Efficacy and Toxicity of Curcumin Nanoparticles in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent types of malignant tumors in the world, resulting in a high incidence of death. The development of new molecules and technologies aiming to apply more effective and safer therapy strategies has been intensively explored to overcome this situation. The association of nanoparticles with known antitumor compounds (including plant-derived molecules such as curcumin) has been considered an effective approach to enhance tumor growth suppression and reduce adverse effects.

Liquid crystalline nanodispersion functionalized with cell-penetrating peptides improves skin penetration and anti-inflammatory effect of lipoic acid after in vivo skin exposure to UVB radiation.

In this study, the development and the performance of a new targeted liquid crystalline nanodispersion (LCN) by the attachment of cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) onto their surfaces to improve skin delivery of lipoic acid (LA) were evaluated. For that, the synthesis and characterization of this new platform as well as its spatiotemporal analysis from in vitro and in vivo topical application were explored and extensively discussed in this paper. The TAT or D4 peptides were chosen as CPP due to specific target strategies by the charge grouping on the skin surface or target the overexpressed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of cell membrane of keratinocytes, respectively.

The prominence of the dosage form design to treat ocular diseases.

The eye is susceptible to various diseases commonly difficult to treat. To overcome the barriers imposed by this organ for required drugs penetration, technological strategies have been implemented to ocular formulations. Among them are the use of temperature or electric stimuli and the development of nanoparticles.

In Vitro TyRP-1 Knockdown Based on siRNA Carried by Liquid Crystalline Nanodispersions: an Alternative Approach for Topical Treatment of Vitiligo.

Purpose: Vitiligo is a skin disease characterized by depigmentation and the presence of white patches that are associated with the loss of melanocytes. The most common explanation for the cause of this condition is that it is an autoimmune condition. TyRP-1 is involved in melanin pigment synthesis but can also function as a melanocyte differentiation antigen.

Evaluation of critical parameters for in vitro skin permeation and penetration studies using animal skin models.

In vitro skin permeation/penetration studies may be affected by many sources of variation. Herein, we aimed to investigate the major critical procedures of in vitro skin delivery studies. These experiments were performed with model drugs according to official guidelines.

Poly-epsilon-caprolactone nanoparticles enhance ursolic acid in vivo efficacy against Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

Despite affecting millions of people worldwide, Chagas disease is still neglected by the academia and industry and the therapeutic option available, benznidazole, presents limited efficacy and side effects. Within this context, ursolic acid may serve as an option for treatment, however has low bioavailability, which can be enhanced through the encapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles. Therefore, herein we developed ursolic acid-loaded nanoparticles with poly-ε-caprolactone by the nanoprecipitation method and characterized them for particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity, encapsulation efficiency, morphology by scanning electron microscopy and thermal behavior by differential scanning calorimetry.

Use of silicon for skin and hair care: an approach of chemical forms available and efficacy.

Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth, and the third most abundant trace element in human body. It is present in water, plant and animal sources. On the skin, it is suggested that silicon is important for optimal collagen synthesis and activation of hydroxylating enzymes, improving skin strength and elasticity.

RNAi mediated IL-6 in vitro knockdown in psoriasis skin model with topical siRNA delivery system based on liquid crystalline phase.

Gene therapy by RNA interference (RNAi) is a post-transcriptional silencing process that can suppress the expression of a particular gene and it is a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of many severe diseases, including cutaneous disorders. However, difficulties related to administration and body distribution limit the clinical use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules. In this study, we proposed to use nanocarriers to enable siRNA application in the topical treatment of skin disorders.

Development and characterization of novel 1-(1-Naphthyl)piperazine-loaded lipid vesicles for prevention of UV-induced skin inflammation.

1-(1-Naphthyl)piperazine (1-NPZ) has shown promising effects by inhibiting UV radiation-induced immunosuppression. Ultradeformable vesicles are recent advantageous systems capable of improving the (trans)dermal drug delivery. The aim of this study was to investigate 1-NPZ-loaded transethosomes (NPZ-TE) and 1-NPZ-loaded vesicles containing dimethyl sulfoxide (NPZ-DM) as novel delivery nanosystems, and to uncover their chemopreventive effect against UV-induced acute inflammation.

Unsaponifiable matter from oil of green coffee beans: cosmetic properties and safety evaluation.

Context: Unsaponifiable matter (UM), a fraction of green coffee oil (GCO) contains functional compounds responsible for desirable cosmetic properties such as UV-B absorption.

Objectives: To evaluate oil content and sun protection factor (SPF) variability of the two most important species of coffee and, the toxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as cosmetic properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of UM obtained from green Coffea arabica seed oil.

Materials And Methods: The safety and potential cosmetic properties of UM extracted from green coffee oil (GCO) were evaluated by the brine shrimp viability and the MTT cytotoxicity assays.

Quantification of lipoic acid from skin samples by HPLC using ultraviolet, electrochemical and evaporative light scattering detectors.

Lipoic acid (LA) is an endogenous organosulfur compound with potent antioxidant property. LA is often used as a drug for the treatment of skin disorders. For the accomplishment of topical applications of LA appropriate drug quantification methods are essential.

Inhibitory effect of GB-2a (I3-naringenin-II8-eriodictyol) on melanogenesis.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: GB-2a is a I3-naringenin-II8-eriodictyol compound isolated from Garcinia gardneriana (Planchon & Triana) Zappi, a plant used in folk medicine for the treatment of skin disorders.

Aim Of Study: In the search for new depigmenting agents, this study was carried out to investigate the in vitro effects of GB-2a isolated from G. gardneriana (Planchon & Triana) Zappi in B16F10 melanoma cells.

