Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomal carnosine for dermatological and cosmeceutical applications

Abstract

Carnosine is a dipeptide with unique antioxidant and antiaging properties that has been used in several cosmeceutical products to enhance their antiaging and wound healing effect. However, the skin penetration of carnosine is rather poor, and research is focusing on finding ways to overcome the stratum corneum barrier. Liposomes are a viable and well-studied solution for drug delivery through the skin. Herein, three types of carnosine-loaded liposomes were developed by utilizing the modified heating method (MHM) and evaluated in terms of physicochemical properties and stability. Specifically, a conventional liposome, an ultradeformable liposome (transferosome or elastosome) with Tween 80 and a ceramide-containing liposome (ceramidosome) were studied and formulated. An in vitro skin permeation study (IVPT) was performed to assess the formulation’s effect on carnosine skin permeability. All nanoparticles exhibited good physicochemical properties and stability, appropriate for dermatological and cosmeceutical applications. Conventional liposomes and transferosomes were found to have the highest encapsulation efficiency. Formulations that were stored in the refrigerator performed better in terms of stability over time. Cumulative permeation of applied dose was 6% for the three liposomal formulations, compared to non-detectable skin permeation for the reference formulations. Skin carnosine retention varied from 20 to 30% of the applied dose for the liposomal formulations, and from 2 to 4% for a conventional carnosine gel. The herein developed liposomal formulations of carnosine can be further utilized in in vitro or in vivo applications to establish their pharmacological effect.