Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1 is a chemical compound, a synthetic tripeptide enriched with a nicotinoyl group (a derivative of niacin or vitamin B3) that is quite well known for its antioxidant, chelating, and skin-protecting properties.

Synthetic peptides can be generated as copies of protein fragments by incorporating non-proteinogenic amino acids and modified so as to also increase the proteolytic stability of the molecules. Peptides are used in the development of therapeutic drugs (1) because of their antimicrobial activity (2), their bioactive interest (3).

What it is used for and where

Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1 is included in cosmetic formulations for its ability to neutralize free radicals with its antioxidant properties, protecting the skin from oxidative damage and premature aging. It also acts as a chelating agent, binding heavy metals and reducing their ability to cause stress and damage to the skin. This peptide also provides effective skin protection, strengthening the skin's barrier against harmful environmental agents. It is particularly suitable for products aimed at daily skin protection, such as creams, serums, and lotions, which help to keep the skin healthy and resilient.

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.
• 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.
• 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.

Chemical Industrial Synthesis Process

• Reagent selection. High-quality reagents are selected, including the three amino acids that make up the tripeptide and a nicotinamide derivative, to ensure the efficacy of the final product.
• Solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Using the SPPS technique, the three amino acids are sequentially assembled starting from the C-terminal amino acid, which is attached to a solid resin.
• Nicotinamide derivative coupling. After synthesizing the peptide chain, the nicotinoyl group is chemically coupled to the N-terminus of the tripeptide. This imparts the peptide with its beneficial properties for the skin.
• Cleavage and deprotection. The peptide is released from the resin and protective groups are removed using an appropriate cleavage mixture.
• Purification. The crude peptide is purified via reverse-phase chromatography to remove impurities and optimize product purity.
• Quality control. Rigorous testing, such as HPLC and mass spectrometry, is conducted to verify the purity, structure, and functionality of the peptide.
• Formulation. Finally, Nicotinoyl Tripeptide-1 is formulated with compatible ingredients in cosmetic products to maximize its effects on skin health.

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Myšková A, Sýkora D, Kuneš J, Maletínská L. Lipidization as a tool toward peptide therapeutics. Drug Deliv. 2023 Dec;30(1):2284685. doi: 10.1080/10717544.2023.2284685. 

Abstract. Peptides, as potential therapeutics continue to gain importance in the search for active substances for the treatment of numerous human diseases, some of which are, to this day, incurable. As potential therapeutic drugs, peptides have many favorable chemical and pharmacological properties, starting with their great diversity, through their high affinity for binding to all sort of natural receptors, and ending with the various pathways of their breakdown, which produces nothing but amino acids that are nontoxic to the body. Despite these and other advantages, however, they also have their pitfalls. One of these disadvantages is the very low stability of natural peptides. They have a short half-life and tend to be cleared from the organism very quickly. Their instability in the gastrointestinal tract, makes it impossible to administer peptidic drugs orally. To achieve the best pharmacologic effect, it is desirable to look for ways of modifying peptides that enable the use of these substances as pharmaceuticals. There are many ways to modify peptides. Herein we summarize the approaches that are currently in use, including lipidization, PEGylation, glycosylation and others, focusing on lipidization. We describe how individual types of lipidization are achieved and describe their advantages and drawbacks. Peptide modifications are performed with the goal of reaching a longer half-life, reducing immunogenicity and improving bioavailability. In the case of neuropeptides, lipidization aids their activity in the central nervous system after the peripheral administration. At the end of our review, we summarize all lipidized peptide-based drugs that are currently on the market.

(2) Nguyen HLT, Trujillo-Paez JV, Umehara Y, Yue H, Peng G, Kiatsurayanon C, Chieosilapatham P, Song P, Okumura K, Ogawa H, Ikeda S, Niyonsaba F. Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in Skin Barrier Repair in Individuals with Atopic Dermatitis. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Oct 14;21(20):7607. doi: 10.3390/ijms21207607.

Abstract. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that exhibits a complex interplay of skin barrier disruption and immune dysregulation. Patients with AD are susceptible to cutaneous infections that may progress to complications, including staphylococcal septicemia. Although most studies have focused on filaggrin mutations, the physical barrier and antimicrobial barrier also play critical roles in the pathogenesis of AD. Within the physical barrier, the stratum corneum and tight junctions play the most important roles. The tight junction barrier is involved in the pathogenesis of AD, as structural and functional defects in tight junctions not only disrupt the physical barrier but also contribute to immunological impairments. Furthermore, antimicrobial peptides, such as LL-37, human b-defensins, and S100A7, improve tight junction barrier function. Recent studies elucidating the pathogenesis of AD have led to the development of barrier repair therapy for skin barrier defects in patients with this disease. This review analyzes the association between skin barrier disruption in patients with AD and antimicrobial peptides to determine the effect of these peptides on skin barrier repair and to consider employing antimicrobial peptides in barrier repair strategies as an additional approach for AD management.

(3) Stephanopoulos N. Peptide-Oligonucleotide Hybrid Molecules for Bioactive Nanomaterials. Bioconjug Chem. 2019 Jul 17;30(7):1915-1922. doi: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00259. Epub 2019 May 28. PMID: 31082220.

Abstract. Peptides and oligonucleotides are two of the most interesting molecular platforms for making bioactive materials. Peptides provide bioactivity that can mimic that of proteins, whereas oligonucleotides like DNA can be used as scaffolds to immobilize other molecules with nanoscale precision. In this Topical Review, we discuss covalent conjugates of peptides and DNA for creating bioactive materials that can interface with cells. In particular, we focus on two areas. The first is multivalent presentation of peptides on a DNA scaffold, both linear assemblies and more complex nanostructures. The second is the reversible tuning of the extracellular environment-like ligand presentation, stiffness, and hierarchical morphology-in peptide-DNA biomaterials. These examples highlight the potential for creating highly potent materials with benefits not possible with either molecule alone, and we outline a number of future directions and applications for peptide-DNA conjugates.