Topical nanostructured lipid carriers of alpha-mangostin and resveratrol for synergistic antioxidant activity.

Abstract

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are interesting lipid-based carrier systems for enhancing the penetration of drugs through the skin after topical administration. Dual drug-loaded NLCs of alpha-mangostin (M) and resveratrol (R) to enhance antioxidant activity were developed for topical delivery. The efficacy of a combination of M and R was evaluated in terms of the antioxidant activity. M and R were loaded into the NLCs using a high shear homogenization and ultrasonication process. The particle size, zeta potential, and physical properties of the NLCs were observed. The M and R loading efficiency as well as release patterns were examined using Franz diffusion cells. Moreover, the antioxidant efficacy and in vitro cytotoxicity in the normal human fibroblast (NHF) of the NLCs were evaluated as well. The results found that the combination of M and R offered synergistic antioxidant activity and was successfully loaded into the NLCs with the size of a nanometer and negative zeta potential. The drugs were loaded in the NLCs as molecular dispersions and slowly released from the NLCs. Interestingly, both drugs maintained their antioxidant activity after being loaded into the NLCs and provided a higher antioxidant activity than those in the single loading of M and R, thus demonstrating that the incorporation of M and R into the NLCs allowed an enhanced antioxidant activity. Moreover, a cytotoxicity study showed that the NLCs were safe and had low cytotoxicity on the NHF cells. The M and R loaded NLCs were attractive systems for synergistic antioxidant activity for topical application.