Biocellulose Masks as Delivery Systems: A Novel Methodological Approach to Assure Quality and Safety

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has become of great interest in recent years, as a delivery system in several areas of application, including food, drugs, and cosmetics, thanks to its exclusive advantages, such as high biocompatibility, water holding capacity, and good gas permeability. The novel approach of the authors has led to a protocol for checking the quality and safety of bacterial cellulose matrices in the manufacture of cosmetic masks. Two non-destructive techniques, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and multiple light scattering (MLS), were used to verify different parameters affecting the quality of BC sheets, allowing cellulose masks to be checked over time. NIR spectroscopy allowed for discovering changes in the water content, depending on filling/packaging procedures, like flat-folding. Multiple light scattering was used to ascertain the stability of solutions in contact with masks. From a clinical standpoint, the cutaneous tolerability of biocellulose masks, and their effect on skin parameters, were evaluated through some specific "in vivo" tests. Also, a safety evaluation during application was conducted through different studies: a short-term one after single application, and a long-term one upon continued use.Cosmetics 2018, 5, 66 2 of 20 surface area per unit mass is demonstrated. This feature, combined with its highly hydrophilic nature, results in a very high liquid-loading capacity. Its water-holding capacity (WHC) is over 100 times (by mass) higher than plant cellulose, and the WHC is 100-200 times its dry weight [1][2][3].The hydrogen bonds between its fibrillar units stabilize the whole structure, and define many of its mechanical properties. Tensile strength, maximum elongation, and elastic modulus, that characterize BC, depend on its own uniform ultrafine-fiber network structure, and the high planar orientation of the ribbon-like fibers, when compressed into sheets, results in good chemical stability [3].Bacterial cellulose shows great biocompatibility, not only because of its non-toxic effects on biological systems but, also, by eliciting an appropriate host response to ensure satisfactory performance during a specific application. Petersen and Gatenholm have pointed out that biocompatibility of BC for tissue engineering applications can be can be due to structure similarities with extracellular matrix components, such as collagen. In fact, collagen and BC nanofibers have similar diameters (around 100 nm), and are extracellularly assembled from precursor molecules into polymer chains [4].Due to its unique structural properties, BC has become of interest in different fields, such as in the textile industry, high quality paper production, food, pharmaceutical and medical devices, electronics, and acoustics [1,2]. In particular, the biomedical field exploits microbial cellulose as a natural, porous, nontoxic material in tissue-like products for both wound care and the regeneration of damaged or diseased organs. Due to its unique nanostructure and properties, BC is a natural candidate for numerou...

In vivo evaluation of the effectiveness of biocellulose facial masks as active delivery systems to skin

“…All masks were produced following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) guidelines and were checked for quality, microbial content, and the effectiveness of the preservative system through the Challenge test, and for all masks, a confirmation of tolerability was performed through an in vivo test (Patch Test) in order to ensure a safe and high‐quality product suitable to be applied to volunteers …”

“…Although BC and plant cellulose possess a similar chemical structure, the self‐assembling nanofibrous structure of BC is different to that of plant cellulose. Despite the many positive effects of biocellulose, it is essential to extensively check all steps of face‐mask production in order to meet the legal requirements of quality and safety specified for cosmetic products …”

From cheese whey permeate to Sakacin-A/bacterial cellulose nanocrystal conjugates for antimicrobial food packaging applications: a circular economy case study

“…artificial blood vessels, skin, cornea, cartilage and bone) 5 , cosmetics (active ingredients delivery systems as facial masks) 6 , textile, high quality paper production and food as thickening and stabilizing agent 7 . Nevertheless, its industrial production and commercialization at large scale are still actually hampered by high fermentation costs, low productivity and expensive culture media.…”

Applicability of bacterial cellulose in cosmetics – bibliometric review

“…They estimated that the shelf life for commercially stable and safe products, that is, bacterial cellulose masks, would be approximately 6 months. In conclusion, the authors consider bacterial cellulose to be a successful branch for the development of new cosmetics [ 24 ].…”

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