Chitosan Nanoparticles with Encapsulated Natural and UF-Purified Annatto and Saffron for the Preparation of UV Protective Cosmetic Emulsions

Abstract

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the preparation of sunscreen emulsions based on chitosan (CS) nanoparticles with annatto, ultrafiltrated (UF) annatto, saffron, and ultrafiltrated saffron. Ionic gelation was used for the preparation of chitosan nanoparticles, while their morphological characteristics and physicochemical properties were evaluated via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS). Results showed that the prepared nanoparticles ranged from ~150 to ~500 nm and had a spherical or irregular shape. In the case of annatto and UF annatto, due to the formation of H-bonds, the sunscreen agents were amorphously dispersed within CS nanoparticles, while in the case of saffron and UF saffron, crystalline dispersion was observed. All encapsulated materials had good thermal stability as well as color stability. In a further step, sunscreen emulsions were prepared based on the formed CS-sunscreen nanoparticles and evaluated for their stability in terms of pH and viscosity, along with their ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection ability in terms of sun protection factor (SPF). All prepared emulsions showed low cytotoxicity and good storage stability for up to 90 days, while minimum sunscreen protection was observed with SPF values varying from 2.15 to 4.85.

Innovative Skin Product Emulsions with Enhanced Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and UV Protection Properties Containing Nanoparticles of Pure and Modified Chitosan with Encapsulated Fresh Pomegranate Juice

“…Over the last years, nanoparticles have been utilized as potent carriers of various pharmaceutical drugs and cosmetic active ingredients [ 29 ]. More specifically, chitosan has been extensively studied for various applications namely drug nano-encapsulation for ocular release [ 30 ], COPD treatment [ 31 ], patches [ 32 ] and porous dressings [ 33 ] for sustained release, as well as encapsulation of annatto and saffron for the preparation of UV protective cosmetic emulsions [ 34 ].…”

Drug Delivery Systems of Natural Products in Oncology

“…Natural products represent a large family of different chemical entities with a wide variety of activities and pharmacological effects [ 104 ]. They originate from bacterial, fungal, plant and marine animal sources [ 105 ] and have several applications in different sectors such as food, agricultural [ 106 ], pharmaceutical [ 107 ], packaging [ 108 ] and cosmetics [ 109 ]. They are often used as flavorings, beverages, repellents and fragrances as well as for their medicinal purposes [ 110 ].…”

Renewable Polysaccharides Micro/Nanostructures for Food and Cosmetic Applications

“…In 2015, Fakhreddin was the first to design an edible film based on gelatin reinforced with chitosan nanoparticles in order to avoid food spoilage caused by bacterial deterioration without compromising the taste and integrity of protected foods [ 74 ]. Besides its antimicrobial activity, the good encapsulation efficiency of chitosan nanoparticles was explored for the development of cosmetic products such as sunscreen, hair beauty, and teeth care formulations [ 75 ]; as well as for food applications, with several active agents such as annatto (typically used in food industries as natural condiment food coloring), saffron, and essential oils (Mentha piperita) entrapped into chitosan nanoparticles [ 76 , 77 ]. The use of chitosan-based formulations is also accepted for patients allergic to crustaceans, thanks to the growing availability of chitosan obtained from fungi [ 78 ].…”