Optimization and characterization of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles loaded with astaxanthin and evaluation of anti-photodamage effect in vitro

Abstract

Astaxanthin is a xanthophyll carotenoid with high beneficial biological activities, such as antioxidant function and scavenging oxygen free radicals, but its application is limited because of poor water solubility and low bioavailability. Here, we prepared and optimized poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles loaded with astaxanthin using the emulsion solvent evaporation technique and investigated the anti-photodamage effect in HaCaT cells. The four-factor three-stage Box–Behnken design was used to optimize the nanoparticle formulation. The experimental determination of the optimal nanoparticle size was 154.4 ± 0.35 nm, the zeta potential was 22.07 ± 0.93 mV, encapsulation efficiency was 96.42 ± 0.73% and drug loading capacity was 7.19 ± 0.12%. The physico-chemical properties of the optimized nanoparticles were characterized by dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and thermo-gravimetric analyser. In vitro study exhibited the excellent cell viability and cellular uptake of optimized nanoparticles on HaCaT cells. The anti-photodamage studies (cytotoxicity assay, reactive oxygen species content and JC-1 assessment) demonstrated that the optimized nanoparticles were more effective and safer than pure astaxanthin in HaCaT cells. These results suggest that our PLGA-coated astaxanthin nanoparticles synthesis method was highly feasible and can be used in cosmetics or the treatment of skin diseases.

The Astaxanthin Aggregation Pattern Greatly Influences Its Antioxidant Activity: A Comparative Study in Caco-2 Cells

“…According to Ma's report [8], particles with a positive surface charge were more favorable for cellular uptake compared to negatively-charged particles. To enhance the intracellular antioxidant activity of AST, Hu [9] and his coworkers synthesized AST-loaded PLGA nanoparticles for anti-photodamage on skin cells (HaCaT), and optimized the nanoparticles with a particle size of 154.4 nm, zeta potential of 22.07 mV, encapsulation rate of 96.42% and AST loading capacity of 7.19%. In our previous work, natural DNA/chitosan co-assemblies were employed as novel nanocarriers for oral delivery of AST.…”

Microalgae Encapsulation Systems for Food, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Applications

“…Such factors are usually associated with excessive production of reactive oxygen species and other free radicals, which are pro-inflammatory mediators and may induce many deleterious effects, including DNA damage, oxidative stress, photoaging, and carcinogenesis [ 221 , 222 ]. As such, microalgae bioactives could play an advantageous role in maintaining the skin health status and in the treatment of some dermatological issues, such as hyperpigmentation, dehydration, photo-oxidation, photoaging, as well as protection against skin cancer [ 219 , 223 ].…”

“…Moreover, in vitro permeation studies and skin section histological analyses exhibited the enhanced permeation of astaxanthin with low systemic absorption and unchanged epidermis, which proved the efficacy and safety of the astaxanthin-loaded non-aqueous nanoemulsion for topical application of that carotenoid. Likewise, Hu et al [ 223 ] prepared and optimized astaxanthin-loaded PLGA nanoparticles through the emulsification-solvent evaporation technique and investigated its cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and photodamage protective effect in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. According to the in vitro study, the optimized nanoparticles exhibited excellent cell viability and cell uptake, as well as low cytotoxicity.…”

Nanomaterials for Skin Delivery of Cosmeceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

“…PLGA nanoparticles loading a xanthophyll carotenoid (astaxanthin) were tested for anti-photodamage in HaCaT cells [108]. The cytotoxicity assay, ROS scavenging and mitochondrial membrane potential assay highlighted the advantages of nanoparticles in improving anti-wrinkle and anti-oxidation effects of astaxanthin against the non-loaded carotenoid [108].…”