It is of general knowledge that an adequate amount and quality of sleep is key to repair the damage inflicted to the body during the day. However, it is difficult to really enjoy of a regularly undisturbed sleep of 7–9 hours per night. A recent survey among US adults displayed that 98% have developed new sleep problems, and 68% feel it is harder to sleep even after measures were lifted. An additional survey showed that 60% of adults are interested in strategies to sleep better, what is known as biohacking sleep.
Regularly skipping sleep is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired immune response, reduction of melatonin levels, and higher glucose levels. All of them induce more oxidative stress and inflammation, resulting in tired look, hanging eyelids (sleepiness), dark circles, eyebags and wrinkles.
The alarmin interleukin IL-33 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine released upon cell damage activating the immune response and inducing oxidative stress and further inflammation. IL-33 is over-expressed in conditions of chronic inflammation like atopic dermatitis and obstructive sleep apnea.
Sleep disturbance also presents high levels of glucose which may glycate proteins of the skin and the endothelial and lymphatic vessels, weakening their integrity and producing oxidative stress and more inflammation. In addition, melatonin levels are decreased, which not only affects its circadian role but also as a potent antioxidant and antiglycation.
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iPeptide™, awarded with the 2021 BSB Innovation bronze prize, is a good sleep biohacking peptide developed to down-regulate IL-33 expression. It showed to modulate chronic inflammation and damages induced by hyperglycemia due to sleep deprivation were assessed. It also presented a melatonin-like protection effect and reinforced the first line of immune defense. In vivo, it decreased fatigue features, awakened sleepy look and had a local cooling effect.