Topical delivery of lycopene using microemulsions: enhanced skin penetration and tissue antioxidant activity.
Topical delivery of lycopene is a convenient way to supplement cutaneous levels of antioxidants. In this study, lycopene was incorporated (0.05%, w/w) in two microemulsions containing BRIJ-propylene glycol (2:1, w/w, surfactant blend) but different oil phases: mono/diglycerides of capric and caprylic acids (MG) or triglycerides of the same fatty acids (TG). Microemulsions containing MG and TG were isotropic, fluid, and clear, with internal phase diameters of 27 and 52 nm, respectively. Both MG- or TG-containing microemulsions markedly increased lycopene penetration in the stratum corneum (6- and 3.6-fold, respectively) and in viable layers of porcine ear skin (from undetected to 172.6 +/- 41.1 and 103.1 +/- 7.2 ng/cm(2), respectively) compared to a control solution. To assure that lycopene delivered to the skin was active, the antioxidant activity of skin treated with MG-containing microemulsion was determined by CUPRAC assay, and found to be 10-fold higher than untreated skin. The cytotoxicity of MG-containing microemulsion in cultured fibroblasts was similar to propylene glycol (considered safe) and significantly less than of sodium lauryl sulfate (a moderate-to-severe irritant) at 1-50 microg/mL. These results demonstrate that the MG-containing microemulsion is an efficient and safe system to increase lycopene delivery to the skin and the antioxidant activity in the tissue.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 106 New Scotland Ave., Albany, New York 12208, USA. luciana.lopes@acphs.edu
Luciana B
LB
Lopes
Hillary
H
VanDeWall
Hsin T
HT
Li
Vijay
V
Venugopal
Hsin K
HK
Li
Stan
S
Naydin
Jaclyn
J
Hosmer
Mark
M
Levendusky
Haian
H
Zheng
M Vitória L B
MV
Bentley
Robert
R
Levin
Martha A
MA
Hass
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004655:Emulsions / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005989:Glycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077276:Lycopene; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D012869:Skin Absorption; D013552:Swine
D000975:Antioxidants; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004655:Emulsions; D005989:Glycerides; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene