PAGE TITLE
Overview
PAGE SUMMARY
Ultraviolet (UV) light is the main cause of damaging effects of sunlight on skin, resulting in skin aging, sunburns and wrinkle formation. Drexel researchers have identified spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) as an important mediator of UV light skin damage leading to breakdown of collagen and collagen content loss, and increased risk of skin cancer (Papazoglou et al. (2011) British J. of Derm. 165, pp. 69-77). The studies further showed that inhibiting Syk kinase reduced the effects of Syk activation, suggesting that topical application of Syk inhibitors can be used to protect against and or treat sunlight-induced skin damage. Specifically, Drexel researchers have tested a known Syk inhibitor piceatannol, a small molecule closely related to resveratrol. Piceatannol is a safe compound found in various foods such as grapes and especially in passion fruit. It is manufactured by extraction from fruits and plants, and can be synthesized chemically. Similarly to resveratrol, piceatannol possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used as a natural ingredient in anti-aging and sun-protecting creams and lotions.
APPLICATIONS
TITLE: Applications
Sunscreens as a new modality of protection against sunburns
Sunburn creams for decreasing sunlight-caused damage, in addition to pain reduction
Plant extract-based creams & lotions as an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory component with added layer of sunlight protection
Topical formulation for the prevention and treatment of skin cancers
ADVANTAGES
TITLE:Advantages
Piceatannol is a food component and has no known side effect
Can be extracted from plants or synthesized chemically
IP STATUS
Intellectual Property and Development Status
Untied States Issued Patent- 9,551,710
http://patft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=9551710.PN.&OS=PN/9551710&RS=PN/9551710
United States Patent Pending- 15/370,528
http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=20170100313.PGNR.&OS=DN/20170100313&RS=DN/20170100313
Commercialization Opportunities
Alexey Melishchuk, Associate Director, Licensing
Office of Applied Innovation, Drexel University
3180 Chestnut Street, Suite 104
Philadelphia, PA 19104
T: (215) 895-0304
amelishchuk@drexel.edu