Advances in the bioanalytical study of drug delivery across the skin.

The study of a drug's dermal penetration profile provides important pharmaceutical data for the rational development of topical and transdermal delivery systems because the skin is a broadly used delivery route for local and systemic drugs and a potential route for gene therapy and vaccines. Monitoring drug penetration across the skin and quantifying its levels in different skin layers have been constant challenges due to the detection limitations of the available techniques, as well as the inherent interference in this tissue. This review explores and discusses several bionalytical methods that are indispensable tools to study drugs across the skin.

Synergistic effects of green tea and ginkgo biloba extracts on the improvement of skin barrier function and elasticity.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cosmetic formulations containing green tea (GT) and/or Ginkgo biloba (GB) extracts by preclinical and clinical studies. For the preclinical study, histological analysis was performed after 5 day-period of formulations application on the dorsum of hairless mice. For the clinical study, the formulations were applied on the forearm skin of 48 volunteers, and assessed before and after 3 hours and after a 15 and 30 day-period of application.

The use of green tea extract in cosmetic formulations: not only an antioxidant active ingredient.

Green tea (GT) extracts contain polyphenols, known to be effective free radical scavengers, and other ingredients that could also provide benefits to the skin. This is a report on clinical studies using objective, noninvasive methods to evaluate the effects of cosmetic formulations containing GT. Experimental formulations were supplemented or not (vehicle) with 6% Camellia sinensis glycolic leaf extracts (GT).

Effect of a Garcinia gardneriana (Planchon and Triana) Zappi hydroalcoholic extract on melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells.

Ethnopharmacology Relevance: Garcinia gardneriana (Planchon and Triana) Zappi (Clusiaceae) is popularly called "bacopari" in southern Brazil. The leaves of this plant are traditionally used to treat skin disorders.

Aim Of Study: This study evaluated the effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Garcinia gardneriana leaves (HEGG) on B16F10 murine melanoma cells in order to search for new depigmenting agents.

Benefits of combinations of vitamin A, C and E derivatives in the stability of cosmetic formulations.

Chemically stable ester derivatives of vitamins A, C and E have become a focus of interest for their role in the satisfactory results in skin aging treatments. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical stability of a cosmetic formulation containing 1% retinyl palmitate, ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate and tocopheryl acetate, alone or in combination. In the studies of physical stability, a Brookfield rheometer was used to determine rheological behavior of formulations containing the vitamins.

Efficacy of cosmetic formulations containing dispersion of liposome with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, alpha-lipoic acid and kinetin.

The present study aimed to evaluate the photoprotective effects of cosmetic formulations containing a dispersion of liposome with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP), alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) and kinetin, as well as their effects on the hydration and viscoelastic skin properties. The photoprotection was determined in vitro (antioxidant activity) and in vivo on UV-irradiated hairless mouse skin. The hydration effects were performed with the application of the formulations under study on the forearm of human volunteers and skin conditions were analyzed before and after a single application and daily applications during 4 weeks in terms of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin moisture and viscoelastic properties.

A HPLC method to evaluate the influence of photostabilizers on cosmetic formulations containing UV-filters and vitamins A and E.

This paper reports a simple and reliable HPLC method to evaluate the influence of two currently available photostabilizers on cosmetic formulations containing combined UV-filters and vitamins A and E. Vitamins and UV-filters, widely encountered in products of daily use have to be routinely evaluated since photoinstability can lead to reductions in their efficacy and safety. UV-irradiated formulation samples were submitted to a procedure that included a reliable, precise and specific HPLC method employing a C18 column and detection at 325 and 235 nm.

Rheological behavior, zeta potential, and accelerated stability tests of Buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa) emulsions containing lyotropic liquid crystals.

Background: It is well known that the Amazon region presents a huge biodiversity; therefore, countless natural resources are being employed in the production of phytocosmetics and phytomedicines.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to obtain emulsions produced with Buriti oil and non-ionic surfactants.

Methods: Two surfactant systems were employed (Steareth-2 associated to Ceteareth-5 and to Ceteareth-20) to produce the emulsions using phase diagram method.

In vitro antioxidant activity and in vivo efficacy of topical formulations containing vitamin C and its derivatives studied by non-invasive methods.

Background/purpose: Vitamins C and its derivatives, mainly due to their antioxidant properties, are being used in cosmetic products to protect and to reduce the signs of ageing. However, there are no studies comparing the effects of vitamin C [ascorbic acid (AA)] and its derivatives, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP) and ascorbyl tetra-isopalmitate (ATIP), when vehiculated in topical formulations, mainly using objective measurements, which are an important tool in clinical efficacy studies. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the in vitro antioxidant activity of AA and its derivatives, MAP and ATIP, as well as their in vivo efficacy on human skin, when vehiculated in topical formulations.

Stability of cosmetic formulations containing esters of vitamins E and A: chemical and physical aspects.

Cosmetic stability prediction relies on quantitative chemical determinations of active components after certain times and in different temperatures. However, physical stability, an important parameter in skin care products is not considered in these conditions. This study proposes the determination of cosmetic stability chemical and physical parameters validated by (HPLC) chromatography and rheological measurements, respectively, using a gel-cream containing retinyl palmitate and tocopheryl acetate as a model system.

Letter: radical ion and protonated molecule formation with retinal in electrospray and nanospray.

This paper reports a preliminary study of the nanospray ionisation mass spectrometry analyses of retinoic acid and retinal. The results are compared and contrasted to the results normally observed with electrospray ionisation. A significant difference in behaviour was observed for the balance between radical ion formation and protonated molecule formation for retinal.