D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine is a synthetic tetrapeptide with sequence D-Arg-Tyr-Orn-Phe-NH2 (RYXF) similar to Szeto–Schiller (SS) peptides. Szeto–Schiller peptides are tetrapeptides that have shown promising results against a wide range of mitochondrial disorders and are considered capable of targeting mitochondrial membranes.
D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine is the analog of widely studied Szeto–Schiller peptides SS-31 with sequence D-Arg-Dmt-Lys-Phe-NH2 and mtCPP-1 with sequence D-Arg-Dmt-Orn-Phe-NH2 (where Dmt is Dimethyltyrosine, an analog of Tyrosine, and Orn is Ornithine structurally close to Lysine) used to design mitochondria-targeting peptide conjugates.
Thanks to its ability to target mitochondria, D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine is used in an advanced delivery system with a trade name Trojan® that targets skin cell organelles (mitochondria). Connected via covalent bonds to the hydroxy groups of a polymeric capsule derived from Lactic Acid/Glycolic Acid Copolymer (PLGA), this guiding peptide facilitates the delivery of encapsulated active ingredients directly to mitochondria.
Thanks to targeted action, D-Arginyl Tyrosinyl Ornithinyl Phenylalanine dramatically enhances the effectiveness of the complex, functionalizing the polymeric capsule, delivering actives into cell organelles, and allowing for the minimization of their concentration. It provides sustained and managed release of active ingredients in the target cells and even in the target organelle.