Cosmeceuticals: The Principles and Practice of Skin Rejuvenation by Nonprescription Topical Therapy

Glycyrrhizin functionalized CuS Nanoprobes for NIR Light-based therapeutic mitigation of acne vulgaris

Acne Vulgaris or Acne is a multifactorial bacterial infection caused by Propionibacterium acne, leading to inflammation and decreased quality of life, especially in adolescence. Currently, antibiotics and retinoids are preferred for treating acne. However, their continuous usage may lead to anti-microbial resistance and other side effects. Therefore, research on developing effective strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance and improve acne healing is ongoing. The current work reports the synthesis and evaluation of near-infrared light-absorbing copper sulfide (CuS) nanoparticles loaded with a biomolecule, Glycyrrhizin (Ga). The photothermal efficacy studies, and in-vitro and in-vivo experiments indicated that the Ga-CuS NPs generated localized hyperthermia in acne-causing bacteria, leading to their complete growth inhibition. The results indicated that the Ga-Cus NPs possess excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in the acne and inflammatory models. This could be from the synergistic effect of CuS NPs mediated mild Photothermal effect and inherent pharmacological properties of Ga. Further detailed studies of the formulations can pave the way for application in cosmetic clinics for the effective and minimally invasive management of Acne-like conditions.

A Preliminary Study on the Release of Bioactive Compounds from Rice Starch Hydrogels Produced by High-Pressure Processing (HPP)

This work aimed to carry out a preliminary study on the release of bioactive compounds loaded into starch-based hydrogels produced by high-pressure processing (HPP). As a study case, the experiments were carried out on rice starch HPP hydrogels. Rice starch (20% w/w) and green tea extract (2% w/w), suspended in distilled water, were treated by HPP at processing conditions enabling starch gelatinisation, namely 600 MPa for 15 min at room temperature. Additional experiments were carried out on samples that were further loaded with glycerol (5% w/w). Gel formation was assessed by analysing the gelatinisation extent, structuring level, and swelling power of the samples. At the processing conditions utilised, stable hydrogels were obtained even in the presence of the extract and/or the glycerol in the starch suspension. As expected, the colour of the hydrogels formed was affected by the addition of green tea extract in the starch solution. HPP starch hydrogels were characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) to determine the interactions between the different compounds utilised in the formulation. Moreover, the release kinetics of bioactive compounds from HPP rice starch hydrogels was evaluated using a vertical Franz diffusion cells system, simulating a transdermal pattern. The diffusion of bioactive compounds was measured spectrophotometrically and via HPLC analysis. A controlled release of bioactive compounds from the hydrogel structure was detected, suggesting that small molecules, such as polyphenols, positively interacted with the rice starch HPP hydrogel network that allowed a smooth and constant release of these bioactive compounds over time.

Investigation on the Biological Safety and Activity of a Gluconolactone-Based Lotion for Dermocosmetic Application

(1) Background: Cosmeceuticals are formulas enriched with active ingredients that exert efficacy on different skin molecular targets. (2) Methods: Cell viability and the absence of potential irritant risk were evaluated on keratinocytes (HaCaT), fibroblasts (NHDF), adipocytes (3T3-L1), sebocytes (PCi-SEB_CAU) and reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), respectively. Several treatments were performed to evaluate the ability of the lotion to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, stimulate the differentiation of keratinocytes and reduce the number of senescent cells following UVB stimulation. In addition, the modulation of genes involved in the production, storage and accumulation of sebum were investigated. (3) Results: The results obtained demonstrated the biosafety of the formula in all cell lines tested. The 24-h treatment with non-cytotoxic concentrations determined an increase in the expression of the collagen (COL1A1), elastin (ELN) and involucrin (IVL) genes, while a reduction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) gene expression and a reduction of SA-βgal-positive cells were found. Moreover, the treatment did not interfere with normal steroid 5-alpha reductase (5RDA3) gene expression levels. (4) Conclusions: Data collected demonstrated the biosafety of the lotion, the non-comedogenic property and a multi targets anti-aging effect. In particular, data collected on the booster lotion make it a valid way to counteract the pore dilatation aging related.

Mushroom β-Glucan Recovered from Antler-Type Fruiting Body of Ganoderma lucidum by Enzymatic Process and Its Potential Biological Activities for Cosmeceutical Applications

Mushrooms are incredibly valuable macro fungi that are an important and integral part of the ecosystem. In addition to being used as cuisine, mushrooms have been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries. This research applied a process for recovering β-glucan (BG) from the antler-type fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum as well as tested the biological activities related to cosmeceutical applications. The characterization of complex structure was performed by fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (MNR) spectroscopies. The obtained extract contained 40.57% BG and 7.47% protein, with the detectable bioactivities of anti-tyrosinase and antioxidation. Consequently, it showed the activity that can be used to whiten the skin by reducing or inhibiting the process of skin pigmentation. The BG also showed moderate activities of anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase. The test by the HET-CAM confirmed no skin irritation of the complex extract. Based on human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) test, the BG had no significant inhibiting effect on cell viability. In addition, the obtained BG had functional properties higher than commercially available BG, especially oil-binding capacity. These findings provided new insights into the potential application of G. lucidum BG as a polymeric material in the cosmeceutical industries.

Role of Exosomes Derived from Secretome Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (Exo-HUVEC) as Anti-Apoptotic, Anti-Oxidant, and Increasing Fibroblast Migration in Photoaging Skin Models

Background: Prolonged skin exposure to ultraviolet light rays leads to photoaging, which is characterized molecularly by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell apoptosis, and a decrease in collagen. Photoaging therapy has been a challenge until recently. Fibroblasts exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light proved to be a good model for photoaging skin. They are also the primary dermal cells that stimulate collagen production and extracellular matrix (ECM), which contribute to skin aging. Exo-HUVEC is rich in growth factors, cytokines, and miRNAs, and they all play a vital role in cell-to-cell communication. The migration of fibroblasts is crucial for the development, repair, and regeneration of skin tissue during the repair of skin aging. Objective: An in vitro experimental study was conducted to analyze the effect of Exo-HUVEC on oxidative stress levels, cell apoptosis, and fibroblast migration rate after UVB ray exposure on fibroblasts. Methods: The fibroblast cultures were divided into five groups, including one without UVB exposure, one with UVB exposure, and one with UVB+Exo-HUVEC exposure at 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1%, respectively. Oxidative stress levels were measured using the ELISA test for malondialdehyde (MDA). Furthermore, flow cytometry was used to measure apoptosis using PI/Annexin markers, while a scratch assay examination was used to measure fibroblast migration rate using imaging readings. Results: There were significant differences in the levels of MDA, PI/Annexin, and the rate of fibroblast migration between the UVB-irradiated control group and the Exo-HUVEC treatment group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Exo-HUVEC is a marker of photoaging improvement, which has anti-apoptotic effects and reduces oxidative stress, as well as increases fibroblast migration rate.

β-glucan, "the knight of health sector": critical insights on physiochemical heterogeneities, action mechanisms and health implications

β-glucans, the class of biological response modifier has unceasing attention, not only for its immune stimulating but also for its role as prebiotics, modulator of physiological events etc. and is widely used in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases etc. However, β-glucan with different physiochemical properties is found to have discrete clinical functions and thus careful selection of the types of β-glucan plays pivotal role in providing significant and expected clinical outcome. Herein this review, we presented the factors responsible for diverse functional properties of β-glucan, their distinct mode of actions in regulating human health etc. Further, clinical aspects of different β-glucans toward the management of wound care, metabolic dysbiosis, fatty liver disorders and endurance training associated energy metabolism were compiled and exhibited in detail.