An eco-friendly zein nanoparticle as robust cosmetic ingredient ameliorates skin photoaging

Zein colloidal particles, which have generally regarded as safe (GRAS) status, have been routinely used in formulations of oral nutraceuticals but not in skin care products. Herein, we constructed for the first time zein-based topical vehicles to address skin photoaging. To this end, we fabricated a new type of eco-friendly nanoparticles by co-assembling zein with hyaluronic acid (HA), a cell-specific molecule, to encapsulate hydrophobic tetra-hydrocurcumin (THC) with an aim to improve its cutaneous bioavailability. Impressively, the prepared nano-particles could increase the solubility of THC in water by 72.84 times, and were stable at pH 4-10. In particular, the topical delivery systems were effective in UVB-induced cell and animal photoaging models, and were able to restore the accumulation of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and inflammatory factors to the normal levels at the selected conditions. In addition, the biotransformation of THC in HaCaT cells was observed and clarified. This strategy may open up new promising avenues for developing innovative nanocosmetics containing anti-photoaging ingredient.

Automated summary

In this study, zein-based topical vehicles were constructed for the first time to address skin photoaging. The nanoparticles co-assembled zein with hyaluronic acid to encapsulate hydrophobic tetra-hydrocurcumin (THC), significantly improving its solubility in water. The topical delivery systems showed effectiveness in UVB-induced cell and animal photoaging models and had the potential to develop innovative nanocosmetics containing anti-photoaging ingredient.