SKULACEV ION - Innovative Anti-age Agents

The SkQ molecule was originally created to combat one of the main causes of skin aging – excess free radicals in cells. However, many years of scientific and clinical research have proven that the SkQ molecule and Skulachev ions slow down, stop or reverse the development of many other signs of aging in the body. Currently, based on the SkQ molecule, a medicinal product is already available to customers - Visomitin eye drops and cosmetics - the anti-aging "Mitovitan" in the form of serum and concentrates, as well as Exomitin gel.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

The positive effect of SkQ is associated with its following properties: penetration into the mitochondria — the main source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of the cells inhibition of ROS at the site of their formation in two different ways: direct neutralization of ROS due to the oxidation of plastoquinone, reduction of mitochondrial membrane potential.

Unlike the most of conventional drugs, SkQ1 is capable of treating a variety of seemingly different disorders across all therapeutic areas. SkQ1 has been shown to be effective in animal models of many conditions attributable to ageing process from ophthalmology to neurodegeneration and CV disorders. The recent clinical studies demonstrated similar direct effects on human organism.

SKULACHEV ION SKQ IN WIKIPEDIA

SkQ SKULACHEV ION is a class of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, developed by Professor Vladimir Skulachev and his team. In a broad sense, SkQ is a lipophilic cation, linked via saturated hydrocarbon chain to an antioxidant. Due to its lipophilic properties, SkQ can effectively penetrate through various cell membranes. The positive charge provides directed transport of the whole molecule including antioxidant moiety into the negatively charged mitochondrial matrix.

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RESEARCH

The study was conducted by Vladimir Petrovich Skulachev, a biochemist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, dean of the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics of Moscow State University, which he founded in 2002 and led it until 02.2023. His team includes about 100 specialists.

THEORY: reactive oxygen species are known to present serious danger for living cells and whole organisms, especially with age.

TECHNOLOGY: SkQ1 reduces reactive oxygen species production inside mitochondria in a controlled and sustainable manner.

RESULTS: Several SkQ1-based drugs targeting various age-related disorders are being developed in Skulachev's labs.

In 2004, a new substance called SkQ1 was synthesized in the group of professor Vladimir P. Skulachev in the Moscow State University. The name SkQ1 was given to the substance as the first representative of a particularly potent class of molecules named “SkQ” – the term introduced by the team to describe molecules containing ion Sk an a quinone.

A part of SkQ1 coined “Skulachev ion” or Sk functions as a molecular “locomotive” or “towing truck” carrying the other part of the molecule – an extremely active antioxidant plastoquinone – into mitochondria. Both theoretical calculations and experimental results showed that SkQ1 is delivered into mitochondria in an extremely targeted and efficient manner. The physics of mitochondrial membrane and the unusual properties of “Skulachev ions” direct SkQ1 into the inner leaflet of the inner mitochondrial membrane with high precision.

Presence of SkQ1 in mitochondrial membrane enables mitochondria to protect itself from reactive oxygen species (ROS) by breaking chain reaction of lipid destruction. This ability of SkQ molecule to protect cells against oxidative stress plays a very important role in treating patients suffering from various age-related disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and various ophthalmic conditions.