title: Lycopene from tomatoes: vesicular nanocarrier formulations for dermal delivery.
abstract: This experimental work aimed to develop a simple, fast, economic, and environmentally friendly process for the extraction of lycopene from tomato and incorporate this lycopene-rich extract into ultradeformable vesicular nanocarriers suitable for topical application. Lycopene extraction was conducted without a cosolvent for 30 min. The extracts were analyzed and incorporated in transfersomes and ethosomes. These formulations were characterized, and the cellular uptake was observed by confocal microscopy. Dermal delivery of lycopene formulations was tested under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Lycopene extraction proved to be quite safe and selective. The vesicular formulation was taken up by the cells, being more concentrated around the nucleus. Epicutaneous application of lycopene formulations decreased the level of anthralin-induced ear swelling by 97 and 87%, in a manner nonstatistically different from the positive control. These results support the idea that the lycopene-rich extract may be a good alternative to the expensive commercial lycopene for incorporation into advanced topical delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems group of iMedUL, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal. andreiaascenso@ff.ul.pt
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ascenso
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinho
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eleutério
authors.forename: Fabíola Garcia
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Praça
authors.forename: Maria Vitória Lopes Badra
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Bentley
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Conceição
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simões
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004337:Drug Carriers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002338:Carotenoids; D000077276:Lycopene