Nano-liposome, a system to delivery of bioactive agents

There is a strong investment in research and development in cosmetic focusing on active ingredients which have medical or drug-like benefits. It’s called Cosmeceuticals. It is found that the delivery system especially the nanoparticles used in products is positively enhance the better skincare and cosmetic formula. The nature of the skin’s anatomy limits permeability. Therefore, selecting the suitable system to delivery of bioactive agents is required for delivery performance, cost saving and safety.

The advantages of Nano-liposome are improving its penetration, solubility, controllable release and better feeling on the skin after using Nano-liposome delivery system in sunscreen and moisturizer products.

Liposomes

Liposomes are microscopic, fluid-filled spheres whose walls are made of layers of phospholipids analogous to the phospholipids. These have a polar head group and a hydrophobic group. Phospholipid molecules spontaneously form bilayers in aqueous environments. In this energetically most-favorable arrangement, the hydrophilic heads face the water at each surface of the bilayer, and the hydrophobic tails are shielded from the water in the interior.

Since Nanosomes made with various phospholipid types can contain, encapsulate, and mobilise both water soluble materials as well as oil soluble materials, not only can they deliver a wide variety of encapsulated ingredients to cells.

(figure 1 Liposome)

The active ingredient delivery system has several mechanisms.

1. Active ingredients are encapsulated in the Liposomes, and as mentioned, the liposome wall is very similar, physiologically, to the material of cell membranes.
2. When the active solution entrapped within Liposomes is applied to the skin, the Liposomes begin to combine with the cellular membranes. In the process, the Liposomes release their load of active materials into the cells.

The research found that another advantage of nanoliposomes is cell-specific targeting, which is a prerequisite to attain drug concentrations required for optimum therapeutic efficacy in the target site while minimising adverse effects on healthy cells and tissues.

Liposome in cosmeceutical product

Liposome application for protecting ingredients stability

Some active ingredients are unstable, for example, enzyme, protein and antioxidant including vitamin C and E. Liposome has a potential to protect the instability of the active ingredients.

Liposome application for skin penetration

The similarity somehow in the composition and structure between liposome and skin is a key success in delivery system. The benefit of liposome is to enhance penetration for a better efficacy. According to Padamwar and Pokharkar’s study, vitamin E acetate was encapsulated into liposome for seven time improving vitamin E deposition compared to Vitamin E acetate without encapsulated into liposome.

Liposome application for skin moisturizing

Liposome can prevent water loss from the skin by adheres hydrophobic side to the skin surface.

Liposome application for reducing undesirable side effect

Liposome can reduce side effect that may arise from undesirably high systemic absorption of active ingredients.

(figure 2 the benefits of Liposome)

Reference (www.pharmacy.mahidol.ac.th)

1) Venugaranti VV, Perumal OP, Chapter 9, Nanosystems for Dermal and Transdermal Drug Delivery, In: Pathak Y, Thassu D. Drug Delivery Nanoparticles Formulation and Characterization. New York: Informa Healthcare USA, Inc; 2009.; 126-55.

2) อรัญญา มโนสร้อย, จีรเดช มโนสร้อย. ไลโปโซมสำหรับยาผ่านทางผิวหนังและเครื่องสำอาง. กรุงเทพฯ: สำนักพิมพ์โอเดียนสโตร์; 2550.

3) Kaur IP, Kapila M, Agrawal R. Role of novel delivery systems in developing topical antioxidants as therapeutics to combat photoageing. Ageing Res Rev. 2007;6(4):271-88.

4) Padamwar MN, Pokharkar VB. Development of vitamin loaded topical liposomal formulation using factorial design approach: Drug deposition and stability. Intl J Pharm. 2006;320(2006):37-44.

5) Chauhan AS, Sridevi S, Chalasani KB, Jain AK, Jain SK, Jain NK, et al. Dendrimer-mediated transdermal delivery: enhanced bioavailability of indomethacin. J Control Release. 2003;90:335-43.

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