Surface Plasmon Resonance in the Development of TGF-β Activators for Cosmeceutical Use

Research on new compounds that can improve the skin's condition is no longer focused exclusively on drugs, but is also adequate for cosmeceuticals – cosmetic products with thoroughly tested and scientifically proven biological activity. One of the most important stimulators of collagen biosynthesis is the so-called Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β). Measuring the activation of latent TGF-β and quantification of its efficacy using the Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) technique is a great alternative to the currently used Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. In this article, the complex process of TGF-β activation and the methods of its quantification are described. SPR was investigated as a relevant method for the TGF-β activity detection. Optimization of measurement conditions is presented, comparing results of antibody immobilization efficacy in different buffers. Two types of antibodies were immobilized onto the SPR chip, and after choosing one of them the selectivity of capturing between active and inactive TGF-β was confirmed. SPR is discussed as a technique with great potential in cosmeceutical design, in comparison to currently applied quantification methods.