular communication and boosting the skin's natural repair processes.
Physical Properties
Decapeptide-7 typically appears as a white or off-white powder. It is soluble in water, making it suitable for inclusion in various cosmetic formulations such as serums, creams, and lotions. Its chemical stability and compatibility with other active ingredients make it a versatile component in skincare formulations.
Industrial Production Process
- Preparation of reagents. The main raw materials include the amino acids glycine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, serine, threonine, and tyrosine, as well as reagents necessary for peptide synthesis such as protecting reagents and activation reagents.
- Protection of amino acids. The amino acids are protected using specific protective groups to prevent undesired reactions during synthesis. For example, amine groups can be protected with the Fmoc (fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl) group and carboxyl groups with the t-butyl (tBu) group.
- Activation of amino acids. The protected amino acids are activated for the peptide coupling reaction. This can be achieved using coupling reagents such as HBTU (N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-O-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)uronium hexafluorophosphate) or DIC (diisopropylcarbodiimide).
- Peptide synthesis. The synthesis of the decapeptide is carried out sequentially. The initial amino acid is fixed to a solid support (resin) and the subsequent amino acids are added one at a time through coupling reactions. Each cycle includes activation of the amino acid, coupling with the previous amino acid, and removal of the protective group.
Coupling of glycine: The protected glycine is activated and coupled to the resin.
Coupling of leucine: The protected leucine is activated and coupled to glycine.
Coupling of lysine: The protected lysine is activated and coupled to leucine.
Coupling of phenylalanine: The protected phenylalanine is activated and coupled to lysine.
Coupling of serine: The protected serine is activated and coupled to phenylalanine.
Coupling of threonine: The protected threonine is activated and coupled to serine.
Coupling of tyrosine: The protected tyrosine is activated and coupled to threonine.
- Repeat: The amino acids are sequentially added until the decapeptide is complete.
- Removal of protective groups. After all amino acids have been coupled, the protective groups are removed to release the decapeptide from the resin.
- Purification. The crude decapeptide is purified using techniques such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to remove any impurities and obtain a pure product.
- Drying. The purified decapeptide is dried to remove residual solvents and obtain a dry product.
- Quality control. The purified decapeptide undergoes rigorous quality testing to ensure it meets standards for purity and safety. These tests include amino acid sequence analysis, mass spectrometry, and chromatography.
What it is used for and where
Decapeptide-7 is highly valued for its anti-aging, skin-repairing, and revitalizing properties. It effectively improves skin elasticity, enhances hydration, and promotes cellular regeneration.
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.
Safety
Decapeptide-7 is generally considered safe for use in cosmetic products. It is non-irritating and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. However, it is always important to use it according to recommended guidelines to ensure product safety and efficacy. As a synthetic peptide, it is biodegradable and poses minimal risk to the environment when disposed of properly.
