Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-3)

Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-3, sometimes further modified as palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) pairs a five-amino-acid sequence derived from procollagen type I with a palmitic acid chain that improves skin penetration of the otherwise poorly-absorbed peptide. In a randomized, vehicle-controlled study, Robinson and colleagues applied topical palmitoyl pentapeptide to photoaged facial skin over twelve weeks and found measurable improvement in fine lines and wrinkle depth compared to vehicle alone, one of the more direct topical-application efficacy studies among the cosmetic peptides on this platform. Unlike the receptor-mediated peptides elsewhere in this catalog, Matrixyl's proposed mechanism is largely extracellular-matrix signaling: fragments of collagen breakdown products are reported to act as feedback signals that stimulate fibroblasts to synthesize new collagen, a wound-healing-like signaling loop rather than a direct hormone-receptor interaction. This distinguishes Matrixyl's research relevance — dermal matrix and fibroblast biology — from the endocrine, metabolic, or sexual-health receptor pathways studied for most other peptides on this platform.

Tsai and colleagues (2007) provided further mechanistic support at the tendon-cell level, demonstrating that the pentapeptide KTTKS directly upregulates type I collagen and TGF-beta expression in isolated tendon fibroblasts — corroborating the collagen-signaling hypothesis with protein-level data in a non-dermal tissue model.

Potential Research Applications: Fibroblast collagen-synthesis and dermal matrix signaling studies Tendon fibroblast extracellular matrix upregulation research (type I collagen, TGF-beta pathways) Topical penetration research for palmitic-acid-conjugated peptides (Pal-KTTKS vs. unmodified KTTKS bioavailability) Photoaging and wrinkle-depth efficacy research (vehicle-controlled clinical designs) Extracellular matrix feedback-signaling models distinct from receptor-mediated peptides

Platform Pricing Data (live, updated continuously): Peptides.SO tracks 2 suppliers offering Matrixyl/palmitoyl pentapeptide-3: pricing spans $21.99-$150.00/mg across current listings. Compare current offers on this page rather than relying on outdated third-party price lists — significant spread reflects differences in purity, conjugation verification, and supplier COA quality.

Cited Research: Robinson LR, Fitzgerald NC, Doughty DG, et al. Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide provides improvement in photoaged human facial skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2005. PubMed PMID: 18492182. Tsai WC, Hsu CC, Chung CY, Lin MS, Li SL, Pang JH. The pentapeptide KTTKS promoting the expressions of type I collagen and transforming growth factor-beta of tendon cells. J Orthop Res. 2007. PubMed PMID: 17593541.

For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use, diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of any disease. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.