The present invention provides compositions and methods for accelerating the healing of topical wounds and skin irritation, for protecting skin from damaging effects of oxidation, and for increasing the size of hair follicles and the rate of hair growth in warm-blooded animals. The compositions useful in these methods, including pharmaceutical compositions, are prepared from peptones complexed with an ionic transition metal.
Thus, in one aspect the invention provides methods for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions useful in accelerating the healing of topical wounds or increasing hair follicle size and hair growth in a warm-blooded animal. A peptone digest is combined with an amount of an aqueous solution of transition metal salt sufficient to induce a precipitate. Typically, the peptone digest is prepared from casein, collagen, elastin, meat products, silk protein, soybean protein, and the like, and the ionic transition metal is selected from copper(II), indium (III), tin(II) and tin(IV).
The resulting precipitate is composed of complexes of the hydrophobic peptides from the peptone and the metal. The precipitate of peptone-metal complex is then isolated, such as by centrifugation, and then formulated as desired for the intended use and mode of administration. Typically the complex is combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to form a cream or lotion, in a concentration of from about 5% to about 25% peptone-metal complex or more. The preparation may be sterilized or pasteurized, as desired, without destroying the healing or hair-growth stimulating activity of the peptone-metal complex.
In other embodiments the invention provides methods for enhancing the recovery of skin of a warm-blooded animal from wounds, such as surgical incisions, burns, inflammation or minor irritation due to oxidative damage, etc. The methods comprise administering to the skin wound or irritation a therapeutically or, in some cases a prophylactically effective amount of a composition which comprises the peptone-ionic transition metal complex. Due to the increased adhesiveness of the compositions of the invention re-application to the skin is minimized compared to other topical healants and formulations.
Yet other embodiments relate to compositions and method for increasing hair follicle size and the rate of hair growth in warm-blooded animals, such as humans. The methods comprise administering to the skin in the area in which hair growth is desired