A method for production of artificial skin by administering matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent. The matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor is N-hydroxy-2(R)-[[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl](3-picolyl)amino]-3-methylbuta- namide hydrochloride.

Description of the Invention

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel means for stabilizing skin basement membrane, and to provide a novel means for achieving adequate formation of basement membrane in the production of artificial skin.

As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention found that the formation of a skin basement membrane structure is promoted by administering matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, or both matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent, thereby leading to completion of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides a skin basement membrane formation promoting agent that contains matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

In addition, the present invention provides a skin basement membrane formation promoting agent containing matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent.

As a result of various studies to solve the above problems, the inventors of the present invention found that, in culturing to produce artificial skin, formation of a basement membrane can be promoted by adding matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, or both matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent to the medium, thereby leading to completion of the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides an artificial skin formation promoting agent containing matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

In addition, the present invention provides an artificial skin formation promoting agent containing matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent.

In addition, the present invention provides an artificial skin production method comprising the addition of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor to an artificial skin formation medium.

Moreover, the present invention provides an artificial skin production method comprising the addition of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent to an artificial skin formation medium.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitor

There are no particular restrictions on the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor used in the present invention, and any substance may be used provided it has such inhibitory activity. Examples of matrix metalloproteinase include gelatinase, collagenase, stromelysin and matrilysin. Thus, a substance (inhibiting) such as gelatinase, collagenase, stromelysin or matrilysin can be selected for the matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor.

Specific examples of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors include substance CGS27023A N-hydroxy-2(R)-[[(4-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl](3-picolyl)amino]-3-- methylbutanamide hydrochloride (J. Med. Chem. 1997, Vol. 40, p. 2525-2532), and MMP-inhibitor (p-NH.sub.2-Bz-Gly-Pro-D-Leu-Ala-NHOH) (FN-437) (BBRC, 1994, Vol. 199, p. 1442-1446).

Moreover, specific examples of metalloproteinase inhibitor of the present invention that can be used include various plant extracts and purified products obtained therefrom. Examples of such plants include Thymus serpyllum L., Valeriana faureie Briquet or other similar plants (Valerianaceae), Diospyros kaki Thunberg (Ebenaceae), Astragalus sinicus Linne (Leguminosae), Crataegus cuneata Siebold et Zuccarini (Rosaceae), Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Poeonia montan Sims) (Paconiaceae), Thea sinensis Linne var. assamica Pierre (Thcaccae), Eucalyptus globulus Labillardiere or its similar plants (Myrtaceae), Potentilla tormentilla Schrk (Rosaceae), Tilia corda:a Mill., Tilia platyphyllus Scop., Tilia europaea Linne (Tiliaceae), Betula alba Linne (Betulaceze), Origanummajorana L., Uncaria gambir Roxburgh (Rubiaceae), Juglans regia Linne var. sinensis De Candolie or its similar plants (Juglandaceae), Sophora flavescens Aiton (Leguminosae), Sanguisorba officinalis Linne (Rosaceae), Hypericum perforatum Linne or Hypericum erectum Thunberg (Guttiferae), Thea sinensis Linne (Theaceae), Curcuma longa L (Zingiberaceae), purified extracts of Curcuma longa L including Symplocos racemosa and Cyperus rotundus, Cyperus scariosus, Gaultheria fragrantissima, Acacia formensia, Terminalia chebula, Ficus bengalensis, Cassia fistula Linn, Lyonia ovalifolia, Calophyllum inophyllum and Ficus religiosa.

Extracts of these plants are obtained from the root, leaves, stem or flower in the case of herbaceous plants, or from the root, buds, bark, fruits, leaves or flowers in the case of woody plants.

Extracts from these plants are obtained by drying the plant material as necessary and cutting or crushing as necessary, followed by extracting into an aqueous extracting agent or organic solvent. Examples of aqueous extracting agents that can be used include cold water, warm water and hot water at the boiling point or lower temperature, while examples of organic solvents that can be used include methanol, ethanol, 1,3-butanediol and ether at normal temperature or heated.

Examples of matrix proteins in the present invention include laminin, type IV collagen, type VII collagen, parlecan and nidogen, which are constituent components of the basement membrane.

