| CPC A61K 8/64 (2013.01) [A61Q 5/002 (2013.01); A61Q 5/02 (2013.01); A61K 2800/805 (2013.01)] | 6 Claims |
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1. A cosmetic composition comprising a low molecular weight silk fibroin and a cosmetically acceptable carrier;
wherein:
said low molecular weight silk fibroin comprises:
peptides of molecular weight less than 2500 Da, where the amino acid sequence of at least 50 wt % of said peptides is GAGY, GAGAGAGY, GAGVGAGY or AWS SESDF;
tyrosine and its mole fraction in said low molecular weight silk fibroin is not less than 10 mol %; and
is produced by a process comprising the steps of:
(i) mixing an aqueous solution comprising 0.01 to 20 wt % of a high molecular weight silk fibroin of weight average molecular weight 6 to 100 KDa with α-chymotrypsin at temperature of 25 to 45° C., under pH of 6 to 9 for 4 to 24 hours, where ratio of said high molecular weight silk fibroin to said α-chymotrypsin in said solution is from 100:1 to 300:1 parts by weight;
(ii) inactivating excess α-chymotrypsin and separating the inactivated α-chymotrypsin from reaction mixture of step (i); and,
(iii) drying said reaction mixture to obtain said low molecular weight silk fibroin;
said composition comprises 0.1 to 10 wt % by weight of the low molecular weight silk fibroin and includes any product applicable to the human body for improving appearance, cleansing, odor control, or general aesthetics.
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