The Story Behind Elastatropin®

The Extracellular Matrix is made up of molecules such as elastin, laminin, keratin, fibrin and collagen. Together these molecules impart strength and elasticity to the skin, lung, arteries, and other tissues. In response to Department of Defense research requests, Matrix Design has undertaken the production and evaluation of human Extracellular Matrix Proteins in new forms and quantities.

One of the proteins in the Extracellular Matrix is human tropoelastin (the precursor to elastin) an extremely important component of skin; providing a great deal of skin's strength and elasticity. The production of this molecule for wound healing has resulted in new discoveries that permit the application of human tropoelastin to the skin topically to help reduce the formation and incidence of wrinkles. Wound healing becomes skin regeneration.

In addition, developments in the fields of biotechnology now make it possible to produce human elastin or its tropoelastin precursor by biotechnology methods in microorganisms or plants. The significant advantages provided by these sources include:

• A truly water soluble and intact protein
• Higher likelihood of being absorbed
• Compatible with the biochemistry of the skin
• Shown to be incorporated into the tissue matrix
• More esthetically pleasing
• Identical to the human material
• Available as the tropoelastin precursor

The material has many properties that make it superior to the conventional sources of elastin. Also, the use of authentic human proteins such as Elastatropin® precludes an allergic response to the protein.