Synthesis, characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides

The present work describes the synthesis, characterization, and wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides: Boc‐Phe‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S1), Boc‐DPhe‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S2), Boc‐Ala‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S3), Boc‐DAla‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S4), Boc‐Leu‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S5), and Boc‐DLeu‐γ4‐Phe‐Val‐OMe (S6). Peptides S1–S6 were screened against human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and RAW 264.7 cells. Among all, S1‐ and S2‐treated cells exhibited high cell viability; S1 and S2 induced keratinocyte migration and inhibited the production of the cytokines IL‐6 and TNF‐α. In vivo results demonstrated that the hybrid peptides S1 and S2 accelerate wound healing in Wistar rats with 83% and 88% at 50 μg/ml, and 74% and 76% at 25 μg/ml, respectively. The wound healing properties of α/γ hybrid peptides S1–S6 were studied on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and RAW 264.7 cells. The most potent peptides S1 and S2 accelerate wound healing in Wistar rats.