Peptides for enhancing transdermal delivery

1. A skin penetration enhancer comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence comprising ten consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, or 6; eleven consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8; twelve consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5; or analogs thereof, and further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, and wherein the skin penetration enhancer is in a lotion, a cream, or a patch.

2. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the peptide comprises 30 or fewer total amino acid residues or amino acid analogs.

3. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the amino acid sequence of the peptide comprises a consecutive amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8.

4. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the peptide has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17.

5. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the N-terminus of the peptide comprises a consecutive amino acid sequence of SHS.

6. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the C-terminus of the peptide comprises a consecutive amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GGGS, G, and WPA.

7. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the peptide has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 10.

8. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the peptide has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 14.

9. The skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 , wherein the peptide has an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 15.

10. A composition comprising the skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 and an active agent, wherein the active agent is selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically active agent, a vaccine, a cosmetic agent, and a nutritional supplement.

11. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the active agent is an antibody, a fat-reduction compound, a therapeutic protein, an agent for accelerating or stimulating hair growth, a hair removal compound, or a vitamin.

12. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the active agent is a pharmaceutically active agent comprising an electrically-charged small molecule or a protein.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutically active agent is selected from the group consisting of insulin, leutinizing hormone releasing hormone, or sodium deoxycholate.

14. The composition of claim 10 , wherein the active agent is a dermal filler.

15. The composition of claim 14 , wherein the dermal filler is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen, collagen mimetic, elastin, fibrin, fibronectin, tenascin, vitamin A, polysaccharide, amino acid homo copolymer, melanin, melanin derivatives, natural or synthetic pigment, and combinations thereof.

16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the polysaccharide is chitosan, chondroitin, glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycan or combinations thereof.

17. The composition of claim 15 , wherein the amino acid homo copolymer is poly-lysine, polyacrylamide, polyethylene glycol, polylactic acid, or combinations thereof.

18. The composition of claim 10 , comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient provides a composition in the form of a lotion, a cream, or a patch.

19. A method of transdermally delivering a pharmaceutically active agent, a vaccine, a cosmetic agent, or a nutritional supplement, the method comprising administering to the skin of a subject in need thereof a composition comprising:

a carrier selected from a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a cosmetically acceptable carrier, or a nutritionally acceptable carrier;

an active agent selected from a pharmaceutically active agent, a vaccine, a cosmetic agent, or a nutritional supplement; and

the skin penetration enhancer of claim 1 .

20. A method of smoothening the skin of a subject in need thereof, comprising contacting the skin with an effective amount of a composition of claim 10 .

21. A method of treating wrinkles for a subject in need thereof, comprising contacting the wrinkles with an effective amount of a composition of claim 10 .

22. A method for lip augmentation for a subject in need thereof, comprising contacting the lip with an effective amount of a composition of claim 10 .

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient provides a composition in the form of a lotion, a cream, or a patch.

24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient provides a composition in the form of a lotion, a cream, or a patch.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable excipient provides a composition in the form of a lotion, a cream, or a patch.

26. A skin penetration enhancer comprising a peptide, wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid sequence comprising ten consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, or 6; eleven consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 7 or 8; twelve consecutive amino acid residues as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4 or 5; or analogs thereof, with the proviso that when the analog is an analog of any one of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 8, then the analog is a conservative substitution analog.