Matrix Protein Production Promoting Agent

Examples of the matrix protein production promoting agent used in the present invention include, in the case of promoting the production of these proteins, soy bean lysolecithin, transforming growth factor .alpha. (TGFa), transforming growth factor .beta.1 (TGFb1), transforming growth factor .beta.2 (TGFb2), transforming growth factor .beta.3 (TGFb3) and epithelium growth factor (EGF).

In the case the artificial skin formation promoting agent or skin basement membrane stabilizing agent of the present invention contains matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent, the ratio of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent, although varying according to their types and activity, is roughly 1:10.sup.6 to 10.sup.6:1.

Artificial Skin

Any arbitrary medium that is conventionally used for the production of artificial skin can be used for the basal medium used to produce artificial skin in the present invention, and examples of such media include Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) containing 10% fetal calf serum, DMEM-Ham's F12 (3:1) medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, 5 .mu.g/ml of transferrin, 5 .mu.g/ml of insulin, 2 nM tri-iodotyrosine, 0.1 nM cholera toxin and 0.4 .mu.g/ml of hydrocortisone, and keratinocyte growth medium (KGM) and DMEM containing 10% fetal calf serum mixed at a ratio of 1:1. Although varying according to the particular type, the amount of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor added to these basal media is about 1 nmol/L to 10.sup.-2 mole/L. In addition, the amount of matrix protein production promoting agent added to the basal medium is about 1 ng/L to 1 g/L.

In the production of artificial skin of the present invention, contracted type I collagen gel containing human fibroblasts is first allowed to stand undisturbed on a metal mesh. The contracted type I collagen containing human fibroblasts can be prepared in, for example, the manner described below. After preparing a collagen solution in which fibroblasts are suspended over ice, the collagen is gelled in a Petri dish. Next, the gel is peeled from the walls of the Petri dish and the collagen gel is contracted in a CO.sub.2 incubator.

Next, epidermal cells, such as normal human epidermal keratinocytes, are cultured on the above collagen gel to form epidermal. Formation of an epidermal layer by culturing epidermal cells can be carried out in the following manner. Contracted collagen gel is placed on a metal mesh, and a glass ring is placed on this gel. A suspension of epidermal keratinocytes originating in human foreskin is placed in the glass ring while preventing liquid leaking. The keratinocytes are adhered in a CO.sub.2 incubator, followed by removal of the ring. The above medium is filled to the boundary of the epidermal layer and cornified layer is formed by continuing culturing while exposing the epidermal layer to the air.

According to this method, artificial skin is obtained that approximates natural skin in which an adequate basement membrane is formed between a dermal layer and epidermal layer composed of contracted type I collagen gel containing fibroblasts.

Skin Basement Membrane Formation Promoting Agent

According to the result of a study on basement membrane structural changes of facial skin for which cosmetics are primarily used that focused on a report of structural changes characterized by reduplication of the basement membrane accompanying aging as one of the changes that accompany aging (Lavker, J., Invest. Dermal. 1979, 73, 59-66), structural changes in the basement membrane begin to occur in the late twenties and have been found to accumulate with age. These structure changes of basement membrane are skin changes that precede skin changes accompanying aging, such as the formation of wrinkles, hardening or decreased resiliency.

Thus, it is essential for expression of normal skin function that epidermal basal cells be securely bound to the basement membrane, and promotion of basement membrane formation is considered to be important for this. As a result of studying wrinkle formation inhibitors using an ultraviolet radiation aged mouse model based on the presumption of routine ultraviolet rays, activity that inhibits wrinkle formation was found in drugs that are able to inhibit matrix metalloproteinase. Thus, agents that promote regeneration and repair of the basement membrane in the skin are effective as inhibitors of skin aging.

Thus, according to the present invention, a skin activating composition or basement membrane formation promoting artificial skin culturing liquid is newly provided that contains one type or a mixture of two or more types of the above matrix metalloproteinase inhibiting compound, or one type or a mixture of two or more types of this matrix metalloproteinase inhibiting compound and one type or a mixture of two or more types of a compound that demonstrates activity which increases the production of matrix protein, at a concentration sufficient for exhibiting effects that promote regeneration, repair and formation of skin basement membrane. This skin activation refers to, for example, the prevention or improvement of decreased skin function accompanying structural changes in basement membrane caused by aging and so forth, and more specifically, skin wrinkling and hardening.

The above concentration sufficient for exhibiting effects that promote regeneration, repair and formation of skin basement membrane refers may vary according to the type of compounds used, other components or vehicles used to prepare said composition, and the duration of use.

