Modified protease having 5 to 13 covalently coupled polymeric molecules for skin care

The present invention relates to modified enzymes, a skin care composition comprising said modified enzyme and ingredients known to be used in skin care composition, a skin care product comprising a skin care composition of the invention and the use of said modified enzyme for improving the stability and/or for reducing the sensitization potential of enzyme. Modified enzymes are prepared for use in skin care products by covalently coupling to the enzymes from 4 to 70 polymeric molecules with or without a linker such as a triazine ring. Molecular weight of the polymeric molecules may be from 1 to 35 kDa and of the enzymes from 15 to 100 kDa. The number and weight of polymeric molecules coupled is balanced with the weight and/or surface area of the enzymes. Enzymes include proteases such as subtilisins, lipases and oxidoreductases such as laccases and superoxide dismutase, and polymeric molecules include polysaccharides such as dextran or pullulan and polyalkylene oxides such as polyethylene glycol. The polymeric molecules may be coupled to the enzymes at the N-terminal amino group and/or lysine residues, and preferably at a position more than 5 from the active site of the enzymes. A preferred modified enzyme is a protease having from 5 to 13 coupled polymeric molecules. Skin care products containing the modified enzymes have improved stability and reduced allergenicity as compared to the products containing the unmodified enzymes.