Bacterial Cellulose Membrane Containing Epilobium angustifolium L. Extract as a Promising Material for the Topical Delivery of Antioxidants to the Skin.

Anna Nowak,Magdalena Perużyńska,Karolina Wenelska,Edyta Makuch,Łukasz Kucharski,Rafał Rakoczy,Paula Ossowicz-Rupniewska,Wiktoria Duchnik,Marek Droździk,Adam Klimowicz,Maciej Konopacki

doi:10.3390/ijms22126269

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose membranes (BCs) are becoming useful as a drug delivery system to the skin. However, there are very few reports on their application of plant substances to the skin. Komagataeibacter xylinus was used for the production of bacterial cellulose (BC). The BC containing 5% and 10% ethanolic extract of Epilobium angustifolium (FEE) (BC-5%FEE and BC-10%FEE, respectively) were prepared. Their mechanical, structural, and antioxidant properties, as well as phenolic acid content, were evaluated. The bioavailability of BC-FESs using mouse L929 fibroblasts as model cells was tested. Moreover, In Vitro penetration through the pigskin of the selected phenolic acids contained in FEE and their accumulation in the skin after topical application of BC-FEEs was examined. The BC-FEEs were characterized by antioxidant activity. The BC-5% FEE showed relatively low toxicity to healthy mouse fibroblasts. Gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (3-HB), and caffeic acid (CA) found in FEE were also identified in the membranes. After topical application of the membranes to the pigskin penetration of some phenolic acid and other antioxidants through the skin as well as their accumulation in the skin was observed. The bacterial cellulose membrane loaded by plant extract may be an interesting solution for topical antioxidant delivery to the skin.

Highlights

The development of natural biomaterials for medical purposes has been observed in recent years
This study aimed to investigate the potential of Bacterial cellulose membranes (BCs)-FEEs as a system for topical delivery of valuable antioxidant substances to the skin
It is worth mentioning that these compounds penetrated to human skin from the ethanolic extract of this plant, as we demonstrated in our previous study [42]

Summary

Introduction

The development of natural biomaterials for medical purposes has been observed in recent years. The application of natural, safe, and ecological vehicles for dermatological and cosmetic products could be important to reduce synthetic product use. Of its weight) and are environmentally friendly [3,4,5,6,7,8] These properties, together with tensile strength, make these membranes applicable as a skin repair material [9] and in wound dressing [10,11]. In recent years gradually increasing demand for to use of “natural” products, perceived by patients as safer compared to products containing “synthetic” ingredients has been observed [12]. “green” polymers, are an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials to reduce a large amount of non-biodegradable waste generated by industry [6]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion