Investigating the Effects of Oxidative Stress Prevention Using DNA Aptamer (Aptamin C®) in Keratinocyte

Abstract

Oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of various diseases. Oxidative stress conditions occur when reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels exceed cell defense mechanisms. Antioxidants are effective against ROS, a major factor in oxidative stress. Antioxidants play important roles in our body by scavenging free radicals, thereby preventing them from damaging biological molecules. Vitamin C is essential for various physiological functions such as the synthesis of collagen and neurotransmitters, and it is a major antioxidant. Although vitamin C is widely used in cosmetic and therapeutic products, it easily undergoes oxidation by air, pH, temperature, and UV light, thereby decreasing its potency as an antioxidant and reducing the shelf-life of products containing vitamin C. To overcome this drawback, we developed Aptamin C^®, an innovative single-strand DNA aptamer that maximizes the antioxidant efficacy of vitamin C by binding to its reduced form and delaying its oxidation. To investigate the effect of Aptamin C^® and vitamin C complex on human skin, we performed both in vitro and clinical tests. We observed that the Aptamin C^® and vitamin C complex had effective ROS-scavenging and anti-inflammatory effects.