Compositions and methods for hair improvement

Abstract

Hair improvement compositions comprising covalent conjugates of a polypeptide and a hydrophilic polymer, or a polysaccharide and a hydrophilic polymer, or both, are provided herein. Methods for improving one or more physical characteristics of hair using the described compositions are also provided. The improvements can be semi-permanent.

1 . A conjugate comprising:
 a. a hydrolyzed polypeptide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer on one end through a monofunctional reactive group in a ratio of about 1:1; and/or   b. a polysaccharide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer;   wherein the polypeptide is selected from a keratin, collagen, elastin, fibroin, casein, beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, and wheat polypeptide, wherein the polysaccharide is selected from chitin, chitosan, or chitin glucan, and wherein the conjugate is water soluble.   
     
     
         2 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer has a formula selected from: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  is hydroxyl, carboxyl, ethylamine, 2-pyrrolidone, hydoxyethyl methacrylic acid, methylamine, phosphonic acid, sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, or SO 4   − ; 
         wherein R 2  is hydrogen, methyloxazoline, ethyloxazoline, or propyloxazoline; and 
         wherein n is between 1 and 1,500. 
       
     
     
         3 . The conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein the conjugate comprises a polypeptide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer and the polypeptide is selected from a keratin, a collagen, an elastin, and a fibroin polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide is a keratin polypeptide. 
     
     
         5 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer has a formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and wherein n is between 1 and 1500. 
       
     
     
         6 . The conjugate of  claim 5 , wherein the conjugate comprises a polypeptide covalently bound to the hydrophilic polymer and the polypeptide is selected from a keratin, a collagen, an elastin, and a fibroin polypeptide. 
     
     
         7 . The conjugate of  claim 5 , wherein the polypeptide is a keratin polypeptide. 
     
     
         8 . The conjugate of  claim 5 , wherein n is between about 100 and about 125. 
     
     
         9 . The conjugate of  claim 8 , wherein the conjugate comprises a polypeptide covalently bound to a hydrophilic polymer and the polypeptide is selected from a keratin, a collagen, an elastin, and a fibroin polypeptide. 
     
     
         10 . The conjugate of  claim 8 , wherein the polypeptide is a keratin polypeptide. 
     
     
         11 . The conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is linear. 
     
     
         12 . The conjugate of  claim 2 , wherein the hydrophilic polymer is branched. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The conjugate of  claim 1 , wherein the conjugate comprises a keratin polypeptide covalently bound to a PEG hydrophilic polymer. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A pharmaceutically acceptable composition comprising the conjugate of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of improving one or more physical characteristics of hair comprising contacting at least a portion of a subject's hair with the conjugate of  claim 1 , and applying heat to the contacted hair. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the heat is within a range from 50° C. to 500° C. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the heat is within a range from 200° C. to 300° C. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the heat is applied via a flat iron at a rate of about 10 mm/second. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled)