Chitin Nanofibrils and Nanolignin as Functional Agents in Skin Regeneration

Abstract

Chitin and lignin, by-products of fishery and plant biomass, can be converted to innovative high value bio- and eco-compatible materials. On the nanoscale, high antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cicatrizing and anti-aging activity is obtained by controlling their crystalline structure and purity. Moreover, electropositive chitin nanofibrlis (CN) can be combined with electronegative nanolignin (NL) leading to microcapsule-like systems suitable for entrapping both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules. The aim of this study was to provide morphological, physico-chemical, thermogravimetric and biological characterization of CN, NL, and CN-NL complexes, which were also loaded with glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) as a model of a bioactive molecule. CN-NL and CN-NL/GA were thermally stable up to 114 °C and 127 °C, respectively. The compounds were administered to in vitro cultures of human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) for potential use in skin contact applications. Cell viability, cytokine expression and effects on hMSC multipotency were studied. For each component, CN, NL, CN-NL and CN-NL/GA, non-toxic concentrations towards HaCaT cells were identified. In the keratinocyte model, the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α that resulted were downregulated, whereas the antimicrobial peptide human β defensin-2 was upregulated by CN-LN. The hMSCs were viable, and the use of these complexes did not modify the osteo-differentiation capability of these cells. The obtained findings demonstrate that these biocomponents are cytocompatible, show anti-inflammatory activity and may serve for the delivery of biomolecules for skin care and regeneration.

Extraction and Physicochemical Characterization of Chitin Derived from the Asian Hornet, Vespa velutina Lepeletier 1836 (Hym.: Vespidae)

“…The great variety of applications of chitosan in the field of biomaterials is due to its excellent properties when interacting with the human body: bioactivity [11], antimicrobial and antifungal activity [12,13], immunostimulation [14], chemotactic action, enzymatic biodegradability, mucoadhesion, and epithelial permeability [15], which supports the adhesion and proliferation of different cell types [16]. With the above properties, CHI derivatives serve a broad range of applications and these materials have advanced at a dramatic pace into many fields, including skin, wound, and burn management [17]; drug delivery and pharmaceutical applications [18]; tissue engineering [19]; dentistry [20]; plant science and agriculture [21]; veterinary science [22]; cosmetics and cosmeceutical [23]; food and nutraceuticals [24]; and, paper industry [25], among others.…”

Pullulan for Advanced Sustainable Body- and Skin-Contact Applications

“…Its biofunctionality and biocompatibility, in fact, may help to produce tissues that are able to mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) [62]. To improve the final product strength and further tune the properties, our group has worked for some years on the use of nanochitin, nanolignin, and its complexes [20][21][22][23][24][38][39][40][41]53]. Multiscale structures of PULMA enabled the control of mechanical properties by the virtue of cross-linking [51].…”

“…Optimal selection and use of the right carriers can assist cosmetic manufacturers in developing new and innovative products characterized for their enhanced functionality and cost-saving formulations. Due to increasing requests from consumers of nature-oriented products, natural polysaccharides and their derivatives represent a group of interesting polymers to be used as carriers to make the usual and classic emulsions as well as innovative cosmeceutical-tissues [22][23][24][38][39][40][41]. Specifically, they may be used to make not only the new micro/nano emulsions, but also the smart non-woven tissues made by natural fibers covered on their surface or bound into their structure by selected active ingredients [78,79].…”

“…For this purpose, regenerative medicine aims to recuperate lost tissues by guiding cell growth and restoring the original tissue-scaffold architecture. Thus, the necessity of using biomaterials such as PUL or other polysaccharides, chitin nanofibrils, nanolignin, and their derivatives, as interesting and innovative polymers, is useful to reconstruct the aged skin structure [23].…”

“…However, the non-toxicity and easy biodegradability of this natural compound enables the production of innovative biopolymer-based nanocomposites, both skin-friendly and environmentally friendly. Indeed, these products, based on renewable biowaste sources, may be utilized as scaffolds for medical, food, and cosmetic use [22,23]. Therefore, for the above-mentioned interesting characteristics, PUL is highly useful to fabricate innovative cosmetic products free of preservatives and other chemicals, which are often the cause of allergic and sensitizing phenomena.…”