Virgin coconut oil based nanostructured lipid carrier loaded with ficus deltoidea extract for skin barrier improvement

Abstract

Ficus deltoidea (FD) is a medicinal herb which had been discovered to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Thus, it has the potential to be a good active ingredients for improving skin barrier function. Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) is a promising delivery system to transport FD extract through the skin as it is composed of biocompatible lipids, which are similar to the intercellular part of the stratum corneum. The objective of this research is to formulate and characterize physicochemical and biological properties of virgin coconut oil (VCO) based NLC loaded with FD extract to improve skin barrier function. The FD loaded NLC (FDNLC) formulation was prepared using melt emulsification homogenization technique with glycerol monostearate as solid lipid, VCO as liquid lipid and combination of Tween 80 and soy lecithin as surfactant. The delivery system had the particle size of 158.033|±|10.53 nm, polydispersity index of 0.153|±|0.06, zeta potential of -42.32|±|1.54 mV, and encapsulation efficiency of 87.401|±|7.33%. Transmission electron microscopy images indicated that the prepared NLCs were spherical in shape with even size distribution. The formulation was stable for at least 40 days. Diffusion experiments showed that FDNLC diffused through the skin had the steady state flux of 12.727 mg/cm2.h, lag phase of 0.023 h, and permeability coefficient of 0.098 cm/h. The results showed better penetration in FDNLC compared to non-encapsulated FD. The skin test study in term of transepidermal water loss, hydration, elasticity, melanin and erythema showed significant improvement between week 0 and week 4 with the usage of cream loaded with FDNLC. Taken together, the formulation of FDNLC can be concluded to be efficient in improving skin barrier function.