The skin basement membrane formation promoting agent of the present invention can contain active ingredient in the form of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, or matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor and matrix protein production promoting agent, at 0.000001 to 60 wt %, and preferably 0.00001 to 60 wt %, relative to the composition.

The skin basement membrane stabilizing agent of the present invention can be in the form of an aqueous solution, oil, other solution, milky liquid, cream, gel, suspension, microcapsules, powder, granules, capsules or solid, and after being prepared in any of these forms according to methods which are themselves known, can be coated, adhered, sprayed, injected, consumed or inserted into the body in the form of a lotion, milky liquids, cream, ointment, paste, poultice, aerosol, injection, medication (including tablets, powders, granules, pills, syrups and troaches) or suppository. Among these preparation forms, skin topical preparations such as lotions, milky liquids, creams, ointments, pastes, poultices and aerosols are considered to be preparation forms that are suitable for the composition of the present invention. The skin topical preparations described here include prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs and cosmetics, and are to be used with the same meaning hereinafter.

Vehicles and fragrances routinely used when preparing such compositions, as well as oils, surfactants, antiseptics, sequestering agents, water-soluble polymers, thickeners, powder ingredients, ultraviolet defensive agents, moisturizing agents, pharmacologically effective ingredients, antioxidants, pH adjusters, cleaning agents, drying agents, emulsifiers and so forth can be suitably blended into the composition of the present invention. In the case of blending each of these ingredients into the skin activating composition of the present invention, it is necessary to blend them within a range that does not impair the desired effect of the present invention.

Examples of the above oil include liquid oils, solid oils, waxes, hydrocarbon oils, higher fatty acids, higher alcohols, synthetic ester oils and silicones.

More specifically, examples of liquid oils include avocado oil, tsubaki oil, primrose oil, turtle oil, macadamia nut oil, corn oil, mink oil, olive oil, rape seed oil, egg yolk oil, sesame oil, persic oil, wheat germ oil, sasanqua oil, castor oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, cottonseed oil, perilla oil, soy bean oil, peanut oil, theine oil, kaya oil, rice bran oil, Chinese wood oil, Japanese wood oil, hohoba oil, germ oil, triglycerin, trioctanoic glycerin and triisopalmitic glycerin; examples of solid oils include cacao butter, coconut oil, horse tallow, hardened coconut oil, palm oil, beef tallow, goat tallow, hardened beef tallow, palm heart oil, pork tallow, beef bone tallow, haze heart oil, hardened oil, beef leg tallow, haze wax and hardened castor oil; examples of waxes include beeswax, candelilla wax, cotton wax, carnauba wax, bayberry wax, tree wax, spermaceti, montan wax, bran wax, lanolin, kapok wax, lanolin acetate, liquid lanolin, sugar cane wax, isopropyl lanolin fatty acid, hexyl laurate, reduced lanolin, jojoba wax, hard lanolin, shellac wax, POE lanolin alcohol ether, POE lanolin alcohol acetate, POE cholesterol ether, lanolin fatty acid polyethylene glycol and POE hydrogenated lanolin alcohol ether; and examples of hydrocarbon oils include liquid paraffin, ozokerite, squalene, pristan, paraffin, ceresin, squalene, VASELINE.TM. (petroleum jelly) and microcrystalline wax.

Examples of higher fatty acids include lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, behenic (beheninic) acid, oleic acid, 12-hydroxystearic acid, undecylenic acid, tolic acid, isostearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA).

Examples of higher alcohols include lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, myristyl alcohol, oleyl alcohol, cetostearyl alcohol and other straight chain alcohols, as well as monostearyl glycerin ether (vatyl alcohol), 2-decyltetradecinol, lanolin alcohol, cholesterol, phytosterol, hexyldodecanol, isostearyl alcohol, octyldecanol and other branched chain alcohols.

