Design and Evaluation of Topical Antioxidant Nanogel Formulations

• Published in: Journal of cosmetic science 2021-01, Vol.72 (1), p.47-62
• Main Authors: Tetik, Gökçe, Rençber, Seda, Özoglu, Ezgi T, Yapar, Evren A, Karavana, Sinem Y, Özer, Özgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants - pharmacology; Nanogels; Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Polyethyleneimine - chemistry
• ISSN: 1525-7886

Transdermal delivery of an active substance is promising, but a challenging option is available for local and systemic effects. The prolonged residence of formulation in the skin is important for topical delivery. In this study, it was aimed to develop a formulation that can overcome the stability and absorption problems of the vitamin C active substance by preparing nanogels. Nanogel-based materials have high drug loading capacity, biocompatibility, stability, and biodegradability, which are the key points to design a topical drug delivery system. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chitosan (CS) were used to prepare nanogels by a simple green self-assembly technique. Prepared nanogels were successfully used to entrap vitamin C, with an entrapment ratio between 86.08% ± 1.29% and 107.93% ± 1.04%. The studies started with vitamin C analysis and continued with characterization studies such as homogeneity, pH, viscosity, rheological properties, zeta potential, polydispersity index, particle size, and dissolution studies of nanogels. The antioxidant activities of the formulations were also tested by cell culture studies. The antioxidant activities of the nanogels were also tested by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. Although topical vitamin C is effective in many ways, it has a risk of serious stability and absorption problems. The present work was aimed at developing pharmaceutically optimized topical nanogel formulations of vitamin C for antioxidant effect. An optimum nanogel formulation was composed of a 1:4 ratio of CS:BSA with (F19 formulation) in terms of entrapping vitamin C, formulation homogeneity, pH, viscosity, rheological properties, zeta potential, PI, particle size, dissolution and cell culture studies. The optimized formulation showed higher antioxidant efficacy than vitamin C. In conclusion, prepared topical nanogel of vitamin C was stable and could be used with promising potential for topical application.