NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIERS (nlc) FOR THE TOPICAL DELIVERY OF LUTEIN

Lutein is a natural carotenoid with antioxidant properties, already proven in various topical applications. A 20%suspension of lutein in safflower oil (FloraGLO® Lutein) represents a good raw material for the production of creams andother semisolid formulations. However, the high viscosity of FloraGLO® and poor chemical stability of lutein in the suspensionrepresents a practical limitation to its use.An efficient method was proposed in this study for taking benefit of the liquid oily composition of FloraGLO®, by realizinga nanostructured carrier system (NLC) able to ensure a controlled release of lutein and improve its permeability acrossthe skin. NLC were prepared with different percentages of FloraGLO® as the liquid phase of NLC. The physical stabilityof NLC was assessed by storage at room conditions and by Turbiscan accelerated analysis.All the produced nanocarriers were perfectly tolerated after application on the skin. In an in vivo model of UV-inducedskin erythema, the lutein-loaded NLC were able to improve the photo-protective effects of the antioxidant compared to thecommercial suspension, when the NLC formulations were applied before inducing the erythema.This study also proved for the first time the possibility of converting a liquid formulation into a solid, modified releasenanocarrier with more manageable formulative features.