SIMIL-MICROFLUIDIC BASED LIPOSOMES AND MINODIXIL-LOADED COSMETIC NANOTECHNOLOGY

 SIMIL-MICROFLUIDIC BASED LIPOSOMES AND MINODIXIL-LOADED COSMETIC NANOTECHNOLOGY.

Author Name: Abhilasha Roy

ClinoSol Trainee Intern – Business Development.

Introduction:

Nanotechnology is the ever-increasing arena in the field of Research and development. As the cosmeceutical industry is expanding over a wide range in this era, Nanotechnology advances in this industry are also expanding. The cosmeceutical industry is gaining new transparency through nanotechnology. Nanomaterial-based cosmetics have been providing indubitable benefits over their synthetic analogues. Its typical goal is to improve pharmacological activities and overcome issues such low solubility, drug aggregation, low bioavailability, poor biodistribution, and restricted selectivity, as well as to lessen therapeutic drug adverse effects. To address this problem, cosmetic companies have experimented with nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanotubes, Fullerenes, gold nanoparticles, dendrimers, and quantum dots, etc. However, it shows certain new advancements for nano-based cosmetics like Simil-microfluidic-based liposomes, Minoxidil loaded nanotechnology for alopecia, etc have garnered great attention due to their significant physicochemical properties.

Simil-Microfluidic Based Liposomes as Hydrophobic Antioxidants Skin Release Systems:

From various nanoparticles, a most distinguished place is occupied by nanoliposomes for cosmetic and cosmeceutical preparations, used for the formulation of anti-aging creams, moisturizers, sun lotions, facial beauty masks, for the treatment of hair drandraff and hair loss, and many other uses. Nanoliposomes has its characteristics feature of hydrophilic, amphiphilic, and lipophilic molecules, causing improved solubility, stability, target delivery, reduced toxicity, improved skin tolerability, allowing their slow-release, and prolonging their beneficial effect.

Normal nanoliposomes are vesicles with an aqueous core having active molecules with different nature surrounded by a hydrophobic bilayer whereas a novel semicontinuous simil-microfluidic contains lipid in hydroalcoholic solution to produce antioxidant-loaded liposomal vesicles. This vesicle contains different active constituents as per their therapeutic purposes. Although being more efficacious, the liposomal formulation needs the use of fewer amounts of product for an economic saving. Thus, this new strategy of simil-microfluidic based liposomes has developed. Recent examples for simil-microfluidic based liposomes include vitamin D3, K2, E, and curcumin, all these molecules coupled by their antioxidant activity but poor bioavailability, solubility, absorption, low stability, and rapid metabolism, and systemic elimination in their naked form, are encapsulated inside nanoliposomes to be used, as topical formulations for the treatment of skin aging, repairing skin cell damage caused by UV, in erythema-papulosquamous disorders like psoriasis vulgaris, in skin hydration, in the treatment of vitiligo, and facial seborrheic dermatitis, suppressing pigmentation and resolving bruising of the skin, in limiting the apperance of acne, and in many wound healing applications.

There are various methods for the production of nanoliposomes such as the thin film hydration or Bangham method, emulsification, reverse-phase evaporation, detergent removal, hot/cold homogenization, spray drying, solvent injection, freeze-thaw, sonication, and extrusion, etc. Among this, the most widely used in cosmetic is thin-film hydration and the ethanol injection methods. To scale up this method, new technology is used for the production of liposomes utilizing microfluidic hydrodynamic focusing (MHF) chips. 

 

Minoxidil Loaded Nanotechnology for Alopecia:

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a multifactorial hair-related condition that affects both men and women and is characterised by progressive hair loss patterns. Minoxidil (MXD) is used as an antihypertensive drug owing to its vasodilating properties. Apart from this, it is extensively used topically for AGA therapy, acting as a potassium channel opener, releasing nitric oxide, and increasing blood flow into the hair follicles showing certain side effects. Nanoparticles containing minoxidil can build up in hair follicles, facilitating drug penetration and causing a release in deeper skin stratum. This drug depot formulation causes sustained release with greater therapeutic compliance and reduced side effects. 

Minoxidil loaded Cubosomes- Cubosomes are crystalline bilayer vesicular nanoparticles with a 3D bi-continuous honeycomb structure, comprised of two water canals on the inside and specific surfactants on the outside, which increases their surface area. MXD-loaded cubosomes cause a decrease in the barrier function of the skin, enhancing MXD skin permeation by enabling the sustained release of MXD in hair follicle depots, allowing them to reach deeper skin layers. cubosomes cause the greater quality of MXD to be delivered.

Minoxidil loaded Niosomes - Niosomes are vesicular non-ionic surfactants that can accommodate either hydrophilic or hydrophobic drugs. MXD loaded niosomes show enhanced ability to penetrate deeper skin layers and produce prolonged release. Niosomes involves the use of surfactants and cholesterol molecule in its bilayer structure. This may cause drug hydrolysis or drug leakage phenomenon may occur. To avoid this, use of appropriate surfactants and cholesterols are required. For minoxidil loaded Niosomes surfactants selected were sorbitan monostearate and cholesterol at high concentration produce niosomes with maximum encapsulation efficiency and decreased particle size. For the sorbitan monostearate: cholesterol (1:2) noisome-based formulation, MXD permeation was used. Skin irritation is also minimized with the improved immunogenic response, thereby allowing better therapeutic adherence due to a reduction in the oily sensation after application. 

Conclusion: 

To circumvent these restrictions, a variety of nanomaterials for the delivery of active substances have been created. The continuing development of skin products containing active substances made from nanomaterials provides unique options in the health and cosmetic care sectors, with positive implications for both industry and society.

Reference: 

1) Santos A., Silva M., Guerra C, Costa D, Peixoto D, Pereira I, Pita I, Ribeiro A &Francisco Veiga F. (2020), ‘Topical Minoxidil-Loaded Nanotechnology Strategies for Alopecia’, Cosmetics 2020, 7(2), 21

2) Bochicchio S., Dalmoro A., Simone V., Bertoncin P., Lamberti G., & Barba A. (2020), ‘Simil-Microfluidic Nanotechnology in Manufacturing of Liposomes as Hydrophobic Antioxidants Skin Release Systems’, Cosmetics 2020, 7, 22

3) Bilal M., & Iqbal H., (2020), ‘New Insights on Unique Features and Role of Nanostructured Materials in Cosmetics’, Cosmetics, 7, 24

4)Carrouel F., Stephane Viennot S., Livia Ottolenghi L., Cedric Gaillard C., & Bourgeois D., (2020) ‘Nanoparticles as Anti-Microbial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Remineralizing Agents in Oral Care Cosmetics: A Review of the Current Situation’, Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 140