Transferosomes as a delivery system for bioselenized protein hydrolysates as an active ingredient with cosmetic activity

Resumen

Transferosomes are flexible vesicular carriers capable of deforming up to 10 times their size. They are used to enhance the stability, permeability, and biological activity of the encapsulated active ingredients. In this research, transferosomes were employed to encapsulate bioselenized protein hydrolysates to increase their stability and topical permeability when used in cosmetic formulations to combat signs of aging. The transferosomes were synthesized using a thin film method with phosphatidylcholine as the lipid and potassium polysorbate as the surfactant, along with an isopropyl alcohol and ethanol solution as the solvent. The protein hydrolysates were obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis of bioselenized chickpea flour. The resulting transferosomes were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), revealing sizes between 200 and 300 nm, a Zeta potential of -5 mV, and an average Polydispersity Index (PDI) of 0.4. Additionally, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the proper formation of the transferosomes and the successful encapsulation of the active ingredient, which was further corroborated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), showing perfectly formed spheres with surrounding phospholipid bilayers. The encapsulation efficiency achieved was 70%, while the release assays indicated that 38% of the active ingredient was released after 4 hours of contact with the skin's pH. These results demonstrate the successful optimization of conditions for the formation of transferosomes with bioselenized protein hydrolysates as the active ingredient, as well as their potential use in the cosmetic industry. Future investigations should focus on studying the permeability of transferosomes, considering the dermis as their ultimate destination.