The skin acts as a protective barrier thanks, among other elements, to the acid mantle, a thin hydrolipidic film located in the stratum corneum that prevents dehydration, protects against infections, and maintains skin balance. In diseases such as atopic dermatitis or ichthyosis, this mantle is altered or absent, contributing to the development and chronification of the disease. Currently, there are no materials capable of replacing it, and available treatments are mainly symptomatic and not very effective. This project proposes to develop a biomimetic material based on a nanostructured hydrolipidic gel capable of imitating the acid mantle and restoring the functionality of diseased skin. The project will combine physicochemical and biomedical studies, including material characterization, lipid analysis of healthy and diseased skin, and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of its therapeutic efficacy.
Enfermedad Archives
Lipid replacement therapy for patients with congenital ichthyosis using nanostructured topical delivery systems of acylceramides.
Hereditary ichthyoses are rare genetic diseases (13.3 cases per million in Europe) that appear at birth or in early childhood, causing scaling, skin thickening, dryness, itching, and pain. Approximately half of the patients, especially those with Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis (ARCI), present a defect in the synthesis of CerEOS, a ceramide essential for the epidermal barrier. Current treatments are only symptomatic and not very effective. The LIPARCI II project develops a lipid replacement therapy based on CerEOS encapsulated in biomimetic nanoparticles, capable of restoring the skin barrier in preclinical ARCI models. Additionally, LIPARCI II includes a phase 0 clinical trial to evaluate bioavailability, will advance large-scale production, and will develop new models and formulations to expand the number of beneficiary patients.
GELISOME: a nanostructured formulation for skin healing
Chronic wounds affect between 1% and 2% of the population in developed countries, and more than 23% of hospitalized patients suffer from pressure ulcers. Current treatments focus on preventing infections and maintaining moisture, but they are insufficient, can cause toxicity, and do not achieve complete healing. This project proposes a new nanostructured hydrogel that mimics the skin’s lipid matrix to promote epithelial growth and tissue repair. The hydrogel incorporates essential skin ceramides and biomolecules from microalgae extracts that stimulate protein synthesis and connective tissue regeneration. The project includes the development of the hydrogel, its physicochemical characterization, formulation optimization, safety and stability studies, in vitro and in vivo efficacy trials, production scaling, and dissemination activities.