Search

Featured Application: This study demonstrates a novel use of silica core–shell microcapsules for timed-release fragrance in topical formulations. The sustained release technology developed in this study holds significant potential for cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications, where precise control of the release of active ingredients over short or targeted durations is critical. By refining the synthesis process, this study paves the way for innovative timed-release formulations in personal care products, enhancing both product effectiveness and consumer satisfaction. Microcapsules are widely utilized in various applications to preserve active ingredients for prolonged durations while enabling controlled release. However, limited release of active ingredients often hampers their effectiveness in daily-use products. In this study, we demonstrated the synthesis of silica core–shell microcapsules designed for controlled fragrance release in topical formulations. The microcapsules were synthesized via the sol–gel polymerization of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) on the surface of an oil/water emulsion, leveraging the shrinkage and deformation characteristics of sol–gel-derived silica during drying. The concentrations of dipalmitoylethyl dimethylammonium chloride, a cationic emulsifier used in cosmetics, and TEOS were optimized to sustain fragrance release for up to 24 h after topical application. An additional silica coating on the microcapsules reduced the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area by 76.54%, enhancing fragrance stability for long-term storage. The timed-release behavior was assessed using fragrance evaluation tests and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The fragrance intensity and release profiles confirmed the potential of these microcapsules in daily-use cosmetics. These findings suggest that silica microcapsules with extended-release properties have application potential in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is indispensable for the regulation of biological metabolism. Previous studies have revealed its role in aging and degenerative diseases, while crucially showing that supplementation with NAD+ or its precursors could ameliorate or reverse the progression of aging. Despite extensive evidence for the role and action of NAD+ in aging, its pharmacological activity on the skin, or even its mechanism, has not been elucidated. In this study, we established a novel approach to effectively utilize NAD+ for skin anti-aging by enhancing the pharmacological efficacy of exogenous NAD+ using a phytochemical complex consisting of quercetin, and enoxolone through inhibition of CD38. Through the comprehensive in vitro experiments based on human fibroblasts, we observed that exogenous NAD+ could exert protective effects against both extrinsic aging induced by ultraviolet light exposure and intrinsic aging. Additionally, we found that its effects were significantly boosted by quercetin and enoxolone. In this in-depth study, we demonstrated that these beneficial effects are mediated by improved sirtuin activation, autophagy, and mitochondrial functionality. Our approach is expected to verify the applicability of the topical application of NAD+ and offer more effective solutions for the unmet needs of patients and consumers who demand more effective anti-aging effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With growing interest in hair health, researchers are exploring aspects beyond the surface qualities of hair, such as its porous inner structure. While previous studies have focused on the effects of treatments such as perming and hair dying on hair porosity, less emphasis has been paid to the effects of harmful environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) rays and particulate matter on the porous nature of hair. Aims: The aim of this study was to bridge this gap by investigating how UV rays and particulate matter affect hair porosity in different ways. Our study could help elucidate how these external factors influence hair health and shed light on previously unknown aspects of hair porosity. Methods: Hair tresses were bleached, cut into 1 cm‐long sections, and stained with methylene blue. The sections were then irradiated with UV light or exposed to particulate matter. Results: Bleached hair absorbed more methylene blue than normal hair. UV radiation‐induced hair porosity occurred at 3 h after irradiation and increased with time. Particulate matter alone did not affect the porosity of the damaged hair; however, in combination with UV irradiation, it substantially increased hair porosity. Conclusion: Environmental challenges such as a depleted ozone layer and increasing pollution may increase hair porosity, which can be prevented by maintaining healthy hair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungi and bacteria on the human scalp play important roles in both health and disease. Scalp biofilms have pathogenic effects on cutaneous tissues, such as seborrheic dermatitis. However, investigations into scalp biofilms and their physiological effects on scalp skin are limited. In this study, we suggest an evaluation method through which the scalp is stained a reddish color using erythrosine to visualize scalp biofilms, which strongly depends on the presence of bacteria and fungi. We found that the physiological properties of the scalp significantly differed between high and low levels of stained red areas (sRAs) on the scalp. The sRA levels showed a strong positive correlation with IL-8 levels and sebum production. It is worth noting that the production of sebum has a dominant effect on the scalp microbiome via the growth of microbes, leading to the formation of a biofilm, as evidenced by changes in the sRA levels. Furthermore, the sRA levels could be reduced through the use of antimicrobial agents, such as climbazole and hexamidine diisethionate (HD), as well as the manipulation of the physical properties of the scrubs used in scalp care products. These scalp care products could potentially disrupt the formation and accumulation of a biofilm on the scalp, providing strong evidence for the importance of considering the scalp microbiome and its interactions with sebum in the development of biofilms. Consequently, we suggested that the administration of anti-microbial agents, such as climbazole and HD, could be an effective strategy to alleviate biofilm accumulation for the maintenance of scalp health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oculocutaneous albinism II (OCA2) gene encodes a melanosomal transmembrane protein involved in melanogenesis. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms within OCA2 genes that are involved in skin pigmentation. Nevertheless, there have been no attempts to modulate this gene to improve skin discoloration. Accordingly, our aim was to identify compounds that can reduce OCA2 expression and to develop a formula that can improve skin brightness and reduce hyperpigmented spots. In this study, we investigated the effects of OCA2 expression reduction on melanin levels, melanosome pH, and autophagy induction through siRNA knockdown. Additionally, we identified several bioactives that effectively reduce OCA2 expression. Ultimately, in a clinical trial, we demonstrated that topical application of those compounds significantly improved skin tone and dark spots compared to vitamin C, a typical brightening agent. These findings demonstrate that OCA2 is a promising target for the development of efficacious cosmetics and therapeutics designed to treat hyperpigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is associated with skin sensitivity and mainly activated by capsaicin and heat. Interestingly, troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation. However, its efficacy in reducing skin sensitivity remains undetermined. Aims: We evaluated the efficacy of troxerutin in alleviating skin sensitivity using clinical tests and in vitro experiments. Methods: For the in vitro experiment, HaCaT keratinocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of troxerutin, followed by incubation with 50 μM capsaicin for 1, 24, or 48 h. The gene and protein expressions of four inflammatory cytokines involved in skin irritation were determined. Among 35 Korean women with sensitive skin recruited for the clinical trial, 13 were involved in assessing the immediate soothing effects of 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin following capsaicin irritation, whereas 22 participated in evaluating the preventive soothing effect of 10% and 1% troxerutin over 4 weeks against capsaicin‐ and heat‐induced irritation. We evaluated the soothing rate using skin redness, visual analog scale, and high temperature sensitive index as evaluation indices. Results: Troxerutin inhibited the mRNA and protein expressions of cytokines in capsaicin‐treated keratinocytes. In the clinical study, 0.1% and 0.0095% troxerutin promptly alleviated capsaicin‐induced skin redness, whereas 10% troxerutin notably decreased both the visual analog scale and high temperature sensitive index for capsaicin‐ and heat‐related irritation. However, 1% troxerutin was only effective in reducing the visual analog scale in response to capsaicin irritation. Conclusions: Troxerutin can inhibit TRPV1 activation in clinical and in vitro tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the formation of biofilms on the human scalp, highlighting the unique physiological conditions that contribute to their development. Researchers used an in vivo method involving erythrosine solution to detect biofilms on the scalp and found a positive correlation between biofilm presence and sebum production. Antifungal and antimicrobial agents were tested to reduce biofilm formation, with promising results in some subjects. The study suggests that understanding the scalp microbiome and biofilm formation could lead to new therapeutic strategies for scalp health. [Extracted from the article]

Aging (senescence) is an unavoidable biological process that results in visible manifestations in all cutaneous tissues, including scalp skin and hair follicles. Previously, we evaluated the molecular function of adenosine in promoting alopecia treatment in vitro. To elucidate the differences in the molecular mechanisms between minoxidil (MNX) and adenosine, gene expression changes in dermal papilla cells were examined. The androgen receptor (AR) pathway was identified as a candidate target of adenosine for hair growth, and the anti-androgenic activity of adenosine was examined in vitro. In addition, ex vivo examination of human hair follicle organ cultures revealed that adenosine potently elongated the anagen stage. According to the severity of alopecia, the ratio of the two peaks (terminal hair area/vellus hair area) decreased continuously. We further investigated the adenosine hair growth promoting effect in vivo to examine the hair thickness growth effects of topical 5% MNX and the adenosine complex (0.75% adenosine, 1% penthenol, and 2% niacinamide; APN) in vivo. After 4 months of administration, both the MNX and APN group showed significant increases in hair density (MNX + 5.01% (p < 0.01), APN + 6.20% (p < 0.001)) and thickness (MNX + 5.14% (p < 0.001), APN + 10.32% (p < 0.001)). The inhibition of AR signaling via adenosine could have contributed to hair thickness growth. We suggest that the anti-androgenic effect of adenosine, along with the evaluation of hair thickness distribution, could help us to understand hair physiology and to investigate new approaches for drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-ascorbic acid (AA), a potent antioxidant, is commonly used topically in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. However, the incorporation of AA into topical formulations is difficult because of its highly unstable nature and relatively poor skin permeability. In this study, we propose an alternative strategy for improving the solubility and topical delivery of AA through its conversion to a therapeutic deep eutectic system (THEDES). AA and betaine (Bet)-based THEDESs were prepared at certain molar ratios and characterized using polarized optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Solubility tests showed that AA in the form of THEDES was readily soluble in various polyols (glycerin, 1,3-butylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, and 1,3-propanediol) at a high concentration (approximately 40%). Furthermore, compared to AA alone or the physical mixture of AA and Bet, AA-based THEDES significantly enhanced AA delivery through porcine skin. In an in vivo human study, THEDES-containing serum reduced the markers of aging and induced an even skin tone. These findings indicate the utility of AA and Bet-based THEDES as novel transdermal delivery systems for AA. Furthermore, our approach also showed good extension to developing gluconolactone, a well-known natural antioxidant, and Bet-based THEDES, showing potential application in transdermal delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies on the skin microbiome have been conducted to uncover the relationship between skin microbes and the host. However, most of these studies have primarily focused on analyzing individual microbial compositions, which has resulted in a limited understanding of the overall relationship. Methods: We analyzed the facial skin characteristics and microbial profiles of 100 healthy Korean female volunteers using the V1‐V2 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Results: The two most prominent features of the facial skin microbiome, the proportion of Cutibacterium and α‐diversity, were associated with most of the skin characteristics. Based on clustering results, we proposed four types of facial skin microbiome: type C for Cutibacterium, type B for balanced, type CB for those between types C and B, and type O for others. Type C, which has a high proportion of Cutibacterium, showed high levels of pigmentation, wrinkles, pores, and sagging pores, indicating a tendency for severe skin aging. Type B, which has no dominant species and high microbial diversity, had lower values for pigmentation and wrinkles indicating less severe skin aging. Type CB was an intermediate type between type C and type B in terms of microbial composition and the level of skin aging. Type O dominated by microorganisms other than Cutibacterium, had high levels of sebum and pores but low levels of wrinkles. Conclusion: We proposed a criterion for classifying facial skin microbial types, each of which showed distinct facial skin aging features. Our simplified microbial types will contribute to a better understanding of facial skin microbial studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin aging is a multifaceted biological phenomenon influenced by a combination of intrinsic or extrinsic factors. There is an increasing interest in anti-aging materials including components that improve skin wrinkles. Despite the availability of several such wrinkle-improving materials, the demand for ingredients with outstanding efficacy is increasing. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mechanisms of wrinkle-related genes reported in previous genome-wide association studies (GWASs), identify materials that regulate these genes, and develop an effective anti-wrinkle formula containing the active ingredients that regulate the expression of these genes. We selected two candidate genes, EDAR and BNC2, that are reportedly related to periorbital wrinkles. We investigated their functions in the skin through in vitro experiments using human skin cell lines (keratinocytes and fibroblasts). Moreover, we identified ingredients that regulate the expression of these two genes and confirmed their efficacy through in vitro experiments using the skin cell lines. Finally, we developed a formula containing these ingredients and confirmed that it enhanced dermal collagen in the 3D skin and improved fine wrinkles under the eyes more effectively than retinol in humans, when applied for 8 weeks. Our results are significant and relevant, as we have discovered a special formula for wrinkle improvement with reliable efficacy that surpasses the efficacy of retinol and does not cause side-effects such as skin irritation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]