The research behind tiptoe’s patented peptide
What lactoferrin-derived peptides are, what researchers look at, and the scientific publications that have been written about the peptide in tiptoe products.
Many kinds of fungi live in our surroundings and on the human body. Under certain conditions some of them can cause an infection, which can lead to different kinds of fungal infection. Dermatophytosis is the most common fungal skin infection. It’s caused by dermatophytes, such as Trichophyton species.
Peptides (1-6) are an ancient part of the body’s immune response: the body makes them quickly, in almost every tissue, in response to many kinds of infection. Researchers study what role peptides like these play in fungal and yeast infections. The peptide in tiptoe naildrops and care foam is a patented, lactoferrin-derived peptide. Scientific publications have been written about the peptide, and you’ll find the ones we refer to listed below.
Good to know: these publications are research on peptides. They’re not studies of the finished tiptoe products.
The peptide in tiptoe
Both tiptoe naildrops and tiptoe care foam contain a patented, lactoferrin-derived peptide, made from amino acids naturally found in the body. You apply naildrops at the base of the nail, where new nail grows, and care foam on the skin around the nail and between your toes.
The affected nail won’t go back to normal. It grows out, and how long that takes depends on how deep the infection goes.
A nail grows about 1 mm every 6 weeks. So think months, not weeks.
If your GP would like to know more about our products, they’re welcome to get in touch.
References
- Bruni, N.; Capucchio, M.T.; Biasibetti, E.; Pessione, E.; Cirrincione, S.; Giraudo, L.; Corona, A.;Dosio, F.Antimicrobial Activity of Lactoferrin-Related Peptides and Applications in Human and Veterinary Medicine. Molecules 2016, 21, 752.View publication (DOI)
- Wang J, Dou X, Song J, et al.Antimicrobial peptides: Promising alternatives in the post feeding antibiotic era. Med Res Rev. 2019; 39: 831–859.View publication (DOI)
- Brouwer, C., Welling, M. M., Alwasel, S., & Boekhout, T. (2025).Potential health benefits of lactoferrin and derived peptides – how to qualify as a medical device? Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 1–25.View publication (DOI)
- Brouwer C, Boekhout T, Alwasel S, Rahman M, Janga R, Welling MM.Screening sensibility and antifungal activity after topical application of a synthetic lactoferrin-derivedantimicrobial peptide. Am J Transl Res. 2024 Feb 15;16(2):669-680. doi: 10.62347/TCOY1289. PMID: 38463589; PMCID: PMC10918136.View publication (PubMed)
- Zarzosa-Moreno, D.; Avalos-Gómez, C.; Ramírez-Texcalco, L.S.; Torres-López, E.; Ramírez-Mondragón, R.; Hernández-Ramírez, J.O.; Serrano-Luna, J.; de la Garza, M.Lactoferrin and Its Derived Peptides: An Alternative for Combating Virulence Mechanisms Developed by Pathogens. Molecules 2020, 25, 5763.View publication (DOI)
- Zhang, Q.; Choi, K.; Wang, X.; Xi, L.; Lu, S.The Contribution of Human Antimicrobial Peptides to Fungi. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 2494.View publication (Preprints.org)