Examples of synthetic ester oils include isopropyl myristate, cetyl octanoate, octyldodecyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, butyl stearate, hexyl laurate, myristyl myristate, decyl oleate, hexyldecyl dimethyloctanoate, cetyl lactate, myristyl lactate, lanolin acetate, isocetyl stearate, isocetyl isostearate, cholesteryl 12-hydroxystearate, ethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexylate, dipentaerythritol fatty acid ester, n-alkylglyol monoisostearate, glycerin di-2-heptylundecanoate, trimethylolpropane tri-2-ethylhexylate, trimethylolpropane triisostearate, pentaneerythritol tetra-2-ethylhexylate, glycerin tri-2-ethylhexylate, trimethylolpropane triisostearate, cetyl-2-ethyl hexanoate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate, glycerin trimyristate, tri-2-heptylundecanoic glyceride, castor oil fatty acid methyl ester, oleic oil, cetostearyl alcohol, acetoglyceride, 2-heptylundecyl palmitate, diisobutyl adipate, N-lauroyl-L-glutamate-2-octyldodecyl ester, di-2-heptylundecyl adipate, ethyl laurate, di-2-ethylhexyl sebacate, 2-hexyldecyl myristate, 2-hexyldecyl palmitate, 2-hexyldecyl adipate, diisopropyl sebacate, 2-ethylhexyl succinate, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl acetate and triethyl citrate.

Examples of silicones include dimethyl polysiloxane, methylphenyl polysiloxane, methylhydrogen polysiloxane and other linear polysiloxanes, decamethyl polysiloxane, dodecamethyl polysiloxane, tetramethyltetrahydrogen polysiloxane and other cyclic polysiloxanes, and silicon resin and silicone rubber that form a three-dimensional mesh structure.

The skin basement membrane stabilizing agent of the present invention may contain anionic surfactant, cationic surfactant, amphoteric surfactant or nonionic surfactant and so forth either alone or in combination.

Examples of anionic surfactants include fatty acid soaps such as soap base, sodium laurate and sodium palmitate; higher alkyl sulfate esters such as sodium lauryl sulfate and potassium lauryl sulfate; alkyl ether sulfate ester salts such as POE triethanol amine lauryl sulfate and POE sodium lauryl sulfate; N-acylsarcosinic acids such as sodium lauroylsarcosine; higher fatty acid amide sulfonates such as sodium N-myristoyl-N-taurine, sodium coconut oil fatty acid methyltauride and sodium laurylmethyltauride; phosphate esters such as POE sodium oleyl ether phosphate and POE stearyl ether phosphate; sulfosuccinates such as sodium di-2-ethylhexylsulfosuccinate, sodium monolauroylmonoethanolamide polyoxyethylene sulfosuccinate and sodium laurylpolypropylene glycol sulfosuccinate; alkylbenzene sulfonates such as linear sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, linear dodecylbenzene sulfonate triethanolamine and linear dodecylbenzene sulfonate; N-acylglutamates such as monosodium N-lauroylglutamate, disodium N-stearoylglutamate and monosodium N-myristoyl-L-glutamate; higher fatty acid ester sulfate esters such as sodium hardened coconut oil fatty acid glycerin sulfate; sulfated oils such as Turkey red oil oil; as well as POE alkyl ether carboxylic acid, POE alkylaryl ether carboxylic acid, .alpha.-olefin sulfonate, higher fatty acid ester sulfonate, secondary alcohol sulfate ester, higher fatty acid alkylolamide sulfate ester, sodium lauroylmonoethanolamide succinate, N-palmitoylaspartate ditriethanolamine and sodium casein.

Examples of cationic surfactants include alkyl trimethyl ammonium salts such as stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride and lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride, dialkyl dimethyl ammonium salts such as distearyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, alkyl pyridinium salts such as (N,N'-dimethyl-3,5-methylene piperidinium) chloride and cetyl pyridinium chloride, alkyl quaternary ammonium salts, alkyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium salts, alkyl isoquinolinium salts, dialkyl morpholinium salts, POE alkyl amines, alkyl amine salts, polyamine fatty acid derivatives, amyl alcohol fatty acid derivatives, benzalkonium chloride and benzetonium chloride.

Examples of amphoteric surfactants include imidazoline-based amphoteric surfactants such as 2-undecyl-N,N,N-(hydroxyethylcarboxymethyl)-2-imidazoline sodium and 2-cocoyl-2-imidazolinium hydroxide-1-carboxyethyloxy-2-sodium salt, and betaine-based amphoteric surfactants such as 2-heptadecyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethylimidazolinium betaine, lauryldimethylaminoacetate betaine, alkyl betaine, amidobetaine and sulfobetaine.

Examples of lipophilic nonionic surfactants include sorbitan fatty acid esters such as sorbitan monooleate, sorbitan monoisostearate, sorbitan monolaurate, sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan sesquioleate, sorbitan trioleate, penta-2-ethylhexylic diglycerol sorbitan and tetra-2-ethylhexylic diglycerol sorbitan, glycerin polyglycerin fatty acids such as glycerin mono-cottonseed oil fatty acid, glycerin monoerucate, glycerin sesquiolate, glycerin monostearate, glycerin .alpha.,.alpha.'-oleic pyroglutamate, glycerin monostearate and malic acid, propylene glycol fatty acid esters such as propylene glycol monostearate, hardened castor oil derivatives, glycerin alkyl ether and polyoxyethylene-methylpolysiloxane copolymers.

Examples of hydrophilic nonionic surfactants include POE sorbitan fatty acid esters such as POE sorbitan monooleate, POE sorbitan monostearate, POE sorbitan monooleate and POE sorbitan tetraoleate, POE sorbitol fatty acid esters such as POE sorbitol monolaurate, POE sorbitol monooleate, POE sorbitol pentaoleate and POE sorbitol monostearate, POE glycerin fatty acid esters such as POE glycerin monostearate, POE glycerin monoisostearate and POE glycerin triisostearate, POE fatty acid esters such as POE monooleate, POE distearate, POE monodioleate and ethylene glycol distearate, POE alkyl ethers such as POE lauryl ether, POE oleyl ether, POL stearyl ether, POE behenyl ether, POE 2-octyldodecyl ether and POE cholestanol ether, POE alkylphenyl ethers such as POE octylphenyl ether, POE nonylphenyl ether and POE dinonylphenyl ether, plurallonics such as pluronic, POE-POP alkyl ethers such as POE-POP cetyl ether, POE-POP 2-decyltetradecyl ether, POE-POP monobutyl ether, POE-POP hydrogenated lanolin and POE-POP glycerin ether, tetra POE-tetra POP ethylene diamine condensation products such as tetronic, POE castor oil/hardened castor oil derivatives such as POE castor oil, POE hardened castor oil, POE hardened castor oil monoisostearate, POE hardened castor oil triisostearate, POE hardened castor oil monopyroglutamate monoisostearate diester and POE hardened castor oil maleate, POE beeswax-lanolin derivatives such as POE sorbitol beeswax, alkanol amides such as coconut oil fatty acid diethanol amide, lauric monoethanol amide and fatty acid isopropanol amide, POE propylene glycol fatty acid esters, POE alkyl amines, POE fatty acid amides, sucrose fatty acid esters, POE nonylphenyl formaldehyde compounds, alkylethoxydimethyl amine oxides and trioleyl phosphates.

Examples of the above-preservatives include methyl parabenzene, ethyl parabenzene and butyl parabenzene.

Examples of the above sequestering agents include sodium edetate and EDTA.

Examples of the above water-soluble polymers include natural polymers, semi-synthetic polymers, synthetic polymers and inorganic polymers.

Examples of natural water-soluble polymers include plant polymers such as gum arabic, tragacanth gum, galactan, guar gum, carob gum, karaya gum, carageenan, tamarind gum, xanthane gum, pectin, agar, queenseed marmelo, algea colloid (brown algae extract), starch (rice, corn, potato, wheat) and glycyrrhizic acid, microbial polymers such as xanthane gum, dextran succinoglucan and pluran, and animal polymers such as collagen, casein, albumin and gelatin.

Examples of semi-synthetic water-soluble polymers include starch-based polymers such as dextrin, carboxymethyl starch and methylhydroxypropyl starch, cellulose-based polymers such as methyl cellulose, nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, methylhydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, cellulose dimethyl dialkyl (12-20) ammonium sulfate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), crystalline cellulose and powdered cellulose, alginate-based polymers such as sodium alginate and propylene glycol alginate ester.

Examples of synthetic water-soluble polymers include vinyl-based polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl methyl ether, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carboxyvinyl polymer and alkyl denatured carboxyvinyl polymer, polyoxyethylene-based polymers such as polyethylene glycol 2000, 4000 and 6000, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene copolymer-based polymers, acrylic polymers such as sodium polyacrylate, polyethylene acrylate and polyacrylamide, polyethylene imines and cationic polymers.

Examples of inorganic water-soluble polymers include bentonite, magnesium aluminum silicate, raponite, hectrite and silicic anhydride.

