Dear Colleagues, 

Melanins are a vast class of biopolymers that are widespread in all types of organisms. They are responsible for the variety of skin, hair, and eye pigmentation in humans and other mammals, determine the colors of avian feathers, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and insects, but largely occur also in lower organisms such as fungi and bacteria.

In humans, two main types of melanins are found, the black insoluble eumelanin, characterizing dark phenotypes; and the reddish-brown, sulfur-containing pheomelanin, typical of red-haired individuals. In addition, substantia nigra neuromelanin and extracutaneous melanins of the inner ear and iridial epithelium are known. Both eumelanins and pheomelanins are produced within melanocytes by a complex biosynthetic pathway involving the tyrosinase-catalyzed oxidation of tyrosine.

Many factors, either enzymatic or not, intervene in the melanogenic pathway, ultimately determining the eumelanin and pheomelanin pigmentation. Dysregulation of these control mechanisms results in a variety of pigmentary disorders, from melasma to vitiligo, bearing severe pathological implications and often dramatic aesthetic impacts.

Intense research work over the past few decades has disclosed a variety of roles for melanin pigments, from photoprotection to photosensitization, from antioxidant defense to metal/drug binding. Neuromelanin is believed to be involved in neurodegeneration, and to be related to Parkinson's disease.

However, we have yet to fully appreciate how these peculiar properties of melanin pigments and how the tuning of melanogenesis could be exploited for developing strategies for the control of melanin disorders, photoprotection, the implementation of all-natural or bioinspired antioxidants, metal detoxification, ingredients for cosmetic or dermocosmetic uses.

This Special Issue takes advantage of the open-access format to offer a novel and stimulating perspective of the field. It is especially directed to translate the results of basic and academic research to applications that may arouse the interest of researchers from industries and companies who are willing to develop innovative melanin- or melanogenesis-based solutions.

Contributions to this Special Issue may cover all aspects of the chemistry of natural and synthetic melanins with potential applications, melanogenesis inhibitors via the definition of the mechanism of action, approaches for the amelioration or control of all types of melanin-based pigmentary disorders, and photoprotection strategies; innovative methodologies for the analysis of pigmented tissues and for diagnostic purposes; molecular engineering methodologies for melanin production in microorganisms; and novel functions of melanins of potential application interest, drug targeting, and exploiting the specific affinity of melanins.

Experimental papers, up-to-date review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.

Prof. Dr. Alessandra Napolitano
Prof. Dr. Shosuke Ito
Prof. Dr. Manickam Sugumaran
Guest Editors

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• eumelanin
• photoprotection
• biological activities
• antioxidant
• depigmenting agents
• melanogenesis
• dermocosmetics
• pigmentary disorders
• pheomelanin
• extracutaneous melanins

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