A highly biocompatible and bioactive transdermal nano collagen for enhanced healing of UV-damaged skin

Skin damage caused by excessive UV radiation has gradually become one of the most prevalent skin diseases. Collagen has gradually found applications in the treatment of UV-damaged skin; however, their high molecular weight greatly limits their capacity to permeate the skin barrier and repair the damaged skin. Nano collagen has garnered growing attentions in the mimicking of collagen; while the investigation of its skin permeability and wound-healing capability remains vacancies. Herein, we have for the first time created a highly biocompatible and bioactive transdermal nano collagen demonstrating remarkable transdermal capacity and repair efficacy for UV-damaged skin. The transdermal nano collagen exhibited a stable triple-helix structure, effectively promoting the adhesion and proliferation of fibroblasts. Notably, the transdermal nano collagen displayed exceptional penetration capabilities, permeating fibroblast and healthy skin. Combo evaluations revealed that the transdermal nano collagen contributed to recovering the intensity and TEWL values of UV-damaged skin to normal level. Histological analysis further indicated that transdermal nano collagen significantly accelerated the repair of damaged skin by promoting the collagen regeneration and fibroblasts activation. This highly biocompatible and bioactive transdermal nano collagen provides a novel substituted strategy for the transdermal absorption of collagen, indicating great potential applications in cosmetics and dermatology.