Examples of the above powder component include inorganic powders such as talc, kaolin, mica, sericite, muscovite, phlogopite, synthetic mica, lepidolite, biotite, lithia mica, vermiculite, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum silicate, barium silicate, calcium silicate, magnesium silicate, strontium silicate, metal tungstate, magnesium, silica, zeolite, barium sulfate, baked calcium sulfate (baked gypsum), calcium phosphate, fluoroapatite, hydroxyapatite, ceramic powder, metal soap (zinc myristate, calcium palmitate, aluminum stearate) and boron nitride, organic powders such as polyamide resin powder (Nylon powder), polyethylene powder, polymethyl methacrylate powder, polystyrene powder, styrene and acrylic acid copolymer resin powder, benzoguanamine resin powder, polytetrafluoroethylene powder and cellulose powder, inorganic white pigments such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, inorganic red pigments such as iron oxide (rouge) and iron titanate, inorganic brown pigments such as .gamma.-iron oxide, inorganic yellow pigments such as yellow iron oxide and ocher, inorganic black pigments such as black iron oxide, carbon black and low order titanium oxide, inorganic violet pigments such as mango violet and cobalt violet, inorganic green pigments such as chromium oxide, chromium hydroxide and cobalt titanate, inorganic blue pigments such as ultramarine and Prussian blue, pearl pigments such as titanium oxide coated mica, titanium oxide coated bismuth oxychloride, titanium oxide coated talc, colored titanium oxide coated mica, bismuth oxychloride and fish scale foil, metal powder pigments such as aluminum powder and copper powder, zirconium, barium or aluminum lake organic pigments such as red no. 201, red no. 202, red no. 204, red no. 205, red no. 220, red no. 226, red no. 228, red no. 405, orange no. 203, orange no. 204, yellow no. 205, yellow no. 401, yellow no. 404, red no. 3, red no. 104, red no. 106, red no. 227, red no. 230, red no. 401, red no. 505, orange no. 205, yellow no. 4, yellow no. 5, yellow no. 202, yellow no. 203, green no. 3 and blue no. 1, natural pigments such as chlorophyll and .beta.-carotene, and colorants such as titanium yellow, carsamine and saffron red.

Examples of the above ultraviolet defensive agents include both "ultraviolet absorbers", which are substances that chemically absorb ultraviolet rays, and "ultraviolet blockers", which are substances that scatter and reflect ultraviolet rays by physical action.

Namely, examples of long-wavelength ultraviolet (UVA) absorbers include anthranilic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers such as methyl anthranilate and homomethyl-N-acetylanthranilate, benzophenone-based ultraviolet absorbers such as 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, 2,2-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone, 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4'-methylbenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, 4-phenylbenzophenone, 2-ethylhexyl-4'-phenyl-benzophenone-2-carboxylate, 2-hydroxy-4-n-octoxybenzophenone and 4-hydroxy-3-carboxybenzophenone, benzotriazole-based ultraviolet absorbers such as 2,2'-hydroxy-5-methylphenylbenzotriazole, 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-t-octylphenyl)benzotriazole and 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)benzotriazole, dianisoylmethane and 4-methoxy-4'-t-butyldibenzoylmethane.

Among these long-wavelength ultraviolet absorbers, 4-methoxy-4'-tert-butyldibenzoylmethane, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone derivatives such as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonate are preferable because they are long-wavelength ultraviolet absorbers having superior safety and effectiveness.

In addition, examples of medium-wavelength ultraviolet (UVB) absorbers include benzoic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers such as paraminobenzoic acid (to be abbreviated as PABA), PABA monoglycerin ester, N,N-dipropoxy PABA ethyl ester, N,N-diethoxy PABA ethyl ester, N,N-dimethyl PABA ethyl ester, N,N-dimethyl PABA butyl ester and N,N-dimethyl PABA amyl ester, salicylic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers such as dipropylene glycol salicylate, ethylene glycol salicylate, myristyl salicylate, methyl salicylate, amyl salicylate, menthyl salicylate, homomethyl salicylate, octyl salicylate, phenyl salicylate, benzyl salicylate and p-isopropanol phenyl salicylate, cinnamic acid-based ultraviolet absorbers such as octyl cinnamate, ethyl-4-isopropyl cinnamate, methyl-2,5-diisopropyl cinnamate, ethyl-2,4-diisopropyl cinnamate, methyl-2,4-diisopropyl cinnamate, propyl-p-methoxycinnamate, isopropyl-p-methoxycinnamate, isoamyl-p-methoxycinnamate, octyl-p-methoxycinnamate (2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate), 2-ethoxymethyl-p-methoxycinnamate, cyclohexyl-p-methoxycinnamate, ethyl-.alpha.-cyano-.beta.-phenylcinnamate, 2-ethylhexyl-.alpha.-cyano-.beta.-phenylcinnamate, glycerylmono-2-ethylhexanoyl-diparamethoxycinnamate, methoxycinnamate octyl, 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate-3-methyl-4-[methylbis(trimethylsiloxy)si- lyl]butyl and p-dimethoxycinnamate monoethyl ester, camphor derivatives such as 3-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-d,1-camphor, 3-benzylidene-d,1-camphor and 5-(3,3-dimethyl-2-norvolnilidene)-3-penten-2-one, urocanic acid, urocanic ethyl ester, 2-phenyl-5-methylbenzooxazole and dibenzaladine.

