Phospholipid and menthol based nanovesicle impregnated transdermal patch for nutraceutical delivery to diminish folate and iron deficiency.

Adequate micronutrient availability is particularly important in women, children and infants. Micronutrient deficiencies are the major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity. To overcome this, WHO recommends the use of folic acid and iron supplements for reducing anaemia and improving the health of the mother and infants. Oral intake of supplements for nutritional deficiencies are associated with gastric irritation, nausea, constipation and non-patient compliance due to associated taste. In case of absorption deficiency nutrients administered orally pass-through digestive tract unabsorbed. In the present study, we propose transdermal delivery of nutraceuticals to avoid the limitations associated with oral intake. Transdermal delivery has limited use because of the closely packed barrier of the stratum corneum that limits the permeability of molecules across skin. Here, we have used biomimetic nanovesicles impregnated in transdermal patches for delivery of folic acid and iron. Nanovesicles are prepared using an abundant component of cell membrane, phosphatidyl choline and a permeation enhancer. Further these nanovesicles are impregnated onto polyacrylate based transdermal patch.In vitrostudies have shown the ability of nanovesicles to fluidise skin lipids and penetrate into deeper skin.In vivoapplication of transdermal patches gradually increased the systemic concentration of nutraceuticals. Post application of the patch, five-fold increase in plasma folic acid concentration and 1.5-fold increase in plasma iron concertation was achieved in 6 h. Developed nanovesicles were compatible with keratinocytes and fibroblasts as testedin vitroand have the potential to enhance the cellular uptake of molecules. Skin irritation studies on human volunteers have confirmed the safety of nutraceutical loaded nanovesicles. Thus, the developed nutraceutical loaded transdermal patches provide a potential, easy to use platform for micronutrient delivery in infants and mothers.

Nanoparticle platforms for dermal antiaging technologies: Insights in cellular and molecular mechanisms.

Aging is a continuous process defined by a progressive functional decline in physiological parameters. Skin, being one of the most vulnerable organs, shows early signs of aging which are predominantly affected by intrinsic factors like hormone, gender, mood, enzymes, and genetic predisposition, and extrinsic factors like exposure to radiation, air pollution, and heat. Visible morphological and anatomical changes associated with skin aging occur due to underlying physiological aberrations governed by numerous complex interactions at cellular and subcellular levels. Nanoparticles are perceived as a powerful tool in the cosmeceutical industry both for augmenting the efficacy of existing agents and as a novel standalone therapy. Both organic and inorganic nanoparticles have been extensively investigated in antiaging applications. The use of nanoparticles helps to enhance the activity of antiaging molecules by selectively targeting cellular and molecular pathways. On the other hand, the nanoparticle platforms also gained increasing popularity as the skin protectant against extrinsic factors such as UV radiation and pollutants. This review comprehensively discusses skin aging and its mechanism by highlighting the impact on cellular, subcellular, and epigenetic elements. Importantly, the review elaborates on the examples of organic and inorganic nanoparticle-based formulations developed for antiaging application and provides mechanistic insights on how they modulate the mechanisms of skin aging. The clinical progress of nanoparticle antiaging technologies and factors that impact clinical translation are also explored. This article is categorized under: Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies.

Stable Liposome in Cosmetic Platforms for Transdermal Folic acid delivery for fortification and treatment of micronutrient deficiencies.

Oral folate fortification has been successful in many developed nations, however, developing countries still face low compliance and high incidence of folate deficiency associated with low birth weight infants and preterm deliveries. We report safe and efficient approach for transdermal systemic folate delivery using fluidising liposomes (120 ± 4 nm) stabilised within 3D matrix of naturally occurring cosmetic bases: Fuller's earth and henna with room temperature stability. The proof of stratum corneum fluidisation was established ex-vivo by Langmuir-Blodgett film, FTIR and confocal imaging in rat skin. In-vivo topical application in rats showed 11-fold increase in plasma folate within 2 hr, confirming systemic delivery through skin. Efficacy study in folate deficient rats over 4 weeks showed significantly higher plasma levels compared to oral delivery with significant skin depot. Sub-acute toxicity studies in rats at 750-fold higher doses showed safety after 4 weeks daily application. Primary irritation patch test on 25 healthy human volunteers proved non-irritant nature of the nutricosmetics. The technology is first demonstration of transdermal folate fortification with nanosized liposome incorporated in cosmetics, without synthetic surfactants/ethanol or need of external energy. The platform technology opens the possibility of delivering multiple nutrients systemically through skin and can be scaled for affordable community fortification.