Moreover, examples of ultraviolet blockers include titanium oxide (TiO.sub.2), talc (MgSiO.sub.2), carmine (FeO.sub.2), bentonite, kaolin and zinc oxide (Zno).

Examples of the above moisturizing agents include polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, xylitol, sorbitol, maltitol, chondroitin sulfuric acid, hyaluronic acid, mucoitin sulfuric acid, charoninic acid, atherocollagen, cholesteryl-12-hydroxystearate, sodium lactate, bile acid salt, d1-pyrrolidone carboxylate, short chain soluble collagen, diglycerin (EO) PO addition product, Chestnut rose Fruit extract, milfoil extract and melilote extract.

Examples of the above pharmacologically effective ingredients include whiteners such as albutin, vitamin C and its derivatives, kojic acid placental extract, glutathione and saxifrage extract, antiphlogistics such as glycyrrhizic acid derivatives, glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, hinokitiol, zinc oxide and allantoin, activators such as royal jelly, actinolite, cholesterol derivatives and calf blood extract, circulation promoters such as nonylic urenylamide, nicotinic benzyl ester, nicotinic .beta.-butoxyethyl ester, capsisin, zingerone, cantharidin, ichthammol, caffeine, tannic acid, .alpha.-borneol, nicotinic tocopherol, inositol hexanicotinate, cyclandelate, cinnarizine, tolazoline, acetylcholine, verapamil, cepharanthin and .gamma.-olizanol, antiseborrheics such as sulfur and thianthol, and for various purposes, Phellodendron Bark extract component, goldthread extract component, Lithospermum Root extract component, peony extract component, gentian extract component, birch extract component, sage extract component, loquat extract component, carrot extract component, aloe extract component, mallow extract component, iris extract component, grape extract component, Coix Seed extract component, sponge cucumber extract component, lily extract component, saffron extract component, Cnidium Officinale Root extract component, Ginger Root extract component, Saint John's-wort extract component, Restharrow Root extract component, rosemary extract component, garlic extract component, red pepper extract component, dried orange peel, Japanese angelica root and so forth, vitamin A substances such as retinol and retinol acetate, vitamin B.sub.2 substances such as riboflavin butyrate and riboflavin adenine nucleotide, vitamin B2 substances such as pyridoxine hydrochloride and pyridoxine dioctanoate, vitamin C substances such as L-ascorbic acid, L-ascorbate dipalmitate ester, L-ascorbate-2-sodium sulfate, L-ascorbate phosphate ester and dipotassium DL-.alpha.-tocopherol-L-ascorbate phosphate diester, pantothenic acids such as calcium pantothenate, D-pantothenyl alcohol, pantothenyl ethyl ether and acetylpentothenyl ethyl ether, vitamin D substances such as ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol, nicotinic acids such as nicotinic acid, nicotinic amide and benzyl nicotinate, vitamin E substances such as .alpha.-tocopherol and DL-.alpha.-tocopherol succinate, and other vitamins such as vitamin P and biotin.

Furthermore, these pharmacological components can be widely blended within a range over which the desired pharmacological effect of the present invention is not impaired by that blending.
 

Claim 1 of 4 Claims

1. A method for producing artificial skin, the method comprising: (a) forming a collagen gel layer containing human fibroblasts; (b) culturing epidermal keratinocytes on the collagen gel layer so the keratinocytes adhere to the gel layer to form an epidermal layer; and (c) continuing the culturing in an artificial skin forming medium comprising a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor, while exposing the epidermal layer to air, wherein

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